Home » Tributes to Venu »
Venu’s Obituary in the SF Chronicle

Venu’s Obituary in the SF Chronicle

            Christopher Francis Riggio of San Francisco, California passed away on Thursday, July 11, 2013. He was born in Woodstock, Illinois, on May 9, 1953, the son of Ben and Mary Riggio. He is survived by his father and two sisters, Linda and Vivienne. Chris was a long time member of The Sri Chinmoy Meditation Centre of San Francisco, where he was known as “Venu.” For decades Venu participated in triathlons, biathlons, century rides and marathons around the Bay Area. He once held the Guinness Book Record for the longest run while balancing an egg in a spoon and the fastest marathon time doing the same. He is remembered and loved for his soulful singing and for the sincerity and simplicity of his spirit.

Venu's home

Meeting Venu in the Pages of his Logbooks
My Memory of Venu by Astika
A Story About Venu by Papaha
My Friend Venu by Sujantra
My Tribute to Venu by Pujari
Stories about Venu by Hiyamallar
Thoughts from Venu’s Medical Care Givers
Venu "Flute Of Krishna"
Venu: Enthusiasm and Cheerfulness Personified By Arpan
Venu’s Indomitable Enthusiasm By Vasudha
Venu’s Obituary in the SF Chronicle
What I Remember Most about Venu by Nachiketa

Stories

First-hand experiences of meditation and spirituality.

The day my Guru accepted me as his disciple

Banshidhar Medeiros San Juan, Puerto Rico

I know where you are

Kamalakanta Nieves New York, United States

My love of spiritual poetry

Manatita Hutchinson London, United Kingdom

Bhutan, A Country Less Travelled...

Ambarish Keenan Dublin, Ireland

A 40-Year Blessing

Sarama Minoli New York, United States

Soul-Birds take flight

Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand

Learning to love songs ever more

Patanga Cordeiro São Paulo, Brazil

The very first time I heard about my spiritual Master

Banshidhar Medeiros San Juan, Puerto Rico

A Quest for Happiness

Abhinabha Tangerman Amsterdam, Netherlands

Time seemed to freeze

Brahmata Michael Ottawa, Canada

Celebrating birthdays at Guru's house

Devashishu Torpy London, United Kingdom

My Room

Preetidutta Thorpe Auckland, New Zealand

Filled with deepest joy

Tirtha Voelckner Munich, Germany

Suggested videos

interviews with Sri Chinmoy's students

How I got my spiritual name

Pradeep Hoogakker The Hague, Netherlands

Running for peace in the South Pacific

Nirbhasa Magee Dublin, Ireland

A direct line to God

Vajra Henderson New York, United States

From religion to spirituality

Muslim Badami Auckland, New Zealand

How I became interested in meditation

Abhejali Bernardova Zlín, Czech Republic

Meditation: you make progress just by doing it

Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand

Self-transcendence in meditation

Kailash Beyer Zurich, Switzerland

Europe

Americas

Oceania