Shivaram “Shivu” Prasad, 26, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, died on July 23rd, 2016 due to complications after open-heart surgery to overcome bacterial endocarditis. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on June 1st, 1990. Shivu was preceded in death by his mother, Nalini Prasad, and uncle, Jogi Chandhagalu Gowda. He is survived by his father Mahalingiah Prasad and sister Madhura Prasad; brother Nandheesh Prasad of Boston, Massachusetts; aunt Asha Gowda of Charlotte, North Carolina; cousins Mamatha Gowda and Mark Steele of Novi, Michigan; cousins Meera Gowda and Neel Sata and their daughter Asha Gowda Sata of Durham, North Carolina; and cousin Archana Gowda of Durham, North Carolina. He also has a loving extended family in India in the villages and cities of Akkur, Mysore, Bangalore, Channapatna, Mandya, and Srirangapatna. Shivu was born with Down syndrome but he never let it define him. He took pride in his independence and his accomplishments. He attended Sunrise Academy, graduated from Gateway High School in 2011 and then worked at Milestones, a vocational company for people with developmental challenges. He enjoyed performing passionate interpretations of his favorites dance routines from Bollywood movies. At any wedding or special event, he was always the first one out and the last one off the dance floor. He loved experiencing food, from cooking and eating to watching his favorite shows on the Food Network. Shivu danced to his own beat, always aspiring for bigger and better things. He was comfortable and energetic around the people he met and made an instant and lasting impact on them. He was a jokester and a flirt, but family was always the most important thing to him. Services will be held on Monday, July 25th at Beinhauer Funeral Home at 2360 West Liberty Avenue in Pittsburgh, PA (412-531-4000). Public visitation will be from 1-3 PM and funeral service will be from 3-5 PM. Please add and view tributes at www.beinhauer.com.