Richard Cawood
Your spirit will continue to inspire us.
Obituary
Today, we remember Richard, who passed away on March 07, 2026, for his kindness, generosity, and quiet ability to bring people together. As a colleague, he was thoughtful, sincere, and deeply respectful in every interaction. Conversations with him were always meaningful, often leaving you with something to reflect on.
He cared deeply about creativity, about his students, and about doing things with integrity. His presence brought warmth and a sense of calm to those around him.
Richard touched many lives through simple acts of care, encouragement, and friendship. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
This page is a heartfelt tribute, created by friends and colleagues to honor his legacy and the lasting impact he had on all of us.
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April 16, 2026
Thursday, February 26—His customary, “Can you believe it’s Thursday already?” marked his final "Can you believe it’s…” at CACE.
Richard was more than just another member of our community; he was a colleague, a reference point, the AI specialist, the photographer, the technology guru, and the person whose door was always open. He was the one with countless answers to a single question, offering even more suggestions and advice. With his familiar "Here is the thing,” he could brighten your day or week with just one conversation—he was never just a person. He embodied a team of people in one.
He was like a tree with open arms, generously sharing his fruit with anyone who had reached out. His voice resonated in the corridors from early morning until late afternoon, seamlessly transitioning from one conversation to another across various topics and people, never once dull. He was our Wikipedia of Knowledge, our ChatGPT of friendship, our reference for tutorials, our YouTube of music, our Google search of photography, and our TikTok of stories.
Richard is like a knot in the CACE tree—a place where a branch changes direction, shaping everything that grows beyond it. His presence marked a turning point in our community, influencing its growth in ways that will last for years to come. The emptiness in his office will be palpable. I have heard him speak so many times, and now, in his absence, his voice echoes even more in my mind.
Wing A will resonate with his voice, carry his music, transmit his charisma, and hold his energy. He was a strong presence in life and somehow even stronger in his absence.
Richard was more than just another member of our community; he was a colleague, a reference point, the AI specialist, the photographer, the technology guru, and the person whose door was always open. He was the one with countless answers to a single question, offering even more suggestions and advice. With his familiar "Here is the thing,” he could brighten your day or week with just one conversation—he was never just a person. He embodied a team of people in one.
He was like a tree with open arms, generously sharing his fruit with anyone who had reached out. His voice resonated in the corridors from early morning until late afternoon, seamlessly transitioning from one conversation to another across various topics and people, never once dull. He was our Wikipedia of Knowledge, our ChatGPT of friendship, our reference for tutorials, our YouTube of music, our Google search of photography, and our TikTok of stories.
Richard is like a knot in the CACE tree—a place where a branch changes direction, shaping everything that grows beyond it. His presence marked a turning point in our community, influencing its growth in ways that will last for years to come. The emptiness in his office will be palpable. I have heard him speak so many times, and now, in his absence, his voice echoes even more in my mind.
Wing A will resonate with his voice, carry his music, transmit his charisma, and hold his energy. He was a strong presence in life and somehow even stronger in his absence.
April 15, 2026
Dear Colleagues,
It is with profound sadness that we share the news that our colleague, Richard Cawood, passed away unexpectedly on March 7, 2026. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to Richard’s family, friends, colleagues, and students.
Richard joined Zayed University’s College of Communication and Media Sciences in 2018, moving to the College of Arts and Creative Enterprises in 2023. He taught at both at the Abu Dhabi and Dubai campuses. He will be remembered as a colleague whose curiosity and enthusiasm for emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, inspired many meaningful conversations about the future of teaching and learning. He was deeply committed to helping both colleagues and students understand how to use technological tools responsibly and creatively, always encouraging thoughtful exploration and innovation.
Richard had a gift for challenging ideas in a way that inspired imagination and growth. He offered guidance with sincerity and insight, supporting those around him in becoming better creatively, professionally, and personally. His care for students and his commitment to preparing them for a rapidly changing professional landscape were evident in everything he did. A conversation with Richard was an opportunity to be inspired and energized about the limitless possibilities for technology harnessed to human creativity.
In his own creative practice of image-making, Richard more recently worked between portraiture and the engineering of AI-generated imagery, engaging cultural and social narratives while questioning what—and how—we see. His work was recently recognized through exhibitions at Reality House in Dubai and Xposure in Sharjah. His practice can be viewed here: www.richardcawood.com.
Richard’s kindness, collaborative spirit, and intellectual generosity made him a highly valued member of the university community. Richard brought warmth, openness, and genuine curiosity to every interaction, enriching our environment and the people within it. His absence will be deeply felt and he will be greatly missed, particularly by the many colleagues with whom he developed deep and cherished friendships.
Richard was a loving and beloved husband to Marisela and a devoted father to his young sons, Mateo, Oliver, and Max. Condolences may be sent to: mariselabc@gmail.com.
Plans for a memorial for Richard will be shared at a later date. CACE, along with CCMS, will be working on a tribute to Richard and a book for Richard’s family. If you have any stories or photos to share, please send them to: cace@zu.ac.ae.
In fond memory of a friend and colleague,
It is with profound sadness that we share the news that our colleague, Richard Cawood, passed away unexpectedly on March 7, 2026. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to Richard’s family, friends, colleagues, and students.
Richard joined Zayed University’s College of Communication and Media Sciences in 2018, moving to the College of Arts and Creative Enterprises in 2023. He taught at both at the Abu Dhabi and Dubai campuses. He will be remembered as a colleague whose curiosity and enthusiasm for emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, inspired many meaningful conversations about the future of teaching and learning. He was deeply committed to helping both colleagues and students understand how to use technological tools responsibly and creatively, always encouraging thoughtful exploration and innovation.
Richard had a gift for challenging ideas in a way that inspired imagination and growth. He offered guidance with sincerity and insight, supporting those around him in becoming better creatively, professionally, and personally. His care for students and his commitment to preparing them for a rapidly changing professional landscape were evident in everything he did. A conversation with Richard was an opportunity to be inspired and energized about the limitless possibilities for technology harnessed to human creativity.
In his own creative practice of image-making, Richard more recently worked between portraiture and the engineering of AI-generated imagery, engaging cultural and social narratives while questioning what—and how—we see. His work was recently recognized through exhibitions at Reality House in Dubai and Xposure in Sharjah. His practice can be viewed here: www.richardcawood.com.
Richard’s kindness, collaborative spirit, and intellectual generosity made him a highly valued member of the university community. Richard brought warmth, openness, and genuine curiosity to every interaction, enriching our environment and the people within it. His absence will be deeply felt and he will be greatly missed, particularly by the many colleagues with whom he developed deep and cherished friendships.
Richard was a loving and beloved husband to Marisela and a devoted father to his young sons, Mateo, Oliver, and Max. Condolences may be sent to: mariselabc@gmail.com.
Plans for a memorial for Richard will be shared at a later date. CACE, along with CCMS, will be working on a tribute to Richard and a book for Richard’s family. If you have any stories or photos to share, please send them to: cace@zu.ac.ae.
In fond memory of a friend and colleague,
Family tree
Richard Cawood
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