With enormous sadness, we announce that our dear friend, colleague, and teacher Gaetano Borriello, the Jerre D. Noe Professor of Computer Science & Engineering, passed away this morning at his home, following a long fight with cancer.
Gaetano was dedicated to UW CSE and our students, and we were dedicated to him. Graduating from Berkeley in 1988, Gaetano applied to only a single academic department as an indication of how much he wanted to be here. Over the last six years, he fought the disease with courage, grace, optimism, and humor, continuing to teach, advise, mentor, and lead throughout. Through his work on technology for global development, Gaetano showed how research can impact the lives of people around the world.
Our hearts go out to Gaetano’s wife Melissa, his sons Christopher and Nicholas, his mother Rosa, his brother Frank, and the rest of their family. There will be no public service at this time, as the family wishes to grieve in private.
In his honor and memory, the department has established the Gaetano Borriello Fellowship for Change. The Borriello Fellowship will support students whose work is focused on exploring how technology can improve the lives of under-served populations. More information on the fellowship here.