It is with great sadness that the CMD-IT team mourns the passing of Dr. Richard A. Tapia. He is the namesake and original inspiration for our annual Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference. Richard Tapia was not only a great friend, role model, and mentor; he was an accomplished, internationally renowned mathematician. He was the sixth individual and the first Hispanic to earn the title of University Professor in the 100-year history of Rice University, and in 2011 he was awarded the National Medal of Science by U.S. President Barack Obama.
Richard’s insistence on academic excellence and his compassion for students have been two of the hallmarks of the 25-year history of the Tapia Conference series. Over the years thousands of students have had the opportunity to personally interact one-on-one with Dr. Tapia in his ultimate pay-it-forward capacity at the conference. He may have passed, but his presence will be with us for generations to come.
To anyone who wishes to express their feelings, we are providing an e-card, which will be available until June 5 and presented along with our condolences to Richard’s children (Richard and Becky) on June 6.
The CMD-IT team is starting preparation of a tribute to Dr. Richard A. Tapia to be held at the next Tapia Conference, scheduled for September 16-18, 2026, in Atlanta.