Jorge Aravena, chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, died Friday, according Tammy Abshire, associate director of development and communications in the department.
 
Abshire declined to comment on the cause of death, only saying it was unexpected.
 
Aravena died at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center.
 
“I was very saddened to hear that Dr. Aravena passed away so sudden,” electrical and computer engineering alumnus Sal Bernadas said.
 
Aravena, 65, was a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering since 1984, interim chair of the ECE department from June 2008 to June 2010 and chair of the ECE department from July 2010 until his death.
 
“He positively affected the lives of many students who have graduated with graduate degrees in our department,” said Pratul Ajmera, electrical and computer engineering professor.
 
Visitation will be held at Rabenhorst East on 11000 Florida Blvd. Monday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event is open to the public.
 
Students and faculty will also come together Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. in room 1119 of Patrick F. Taylor Hall to reflect on Aravena’s contributions to the University community.
 
 
 
—-
Contact Julian Tate at [email protected]