CCI Professor Emeritus Bill Ribarsky dies

Bill Ribarsky, a retired faculty member in the College of Computing and Informatics, died Thursday, Feb. 23, according to information provided the University.

“It is with deep sadness that I announce the sudden passing of Bill Ribarsky,” wrote William Tolone, interim dean of the College of Computing and Informatics (CCI) in an email to college faculty and staff members. “Bill was not only an internationally recognized scholar but a great colleague, mentor, teacher and friend. While his profound legacy within the college will remain, his daily presence will be greatly missed. No words can express or ease the sorrow we feel. He and his family will remain in our thoughts and prayers.”

Ribarsky died as the result of injuries he sustained from a serious bicycling accident earlier this month.

He was the Bank of America Endowed Chair in Information Technology at UNC Charlotte (2004-15) and the founding director of the Charlotte Visualization Center. From 2008-14, Ribarsky was chair of the Computer Science Department.

In 2015, he received the First Citizens Bank Scholars Medal, which recognizes recipients who focus on the excellence and importance of sustained contributions in research and creative activities.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

The video below was shown at the awards ceremony for the First Citizens Bank Scholars Medal in April 2015.