Photo Credit: Jiri Turek/Forbes

The UCI community mourns the loss of beloved alumnus, friend and supporter Vincent Steckler ‘80. The former CEO of Avast Antivirus Software passed away in a tragic car accident on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, at the age of 62.

Steckler earned both a B.S. in information & computer science and a B.S. in mathematics at UCI in 1980. He joined Avast as CEO in 2009 and transformed the company from a small regional business into a global provider of internet security. Steckler remained active in the Orange County community and was a strong advocate for equity and inclusion in the computing industry.

Steckler donated $1 million to the Donald Bren School of Information & Computer Sciences to support women in computing and endowed fellowships and scholarships. Most recently, a $10.4 million gift was made to UCI from the Steckler Charitable Fund, formed by Vincent and Amanda Steckler, to support art history students and to establish the Center for Responsible, Ethical, and Accessible Technology.

About half of the donation – $5 million – will establish the Center for Responsible, Ethical and Accessible Technologies within the Donald Bren School of Information & Computer Sciences. The unit will focus on creating a computing industry that’s inclusive, accessible, safe and equitable for all.

The other half of the gift – nearly $5.4 million – will largely be allocated to endowed funds that support graduate and undergraduate students pursuing coursework in art history by providing experiential learning, research-related travel, mentoring, career-building opportunities and fellowships.

The UCI community extends its sincerest condolences to the Steckler family and friends. Vince Steckler will hold a special place in the hearts of many at the UCI campus.

Per the family’s request, those who would like to share memories can do so by emailing condolences@avast.com.