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Awais is survived by his loving wife, Sonya Mughal, his two children, Emma Sabene Mughal and Dylan Scott Mughal; their mother, Caitlin Doran; his beloved mother, Shakeela, and his older brother Salman and his family. Awais was predeceased by his father Saeed Mughal, who passed away in 2008.
Awais' parents immigrated from Pakistan to the United States in 1972, when Awais was just two years old and his brother was three. They initially moved to Newton, MA, and in 1979 relocated to Chicago. The family settled in Country Club Hills, a suburb south of Chicago, until 1986, before moving to Williamstown, MA. Awais attended Williams College in 1988 and graduated with a degree in Political Economy.
Upon graduation, he moved to Washington D.C. and started his career in commercial real estate investing at La Salle Partners. Awais lived in Washington until 2000, when he moved to Lafayette, CA, a suburb of San Francisco.
Awais dedicated the entirety of his career to commercial real estate investing. It was his passion. He made his mark on the broader San Francisco real estate community, not only professionally but also personally. He retired at the end of June this year, but his involvement in the broader community continued with his involvement in The Park Theatre Trust in Lafayette. He also contributed to NAIOP, served as Past President of the San Francisco chapter, and was involved in the formation and development of the Young Professionals Group, and the NAIOP Executive Development program.
Awais lived life to its fullest, making friends wherever he went. His smile lit up every room he walked into. He was humble. He was kind. He had a big heart, sharp mind, strong will, quick wit, and dry sense of humor. He loved to travel and he loved the outdoors. He loved to entertain and was known for his culinary (grilling) skills. He was a genius at Wordle and the NYT Crosswords. His love for sports was unrivaled. Listening to music was a favorite passion, and his taste in music ranged from heavy metal to country and everything in between. Watching him sing Bette Midler's "The Rose" a few times at karaoke was always priceless. Awais' generosity knew no bounds. He strongly believed in giving to those who were less privileged and was a massive supporter of the Contra Costa Food Bank.
Maintaining his close relationships and friendships was always a top priority. He was so proud of his children and was an incredibly loving and supportive partner to his wife, Sonya. He remained close, till the very end, with several Williams College classmates, middle school friends in Chicago, and many friends and business associates within the broader San Francisco real estate community.
Awais' philosophy on life was simple: treasure your family and friends, give to those less fortunate, and enjoy life to the fullest without delay.
The loss of Awais leaves a profound void. He was laid to rest in a private burial at the Oakmont Cemetery in Lafayette on Dec. 19, and a Celebration of Life will be held in his honor this Spring.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA