Awais Mughal

1970 - 2023

Awais Mughal
June 15, 1970 - December 15, 2023
Awais Saeed Mughal was born in Lahore, Pakistan, on June 15, 1970. He passed away on December 15, 2023, in Walnut Creek, California after a brief battle with an aggressive illness. He was only 53 years old.
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, his older brother Salman and his family; and Sonya's family, including her mother Maya Thadhani, sister Sharmila Hutchins and her 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 Science and Economics.
Upon graduation, he had the opportunity to either move to New York City or to Washington D.C., and he often said that he chose wisely by going to Washington D.C. He started his career in commercial real estate, investing at La Salle Partners, right after graduating from college. 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, serving as Past President of the San Francisco chapter, as well as being 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. His sharp mind, strong will, quick wit, dry sense of humor, and love for travel, the outdoors, and grilling made him a cherished friend and family member. 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 covered everything from heavy metal to country. Watching him sing Bette Midler's "The Rose" a few times at Karaoke was an experience no one will forget. 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 friendships and relationships was always his top priority. He remained close, until the very end, with several of his classmates from Williams College, with his middle school friends in Chicago and with so 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 December 19, and a Celebration of Life will be held in his honor in the Spring of 2024.