[Ucrfacultyandstaff] Matthew McCauley

[Provost]

Dear Colleagues,

I am deeply saddened to inform the campus community of the recent death of Matthew McCauley, a Senior Building Maintenance Worker at the Sweeney Granite Mountains Desert Research Center (GMDRC). The center is part of the UCR Natural Reserves administered through the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.

Matthew joined UCR in March 2024. He worked previously as an aviation fueler, in equipment maintenance and delivery, and in solar installation. A Navy veteran, Matthew received a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Notre Dame University with a minor in Film and Television.

James André, Director of the GMDRC, shared the following words about Matthew.

Matt served a critical position at the 9000-acre Sweeney Granite Mountains Desert Research Center. A rare jack of all trades, he oversaw all aspects of maintenance, repairs, and construction at the center, including facilities, fleet vehicles, and lands infrastructure. His self-proclaimed top priority was to ensure the safe operation of the GMDRC for visiting classes and researchers.

After holding down several career positions where he resided in various suburban areas of Orange County and Florida, Matt uprooted from city life and moved to Joshua Tree where he purchased acres of land and built his own custom home. It was there he developed a meaningful connection to the Morongo Basin community, and a true love for the Mojave Desert.

Matt didn't drink and he didn't dance. His unspoken credo was to find every possible way to be helpful to all. He was best known for his understated personality, dry sense of humor, story-telling ability, and quirky-calm perspectives on work and life challenges. While at the center, Matt had to manage an initial deep fear of rattlesnakes, which sometimes encroached upon the facilities and living spaces. He overcame this fear and even learned to appreciate them, assigning silly first names to many.

Matt had an ease with animals and children; staff dogs and kids at the center were noticeably drawn to him. We'll remember Matt for his unique morning greetings at the workplace. Though the GMDRC lies in a very remote desert wilderness location, far from any golf course resorts, Matt would often arrive at work and say "it's a great day for a game of golf," a sport he loved but oddly never played.

Matt is survived by his two brothers Rob and Stiles, and an extended family and friends. We will very much miss Matt's exceptional skills and can-do personality. He said he had found his ideal job at the GMDRC, and yet his tenure was far too brief.

Please keep Matthew's family, friends, and colleagues in your thoughts during this time of sorrow.

Sincerely,

Liz

Elizabeth Watkins, PhD
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor
Professor of History
University of California, Riverside
951.827.1129 | Elizabeth.Watkins at UCR.edu<mailto:Elizabeth.Watkins at UCR.edu>

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