Giorgio Ungania speaks at a TEDx workshop 2010. A longtime member of the TEDx community, he will be missed. Photo: James Duncan Davidson/TED

The TEDx community lost a beloved member this week. Giorgio Ungania, organizer and curator of TEDxDubai, passed away on Sunday at age 46. Giorgio was a force of life and an instrumental leader in our community, organizing his first event in 2009 and going on to organize many more events, including TEDxYouth@Dubai and TEDxDubaiChange.

Giorgio was a mentor and a friend to so many across the globe. We at TED will miss him greatly. Our thoughts are with his wife, Natascia, his son, Sky, and everyone else who knew him.