Remembering Richard Cherwinski: A Pillar of Correctional Reform and International Cooperation

______________________________________________________________________

 

Richard Cherwinski was an active and long time member of ICPA. He served as a Senior Corrections Advisor to the United States Department of State – International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) and introduced many correctional professionals from across the world to our ICPA community.

 

After a long career in the Federal Bureau of Prisons he worked for the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) in Afghanistan for several years. He then worked for INL in Washington, D.C. as a Senior Corrections Advisor, using his expertise to inform INL’s foreign assistance corrections programs in Europe and Asia, and most recently, as a Contracting Officer Representative in INL’s Office of Knowledge Management.

 

Rich did not shy away from tough challenges, easily built relationships with partners around the globe, and prioritized his colleagues. He will remembered for his quiet positivity, insightful perspective, and the care he showed to all around him. Rich loved and respected everyone and was passionate about helping people succeed – which led to his commitment to ICPA - he knew that exposing correctional professionals from the different countries he worked with, to ICPA - they would leave energized, focused, and committed to improving their correctional systems.

 

Mike Overby a former colleague stated: “I had the privilege of working alongside Rich for many years in INL. He was a mentor and a warm, friendly, supportive friend. Rich loved our mission, cared about the work, but more importantly he invested in and took care of our team. He was patient and unflappable, and always helped us keep perspective on what mattered…..He was a light in the world and made us all better for knowing him.”

 

His dear colleague Richard Robinson expresses his thoughts from ICPA: ‘’We are truly sorry for the loss of such a great person and we send all our thoughts and prayers for his wife, daughter, family, and friends during this difficult time.’'

 

Rich represents the person we all strive to be as professionals, as colleagues, as friends, as family – rest in peace Richard John Cherwinski, age 65, of Belmont, California passed away on Thursday, July 4, 2024.