Obituary: Thomas Lessie, Professor Emeritus of Microbiology

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Thomas Lessie, 81, of Madison, Wisconsin, professor emeritus of microbiology, died May 5.

Born Dec. 14, 1936 in New York City, he attended Brooklyn Technical High School and Queens College of the City University of New York, where he majored in chemistry and biology. He received a Ph.D. in biological sciences from Harvard University in 1963. Postdoctoral studies took him to Oxford University, the University of Washington and Purdue University.

He joined the faculty at UMass Amherst in 1968, teaching microbiology and doing research in bacterial physiology and microbial genetics focusing on strains of Pseudomonas and Burkholderia.

The College of Natural Sciences named him an Outstanding Teacher in 2000. In his honor, the microbiology graduate students of the time established an annual award for teaching excellence.

He is survived by his wife Pat; children Erica, Todd, and Robin; and his brother Douglas.

Memorial donations may be made to Attic Angel Association, Agrace HospiceCare, or a charity of one’s choice.