Dr. Luis Sequeira

Madison - Dr. Luis Sequeira, age 93, passed away after a short illness surrounded by his four children on Sunday, July 25, 2021, at Agrace HospiceCare in Fitchburg. He was born on September 1, 1927, to Raul and Dora (Jenkins) Sequeira and was raised in San Jose, Costa Rica

Luis attended Harvard University as an undergraduate and graduate school student, obtaining a Ph.D. in Biology at the age of 24. He returned to Costa Rica where he worked for the United Fruit Company for eight years, eventually becoming Director of their Research Station in Coto.

Luis moved to the United States in 1960, where he decided to return to academia, and ultimately obtained a position as a Professor of Plant Pathology and Bacteriology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. At the UW he was responsible for an active research program in plant bacteriology producing numerous publications.  He was active in the American Phytopathology Society as Editor, Editor-in-Chief of their scientific journal and ultimately President of the Association.  In recognition of his research accomplishments, he was elected to the National Academy of Sciences and was named the JC Walker Professor of Plant Pathology.  He served as the Chief Scientist for the USDA Competitive Grants Office (1987 to 1988) and had a major influence on the distribution of funds for biotechnology research. He was especially proud of his many graduate students and being part of a world-renowned department.

His death is preceded 13 years by his wife of 52 years, Elisabeth Steinvorth, with whom he had four children, Anabel (Rodrigo) Fernandez of Escazu, Costa Rica, Marta (Jeff) Stumbras of Green Bay Wisconsin, Luis Robert (Monica) Sequeira of Mexico City, Mexico, and Patricia (John) Rader of Springfield Virginia; twelve grandchildren and five great grandchildren. In the years after the death of his wife, Luis was blessed with having a loving companion, Marilyn Gundermann of Madison, Wisconsin.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 602 Everglade Dr., Madison on Friday, July 30, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. with Monsignor Donn Heiar presiding. A visitation will be held at the church on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of Mass.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like contributions to be made to the charity of their choice.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Services

3610 Speedway Road

(608) 238-3434