Obituary: Michael Joseph Siciliano, 1937-2024

Michael
Joseph Siciliano, 86, died on Friday, May 3, 2024, at his home in
Essex Junction, Vt. He was born on May 12, 1937, and raised in
Brooklyn, the son of Michael and Marion, née Masi.

His
education was in the New York metropolitan area: the
scientifically-oriented Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan;
Jesuit-run St. Peter’s College in Jersey City for his BS, received
in 1959; and Long Island University in Brooklyn for his MS in
biology, received in 1962. He took a junior faculty position at LIU
while he matriculated at New York University for his PhD. He met and
married Jeanette Boccard while at LIU and had two girls, Jeanne and
Lorraine. He attained his PhD in molecular genetics in 1970, and the
family moved to Houston, Texas, where he joined M.D. Anderson Cancer
Center in a postdoctoral fellowship. His son, Peter, was born in
1971.

Michael
joined the faculties of M.D. Anderson and Graduate School of
Biomedical Sciences in 1972. He was awarded life tenure at LIU before
he left and was continually tenured at M.D. Anderson since his first
award in 1980. He enjoyed 36 continuous years of peer-reviewed
research funding and achieved the position of Kenneth D. Muller
Professor of Tumor Genetics. The research he led and collaborated on
furthered the knowledge of human genome mapping, genetic events
associated with myotonic dystrophy and strategies to help identify
individuals at risk for certain cancers. His work resulted in 156
peer-reviewed journal articles, 52 invited book chapters and four
awarded patents.

Michael
was a tireless advocate of academic freedom and peer-reviewed due
process. He was a major driving force in ensuring faculty
participation in institutional governance and was elected to the
Faculty Senate of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, to the chair of the
Faculty Senate and to the chair of the University of Texas System
Faculty Advisory Council. Michael trained talented students from many
continents, mentoring 14 graduate students to their PhD degrees, 10
postdoctoral trainees and 34 tutorial students.

Retiring
in 2008, he cherished and maintained relationships with his former
students and colleagues. He enjoyed adventures with his family and
the camaraderie of his wide circle of friends in the pursuit of
improving his bridge and golf games, supporting Houston sports teams
through periods of great achievement and grim despair, and his
lifelong passion, fishing. Michael was never happier than when he was
with family and friends, surf casting or captaining a boat in pursuit
of a perfect confluence of wind and tide. From Matagorda Bay in the
Gulf of Mexico to Shinnecock Bay in Long Island, all who shared his
fishing adventures have legendary tales of his fishing prowess and
defiance of inclement weather.

Michael
is survived by his former wife, Jeanette; his daughters, Jeanne
(Escott) and Lorraine (Brian); his son, Peter; his grandchildren,
Kyle (Natalie), Kelly (Ben), Evan Michael and Alexander; his
great-grandchildren, Owen, Elle and Mira; and his brother, George
(Virginia).

A
memorial service in celebration of Michael’s life will be held at a
future date. Donations may be made in Michael’s memory to the
Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation.

This article appears in May 8-14, 2024.