Mangaluru: Rev Fr Leo D’Souza, former principal and rector of St Aloysius institutions, Mangaluru, and director of Laboratory of Applied Biology, died on Tuesday. He was 93. Born in Mangaluru and educated at St Aloysius institutions, Fr D’Souza became an acclaimed botanist and a pioneer in tissue culture research.He completed his PhD at Max Planck Institute, Germany, and later established the Laboratory of Applied Biology at St Aloysius College (Autonomous) here. His articles were published in international scientific journals, and he was known for strengthening research culture and scientific training among students.He served as the principal of St Aloysius College from 1980 to 1990 and as rector of the St Aloysius institutions from 1992 to 1998, contributing to the institution’s growth, including the introduction of co-education in 1986. He recently marked 60 years of Jesuit priesthood.In July 2025, he received the Canisius Medal at IAJU-2025 Assembly in Bogotá, Colombia, in recognition of his contribution to higher education and spiritual leadership.The funeral mass will be held at Divine Mercy Church, Fatima Retreat House, Mangaluru, on Jan 22 at 3 pm, followed by burial at the Jesuit Cemetery, Mangaluru.
