Mourning at the University of L’Aquila. Rector Edoardo Alesse has passed away
The University of L’Aquila announces, with immense sorrow, the passing of Professor Edoardo Alesse, rector of this university from 2019 to 2025. Professor Alesse had ended his term of office on 1 October. It was under his farsighted guide that the University of L’Aquila joined the EULiST Alliance.
Born in Leonessa, in the province of Rieti, on 17 February 1958, Prof. Alesse enrolled in 1977 in the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery at the University of L’Aquila, graduating in 1983 and subsequently obtaining a PhD in Experimental Medicine in 1988. He then completed his training in the United States as a Visiting Scientist at the National Cancer Institute for Cancer Research in Bethesda, Maryland.
During his career, he held numerous positions, among which: Chair of the Degree Course in Biotechnology; Director of the Department of Experimental Medicine; Director of the Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology (DISCAB); Head of the University Animal Facility; Coordinator of the Teaching and Research Commission of the University of L’Aquila; Academic Senator and member of the University Board of Directors; Member of the Technical-Scientific Committee of the UnivAQ Foundation; Member of the Permanent Conference of Medical Colleges; President of Hamu, Hub Abruzzo-Marche-Umbria, and then Rector of the University.
Professor Alesse devoted his life to research, publishing numerous books and articles in the fields of general pathology, clinical pathology, and laboratory medicine sciences and techniques. He was also strongly involved in teaching and tutoring, supervising hundreds of students working on bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral theses.
Rector Fabio Graziosi’s condolences
The sudden death of Rector Edoardo Alesse has shocked the entire academic community.
A man of unrivalled human and professional qualities has left us, and it is no coincidence that his humanity comes before his professionalism. The reason for this is clear to all those who knew him or even simply met him.
I shared much of Prof. Alesse’s term as Rector with him, and every opportunity to meet him was a source of enrichment for me. In recent months, I was moved by the care and attention he took in introducing me, in every way possible, to the role he had performed so excellently for six years, and during this time I was able to observe how large, extensive and sincere his network of relationships was. It was particularly significant for me to attend his last meeting of the Conference of Italian University Rectors with him and to see him receive the appreciation and gratitude of all his colleagues, who are now mine.
Recently, I had the opportunity to publicly acknowledge the greatness of his work and the importance of the countless initiatives he launched and entrusted to me for their full completion. Today, this commitment to continuity seems even more important, and in his memory, we will continue on this path, taking to heart one of his greatest teachings: in the most difficult situations, we must remain clear-headed and hold fast to the principles on which the University is founded.
