I am sorry to hear of Professor Sinskey’s passing.  He was a great member of the Course 7 faculty who took an interest in his students and in applied biology.  MIT ended the Applied Biology major and department, but Prof. Sinskey continued inspiring students interested in biotechnology.

It is indeed with a heavy heart and great sadness to hear about the passing of Prof. Sinskey.
Not only was Tony a very kind and sweet person. He was not only the smartest person I have ever met but also the most connected person/scientist.
No question was ever too many or too difficult, he was always ready to help.
He was for many years the key driving force for the SDG SAB.
We will dearly miss his probing questions and his summarizing capabilities.

Heaven will get smarter and more connected with Tony taking his place at Heaven’s SAB.

And I am sure Tony will be so happy to see his wife and life partner Cho Kyun Rha to fill the void he felt in the past 4 years since her earlier passing.

Tony, rest in peace!

A great person, I am so sorry to hear you have left us!!!   Rest in peace !

To Tony’s family so sorry to hear of Tony’s passing and would like to say what a great guy he was,l very much enjoyed helping him out bringing him his gravel and other materials he loved so much playing with his equipment. and he was very appreciative of me, taking care of the road in the winter time and looking after the propane level he will be missed rest in peace, Tony, your friend Scott Ducharme.

I can say with confidence that Tony was the best PhD thesis advisor anyone could have asked for at MIT. I should know having been a misfit at two prior labs. Immediately Tony made me feel welcomed and honestly it felt like coming home. I loved working with engineers, thinking about applied problems,  working with industry. That applied research and interdisciplinary approach would go on to serve me well at US Dept Energy in bioenergy. Thank you for taking me in, coming to my wedding, supporting me on my entrepreneurship ideas, and eventually walking me down Infinite Corridor for my diploma all the while being the most generous and kind boss I ever had. I couldn’t have had the career I had if not for you. I just wish I could’ve been smart enough to figure it out sooner and joined your lab first. Even though it’s been a long time since I was in your lab, I can’t believe you messaged me in Linkedin only 3 months ago to check on me. Thanking for making all of us feel so cared for always. You will be greatly missed!

I have known Tony for more than 4 years. He was a dear friend, honest collaborator and invaluable colleague. We wrote proposal and papers together and traveled to far away countries to make presentations to sponsors and conferences. We co-supervised students and postdocs and debated the intellectual merit and potential value of much of the research happening in our labs and other places. Tony's insightful analysis and laconic assessments will stay with me for ever. He was provocative but fair and he always acted with the welfare of his students as guiding principle. Tony was a man of common sense and he would not hesitate to bring this to the attention of colleagues and administrators when the situation warranted it.

I have so many memories of Tony. He enriched the life of all he touched and he was a true force for good. His passing is a tragic event and he will be greatly missed.

"Today, we are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of Professor Anthony Sinskey, who made significant contributions to the fields of biochemistry and public health at MIT for over 50 years. Beyond his academic achievements, Professor Sinskey had a profound impact on human health through his biochemical research on hyaluronic acid and its various pharmaceutical applications. His work also laid the crucial foundation for tackling issues like antibiotic resistance, metabolic diseases, and environmental challenges, and he made a monumental contribution to the advancement of biotechnology. His knowledge and passion have opened doors for countless students, and his work has continually contributed to solving global public health problems. For the past decade, he collaborated with BG in the development of substances beyond hyaluronic acid. I honor his legacy and extend my deepest condolences and sympathy to his family and the MIT community. Professor Sinskey’s legacy will always remain with us at BG."
- Mike Pompeo
70th Secretary of State
Business Advisor, BG

My deepest condolences to you and your family during this difficult time. May you find comfort in the love and support of those around you, and may the cherished memories bring you peace. Rest in peace Dr Anthony Sinskey. NMHRGK.

Tony, you impacted us personally. Hanna started her degree in Physics on the day you passed - you called it correctly 2 years before, and inspired all of us. Thank you. 
David

On behalf of the team at SD Guthrie
(Formerly Sime Darby Plantation).
Tony was an amazing man - brilliant, mentor, coach, advisor, inspirer, teacher and great friend. He gave so much to us and helped us grow, and achieve so much. Tony, after guiding us for many years, you were there for the launch or our first product, GenomeSelect, and planted one of the first seedlings. Today it grows strong and is delivering value that the world needs. We are all better because of you. Thank you with all our hearts. 
David, SD Guthrie R&D

Tony will be deeply missed. He was a friend, mentor, and collaborator who made every project more meaningful and every conversation more fun. He had a rare gift for thinking big and turning ideas into reality. His impact on the MIT community—and on everyone fortunate enough to know him—was profound.

Dear Sinskey Family,
Tony was my Ph.D. advisor and it has been my great privilege to have him as my mentor. Tony was as supportive as can be.  Similar to Cheng I was always the “young lady” every time I walked in his office, which was almost always wide open for people to drop by and chat.  He was incredibly generous and provided everyone with snacks out of his own pocket, and he would treat us (and students in his class!) to very lavish lunches at restaurants.  I remember he drove me to UMass Lowell just to help me get some materials and meet someone else in my field, which became the turning point in my Ph. D. because I met critical collaborators through that interaction.  He was always most interested in helping people learn, and he taught me more than just science but also how to navigate life through stories of his own adventures.  I will always remember him and will miss him very much.

Shocked and saddened to hear about Tony's passing.  Tony was a PI in MIT J-WAFS'  first cohort of seed grantees in 2015, and also a commercialization grant recipient years later.  He was a great friend and supporter of J-WAFS throughout our ten years of grant-making.  We will surely miss the benefit of his experience and his knowledge, as well as his warmth and humor.

The first time I walked into Tony's office, he told me "Young man, the honeymoon is over!".  Despite that warning, Tony clearly cared so much for all of his students, postdocs, and staff.  While certainly a tough critic, he also made sure that we were happy and succeeding both in and out of the lab.  Tony loved taking us out to eat at Legal's (where he always had a table), bringing us to his lake house in NH (sorry for flipping that jet ski!), and having the international students over for Thanksgiving.  Personally, Tony was always a champion for my career and called me out of the blue to check on how I was doing.  He truly was a fantastic mentor, friend, and I will sorely miss him.  Tony embodies MIT and the institute will be poorer without his presence, but I'm glad he finally is reunited with Cho.  RIP

The pricture is from a daily data discussion in 2022 summer. Tony always call me young man. He told me to focus on science than others. When he saw me, he always asked "show me the good results". After my report about the data, he was so happy. Then he would tell me honeymoon is over. Each time I came back from China, I always shared the  snacks and my feeling to him. When I was unhappy, he can always feel it and comfort me. I miss him so much.
From 2015 when I first joined as a student to the five years I spent working there from 2018, Tony was more than just a mentor to me - he was like a grandfather figure who cared for me with genuine warmth and guidance. His wisdom, patience, and unwavering support shaped not only my professional skills but also my character.  I will always miss him.

I am so sad to hear the news of Professor Sinskey’s passing. He was a such a genuine person. Very caring and always smiling. I will always remember when he invited us students to his house for Thanksgiving in 2012 with his family and friends. He made an everlasting impact at MIT, and I will never forget his hospitality.

Tony Sinskey gave me the opportunity to grow to be a mentor. Tony’s confidence and belief in me fueled my own self belief. The time I spent in Tony’s lab at MIT were some of the best times of my life. Thank you, Tony! I will always remember you!

Dear Sinskey family,

My heartfelt condolences. I was deeply saddened to hear of your loss. I never forget how generous prof. Sinskey was to make the MIT team home. He gave me incredible support for my paper writing and green card application and so many other things. He has a smart and kind soul. His life will be always be remembered and the impact will forever live with me and others. 

Sincerely,
Sha

Dear Timothy and Christine,
We would like to offer our sincere condolences to you and your families. We are thinking of you during this difficult time. 
With deepest sympathy,
Jerry Sinskey and Family

The picture is from Tony's 70th birthday party. He put his "birthday hat" on my head and we took the picture! I will miss my boss dearly. I worked with him for 24 years and it never felt like work! He was always cracking jokes and making me laugh. I'll never forget the first day I met him, when he hired me on the spot.  I witnessed firsthand how he positively influenced the lives of hundreds of undergrads, grads and international students, researchers, professors, scientists etc. over the years.  And he was so modest about it! I didn't plan to be an Admin Assistant, but once I started, I didn't want to leave him.  I was so fortunate and honored to be his AA and work with him for so many years.  He was the best boss I ever had and I will always miss him.

I was in touch with cousin Tony a few years ago who chided me for not getting in touch when I was in Boston. I’ve regretted that I did not, and vowed if I made it back there I’d contact him. 
My mom (Mary Ann Faifer Coulter) loved to tell stories about being in Glen Carbon with your family.

To the family of Professor Sinskey and Professor Rha, 
What an unbelievable couple they have been, they balanced each other perfectly and will be so missed. My condolences for the loss of Anthony Sinskey.

FDA Team meetings, Professor Sinskey made such wide connections across MIT. He will be missed!

Incredible man who taught so many of us to challenge our conceptions and strive for better, always.

To the Sinskey family,

I am so sorry for your loss. I only knew Tony through my Dad, but I knew his generosity and big heart very well. He would forward articles about law to my Dad for me to read. I’ll always remember his favourite question to ask - “What did you learn today?” He will be missed by us and so many, and I’m sure the impact he left on everyone will never be forgotten. 


Sending love, prayers and well wishes,
Lucas

To Tim and your family,

I am very sorry to hear the loss of Prof. Sinskey.  He has contributed so much of his life to MIT community, students, staffs and everyone around him.  He is very supportive and guiding everyone to success.  He loves and cares about his family too.  When he mentioned about his family, his face always full with smiles and happiness.   He will be truly missed by all of us.  

Warm wishes,

Rui

OBITUARIO

Professor Anthony J. Sinskey

1 abril, 1940 – 12 febrero, 2025

J.S. Waterman Langone Chapel

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