Dr. Frederick Walter Leysieffer

Dr. Frederick (Fred) Walter Leysieffer passed away on April 14, 2015. Born in Milwaukee and raised in Wauwatosa, WI, Fred graduated with a Ph.D. from University of Michigan in 1964 and moved to Tallahassee with his new bride Annelise to join the faculty of the Statistics Department at Florida State University.

Fred, or “Dr. Leysieffer” to his students, had a long, fulfilling career at FSU. Besides being Professor Emeritus of Statistics, chairing the department 1981-87 and 1990-93, Fred served as Faculty Senate President 1992-1994, Acting and Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences 1994-97, and 6 years as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Associate Provost. He completed his career with nearly a decade in the Office of Research, where he greatly enjoyed working on a team responsible for bringing the High-Performance Materials Institute and the Aero-Propulsion, Mechatronics and Energy Building to Innovation Park. Fred respected and loved his university family and the many long friendships built at FSU.

Fred was a lifelong learner and an avid traveler with Annelise. He embraced the unique ecosystem of North Florida and instilled an appreciation of it in others, following Bruce Means into swamps and regularly taking his family hiking and canoeing. He taught camping skills and was a “cookie dad” for his daughters’ Girl Scout troops. He was a faithful servant at St. Stephen Lutheran Church, receiving the Servus Dei award in 1982.

Above all, Fred treasured time with his wife and family and being in the lives of his grandchildren. Fred is survived by his loving wife of 50 years Dr. Annelise Leysieffer; daughter Kirsten Leysieffer, son-in-law Dr. Mike Waltman and grandson Gus Waltman; daughter Suzanne Foos, son-in-law Jim Foos and grandsons Austin Foos, Christopher Foos and Sean Foos; and daughter Beth Leysieffer. Fred was preceded in death by his parents Walter and Charlotte Leysieffer and aunt Hildegard Martins.

A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 22, 2015, at St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 2198 N. Meridian Rd., Tallahassee, FL 32303. Fred battled Multiple Myeloma for over 6 years. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation at http://support.themmrf.org/goto/FredLeysieffer