Sunil Kumar Pancholy

It is with profound sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of Sunil K. Pancholy in Tampa, FL, on August 24th 2026, at the age of 81. He was a devoted and beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and mentor to so many. Sunil was preceded in death by his mother and father, Nalini Devi Pancholy and Dr. Sobhagya Narain Pancholy. He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Dr. Kusum Pancholy, his children Dr. Ajay Pancholy and Dr. Pavan Pancholy, grandchildren Riley Pancholy, Aidan Pancholy, Naveen Pancholy, Neel Pancholy, and Meela Pancholy, as well as his siblings, Vidhan Pancholy, Sudha Bhatnagar, and Sadhana Saxena.

Sunil was born in Udaipur, Rajasthan, India, on July 28th 1945. He received his early education in Udaipur and Pali, followed by a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture from University of Udaipur. In 1967 he moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma where he received his MS and Ph.D. in Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry. Two years after completing his education, he married Kusum in Udaipur, India. From 1970 until his retirement in 2012, Sunil built a long and meaningful career in a variety of roles beginning as an assistant professor and progressing to associate professor, full professor, research director, and Associate Dean of the College of Food and Agricultural Sciences. He spent 35 years of his career at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida, a place that always held a special place in his heart. He made lifelong friends at FAMU and remained in touch with many colleagues until his passing. Throughout each chapter of his career, Sunil was known for his strong work ethic, commitment, and dedication. He and Kusum made their home in Tallahassee for over 38 years, where they raised their two sons Ajay and Pavan, before moving to Tampa in 2015 to be closer to their growing family.

Just as Sunil was so dedicated to his work, he had an even greater commitment to his family and friends. Anyone who knew him understood how deeply he loved his wife, children, grandchildren, and extended family. There are simply not enough words to capture the person he was. He was intelligent, funny, gentle, generous, kind, loving, philanthropic, and deeply compassionate. He will always be remembered for his warm and loving nature, his ability to make people laugh, his calmness and quiet strength during difficult situations, and unwavering belief in the importance of education and giving back to the community. His family will carry his memory forward through the lessons, stories, and love he gave so generously.

Please join us for a Celebration of Life to honor Sunil K. Pancholy on Saturday, September 5, 2026, for a gathering from 10:30a –11:00am, with Remarks beginning at 11:00am. The family invites you to stay and share stories during a catered reception from 12:30pm-2:30pm. All services are located at Blount & Curry Life Center, 605 S MacDill Ave, Tampa, FL 33609.