One of the key speakers at the just ended Regional Ministerial Conference on Promoting the Safeguarding of Underwater Cultural Heritage that was held in the touristic town of Malindi, Prof Sebastian Tuso was among the passengers aboard the ill-fated Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 302.
Delegates who attended the conference observed a minute of silence in honour of the 157 passengers who died in the plane crash in Ethiopia.
It was confirmed that Prof Tuso from Italy and a key note speaker expected to address the UNESCO meeting was among those who perished.
Ms Ann Theresa Ndong, East Africa UNESCO director expressed her condolences on behalf of UNESCO to the victims and all those affected before starting the meeting.
''Tusa was a passionate UNESCO partner and a generous professional who shared and skills on under water archaeologist and Museum professionals from UNESCO member states he participated in and directed missions on archaeological research in Italy Marta Tunisia Iran Pakistan Japan and Kenya,'' she said.
He was also the author seven copyright scientific books concerning archaeology and cultural heritage.
Mr George Okello, a UNESCO expert who worked with Tusa for many years was forced to take over the secession.
He eulogised Professor Tusa as an individual who has contributed a lot in the field of research and administration of cultural heritage
Prof Tusa was the son of archaeologist Vincenzo Tusa.
He had a degree in literature with a specialization in Palaeontology from Sapienza University of Rome.
As the manager of the Sicilian Regional administration since 1993 he was responsible for the archaeological section of the Regional Center for Design and Restoration In 2003, during excavations he conducted in three Roman imperial portraits were found.
Abandoning field research, Tusa dealt with the administration of cultural heritage in the roles of the Sicilian Region, leading the superintendence of Trapani.
In 2004 he was appointed as the first Superintendent of the Sea by the Department of Cultural Heritage of the Sicilian Region.
He organized archaeological missions in Italy, Pakistan Iran and Iraq.
In 2005 he led the excavations at Moyta, bringing to light, the submerged road that leads to the island, as well as structures identifiable as quays.
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In 2008 Tusa and Foloco Quillici made a documentary film on the prehistory of the Mediterranean a Pantelleria.
The excavations he promoted, and conducted in the field by Fabrizio Nicoletti and Maurizio Cattani, also confirmed the role of Pantelleria as a "crossroads for merchants" in ancient times.
In January 2010 he was named honorary member of the National Archaeologists Association. I
In 2012 he returned to head the Superintendence of the Sea of the Region.
After leaving the Superintendence of the Sea, on 11 April 2018 he was appointed councillor for Cultural Heritage by the president of the Sicilian Region replacing Vittorio Sgarbi.
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