David J. Wendt, age 53, of Framingham, MA, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on April 22, 2024, after his courageous battle with cancer. David was raised in Edina, MN, and graduated from Edina High School in 1988, where he was actively involved in the band as a drummer. He graduated from St. Olaf College in 1992 with a degree in Mathematics and Chemistry, worked for Redmond in Minneapolis, MN, and then obtained a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering in 2001 at Iowa State University, specializing in tissue engineering. While in graduate school, he met his future wife, Maria, and after proposing at the Eiffel Tower in Paris and finishing their graduate studies, they embarked together on a grand adventure in Europe, living and working in Arlesheim and Basel, Switzerland, for the next 18 years.

David joined the Tissue Engineering Lab at the Department of Biomedicine of the University Hospital of Basel (UHBS) in 2001 as a postdoctoral fellow. He established the “Bioreactor Program” as one of the main research pillars of the lab, pioneering innovative tools for investigating three-dimensional cell and tissue cultures. His groundbreaking work led to prestigious academic and industrial collaborations in the EU and USA. He secured national and international grants, including the highly competitive Swiss National Science Foundation programs and EU programs, which infused the lab with millions of euros in vital research funding. His work on an advanced bioreactor system led to the founding of a start-up, Cellec Biotek AG, and the development of a pioneering product, U-CUP. After more than 10 years, this biotech company is still committed to the commercialization of the U-CUP for scientific and translational applications. David continued to direct research at UHBS until 2018, mentoring and tutoring countless students, and sharing his knowledge while helping to develop autonomy and critical thinking.

Perhaps more than his interest in science, he was energized by his passion for all things related to history, quality, and beauty in life - be they nature, art, music, architecture, antiques, good food, but most of all great wine. Nothing made him happier than making friends with passionate vintners in Burgundy, the Rhône, Alsace and Piemonte; sharing great wine with friends and family; and sharing his wine knowledge with his nephew and nieces. David led a happy life traveling extensively all over the world enjoying life with his wife, and happily supporting her during their move back to the United States in 2019 when she accepted a job in Massachusetts. He will be remembered as an extremely smart, creative, funny, talented, caring, and generous husband, brother, son, uncle, friend and mentor.

David is survived by his wife of 23 years, Maria Victoria (Bascunana) Wendt; mother Marlene (Johnson) Wendt of Edina, MN; brother Allan (Jessie) Wendt of South Orange, NJ; sister Jennifer (Jim) Rogers of Eden Prairie, MN; nieces Carly, Sophie, and Lucy Rogers, Isabelle and Eloise Wendt; nephew Jake Rogers; and best friend Tim Rajtora (Jonathan Bates) of Minneapolis, MN. He was preceded in death by his father, Alfred Wendt.

A private family service was held for David in Massachusetts.  He will be laid to rest among the vineyards in the village of Riquewihr, in Alsace, France; a place very special to him and Maria. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the David Wendt Memorial Fund (https://everloved.com/life-of…) which will benefit underprivileged students at the Philippine Science High School, in Diliman, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines; where his wife, Maria, went to school from 1984-1988.

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