Odd Sveinung Steinsland, 81, of Galveston, passed away Monday, January 25, 2016, at his residence. He was born July 6, 1934, in Lyngdal, Norway. After growing up on the Atland family farm, Odd went to Officers Training School and served as a Lieutenant in the National Security F.B.K. Odd later received his master’s degree in economics from Bedrifts Okonomisk Institute in Oslo, Norway in 1958. He then went to the Middle East (Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt), where he served in the United Nations military hospital as a Lieutenant.

Odd came to America in 1959. He had various jobs in New York City, from taxi driver to ice cream peddler to research technician and student at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University. In 1966, Odd received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Columbia and then went to Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, where he received a Ph.D. in Pharmacology in 1973.

In 1974, Odd moved to Galveston, Texas as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology at UTMB. He worked in the Pharmacology Department his entire career and retired in 2002 as a Professor Emeritus. He had numerous published articles in peer reviewed journals, books, chapters in books, and abstracts. Odd was highly respected by his peers, colleagues, students, and staff.

Odd held many positions on both national and UTMB committees dealing with various aspects of teaching, research and departmental activities. He was a Pharmacology Graduate Program Director from 1977-1979. Odd was chairman of 9, and member of 27, thesis or dissertation supervisory committees.

Odd was preceded in death by his parents, Sigrid and Ola Steinsland, and sister, Olaug Abrahamsen.

He is survived by his wife with whom he shared over 40 years of love, Sharon Herbert Steinsland; stepsons, Reid Allen Nelson and Todd Eric Nelson; sister, Ingrid Roren; brother, Arnulf Steinsland and wife, Ingebjorg; and brother, Kare Steinsland and wife, Kirsti; and grandchildren: Emelie Nelson, Jessie Meibaum, Abigail Meibaum, Olivia Nelson, Ellie Phillips, Parker Nelson, Cody Phillips, Peighton Nelson and Mason Nelson.

Odd’s family will receive visitors beginning at 1:00 pm, Saturday, January 30th, at Malloy & Son Funeral Home. A memorial service will begin at 2:00 pm at the funeral home.