The Systems Engineering and Computers Science Program (PESC) at COPPE/UFRJ sadly reports that its (retired) professor Sueli Bandeira Teixeira Mendes (UFRJ) passed away on January 16 of the current year. The PESC transmits its most sincere feelings to the family of Prof. Sueli Mendes.

Prof. Sueli Mendes was a pioneer in Computing in Brazil, with a doctorate in Logic from Stanford University (USA) in 1970, with a strong performance in Artificial Intelligence, especially in Natural Language Processing.

At UFRJ, after spending some working time at PUC-Rio, Prof. Sueli Mendes worked in the graduate courses in Systems Engineering and Computer Science at COPPE and in the undergraduate course in Computer Science at the Institute of Mathematics. After her retirement in 1995, she continued to contribute to the evolution of computing collaborating with the PPGI/UFRJ and UERJ.

Among the several outstanding actions, her participation in the creation of the Brazilian Computer Society should be praised. As a matter of fact, the address of her apartment was used to sign the minutes of SBC's inception. Her actuation was fundamental for the effective creation of the Brazilian Computer Society.

Prof. Sueli Mendes participated in several strategic projects in Brazil, published several scientific works, and advised several masters and doctoral students, which today take prominent positions in the computing area (academia and industry) in Brazil and abroad.

Her legacy highlights the importance of her numerous achievements and allows us to observe the greatness of her contribution to Computer Science.