Sergei Valentinovich Fogel

Sergei Valentinovich Fogel died peacefully in his sleep on August 29, 2026, in Houston, Texas. Born in Russia on March 3, 1951, Sergei grew up in Leningrad with his parents, Ludmila Markanova Fogel and Valentin Fogel, both architects, and his younger brother, Vladamir. He attended Leningrad State University, where he excelled in mathematics. His academic record also reflected the independent spirit that would shape his life: although an exceptional mathematician, he received only “fair” marks in History of the Communist Party, Marxist-Leninist Philosophy, and Military Training. On April 15, 1974, during his fifth academic year, his studies were discontinued for what university officials described as “behavior unworthy of a Soviet student.” The actual reason was that Sergei and his brother had applied for permission to emigrate to Israel based on their grandfather’s Jewish heritage. After receiving approval to leave the Soviet Union, the brothers arrived in Vienna, where they famously “jumped” a fence and exchanged their tickets to Israel for tickets to the United States. Sergei settled in Houston and continued his education at Rice University. In 1981, he earned a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics. His doctoral thesis focused on computer-vision algorithms designed to detect enemy tanks in satellite photographs. Sergei began his professional career with Exxon in Houston, working in seismic imaging. Several years later, he was recruited by Kodak and moved to Rochester, New York, to join the company’s research laboratory. He later told story after story about Kodak’s reluctance to embrace digital photography during his years there. Sergei eventually left Kodak because of declining eyesight and partial paralysis resulting from an unsuccessful surgery to remove a benign tumor. He and his brother both had retinitis pigmentosa, and Sergei ultimately lost his vision. Despite these challenges, his brilliant and inventive mind left an enduring professional legacy. He held five patents in computer imaging. Sergei was preceded in death by his parents, Ludmila Markanova Fogel and Valentin Fogel, and his brother, Vladamir. He is survived by his two nieces, Alexandra Anna Morton and Sasha Nevorotina. A viewing and Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Houston. The viewing will begin at 12:30 p.m., followed by the Funeral Mass at 1:00 p.m. A celebration-of-life luncheon will follow the Mass at Carrabba’s Italian Grill on Kirby Drive.

Sergei Valentinovich Fogel

March 3, 1951 - August 29, 2026