Michael Kukuy

1945 - 2026

Beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend passed away on June 30th, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years Sofia Asinovsky Kukuy, daughter Yana (Jane) Kukuy Lemann, son Dr. Eugene Leonard Kukuy and his four grandchildren - Arthur Abraham Lemann V, Adeline Grace Lemann, Maxwell Olson Kukuy and Remi Isabel Kukuy.

A brilliant structural engineer whose profession was his calling, he successfully worked in Azerbaijan, Russia and USA to where he emigrated in 1980.

His was a beautiful soul. While others judged or dismissed, he sought to understand - to put himself in another's shoes and take action in someone else's best interest over his own. Always. He wanted a more compassionate and just world. He wanted kindness to prevail. Politeness and respect for people was his only way to live and the golden rule was his only rule. If you treated others the way you would want to be treated, you could never go wrong.

He didn't like anything that was not authentic - held no place in his life for arrogance, pretention or insincerity. He valued deep and true relationships.
He was a loving family man, man of principle, selflessness, honesty, integrity and humility.

He will be deeply missed by everyone who loved him or had a privilege to know him - a pillar of strength and love, who made the world steadier just by being in it.

Funeral Services were held on Thursday, July 2, 2026, at the Touro Synagogue, New Orleans, Louisiana.