Dr. Joseph Miklos Szucs

Dr. Joseph Miklos Szucs, 82, of Houston, Texas, passed away on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital, surrounded by his family. Joe was born on November 21, 1942, in Szeged, Hungary, to the late Dr. and Mrs. Joseph and Piroska Szucs, and was raised there with his sister and younger brother. He earned his degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Szeged, where he later obtained his doctorate in Mathematics in 1965. Joe began his academic career as an associate professor at the University of Szeged and also conducted research at the Bolyai Institute. In 1971, Joe took a sabbatical to the United States, serving as a visiting assistant professor at Indiana University in Bloomington. There he met a bright and kind graduate student, Sylvia Seehausen, and they married in Hungary in 1972, where they lived until 1979, when they immigrated to the United States with their young family. He first worked as a scientific translator for the American Mathematical Society in Providence, Rhode Island, before joining Texas A&M University at Galveston as a professor of mathematics in 1980. He taught there for more than three decades, until his retirement in 2013, when he was named Professor Emeritus. Over his distinguished career, it is estimated that Joe taught more than 10,000 students calculus and differential equations. His research contributions spanned several fields, including von Neumann algebras, Hilbert space operator theory, abstract algebra, and graph theory. Beginning in the early 1990s, he developed a keen interest in mathematical biology, publishing on topics in population dynamics and population genetics. His other scholarly work included translating academic papers and books—primarily from Russian to English—and contributing to textbooks. In 1990, he also conducted mathematical analysis for the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, focusing on the design of an aircraft ejection seat. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. and Mrs. Joszef Szucs of Hungary; his sister, Eva Szucs Nagy-Buzder of Serbia; his brother, Miklos Szucs of Hungary; and his niece, Marianna Scott of Texas. He is survived by his devoted wife of 52 years, Sylvia Szucs, and their three children — Regina Reed (Glen), Adam Szucs (Emily), and Aron Szucs, grandchildren, Ava Szucs, Ella Szucs, Andrew Szucs, and Oliver Reed, and numerous brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews. Joe will be remembered for his humor, intellect, devotion to family, love of cooking, and passion for music, especially opera. His warmth, insight, and lifelong curiosity touched all who knew him, and his legacy endures through the generations of students, colleagues, and loved ones whose lives he enriched. He will be deeply missed and forever loved. A Visitation will be held Saturday November 8, 2025 at 11:00 am at Dettling Funeral Home (14094 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77079) and a Memorial Service at Noon Saturday November 8, 2025 with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to The Metropolitan Opera (https://secure.givelively.org/donate/metropolitan-opera-association-inc), or a charity of your choice.

Dr. Joseph Miklos Szucs

November 21, 1942 - October 23, 2025