Jacob Kazakia

Jacob Y. Kazakia (Iakovos) passed away on February 20th, 2025 in Bethlehem, PA from heart complications. He was born on February 27, 1945 in Istanbul, the son of Saleh and Galateia (Nikolaidou). He attended the Greek Orthodox Parochial High School Zografeion and the Istanbul Technical University where he obtained an MS degree in Civil Engineering in 1968. In January 1969 he came to the US, and in 1972 he received his Ph.D. in Applied Mechanics from Lehigh University. Soon after, he was married to Maria Despoina Karabodos, also from Constantinople.

For 50 years, he was employed at Lehigh University, where he rose through the ranks from research assistant to full professor, teaching both Mathematics and Mechanical Engineering, and pioneered distance education. He supported several graduate students and published more than fifty articles. He retired in December 2019.

For more than 20 years he and his family lived in Bridgewater NJ. During that time he was an active member of Piscataway's St. George Greek Orthodox Church. He served as president of the NJ AHEPA chapter and organized the annual Graduates Banquet, a celebration of college and high school graduates of the community. After moving to Lower Saucon Valley, PA, he became a member of the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral and the Homer Chapter of AHEPA.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years Maria "Popi", his daughter Galateia with her husband Justin Raade and children Jacob "Jack", West, and Athena, his daughter Christina with her husband Demetrios Staurinos and children Ourania and Simon, cousins Stelios and Maria Taketzis, Kleri Kazakia, and their families, as well as other relatives in Greece, Europe, and South America.

Viewing will take place at the Herron Funeral Home 458 Center St, Bethlehem, PA 18018 on Friday, Feb 28 between the hours of 6 and 8pm with a Trisagion Service at 7PM followed by the AHEPA Service at 7:15PM. A Christian funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 1 at 11:00 am at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral 1607 W Union Blvd, Bethlehem, PA 18018 to be followed by a celebration of his life. Interment will be at the Nisky Hill Cemetery in Bethlehem. In lieu of flowers, per his request, donations can be made to St. Nicholas Cathedral or Lehigh University's Zoellner Arts Center.