Eugene Walter Kozel

Eugene Kozel, retired endodontist and Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army, passed away in the arms of his family on September 2, 2022 after a long illness. Eugene, “Geno” to his friends, was born to Belarusian immigrants in the steel mill town Ambridge, Pennsylvania, and attended Ambridge high school.

He was admitted to the Citadel Military College in South Carolina where he excelled in electrical engineering. After graduating, he entered the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, completing hundreds of jumps as a paratrooper. Eugene received his D.D.S. at Case Western Reserve and completed his specialty in endodontics at George Washington University. He spent collective years deployed to France, the Belgian Congo, Thailand, Germany, and Korea. Eugene moved to Monterey, California in 1977 to complete his last assignment at Fort Ord. He retired from the service after serving his country for over twenty years. He then established a private dental specialty practice in downtown Monterey. He was active in the community; enjoying membership in both the Pacheco club and the Monterey Bay Association ski group, and running for City Council in 1985. After ten years, Eugene sold his practice and moved to northeast Texas. There, Geno and his brother Paul became pioneers of the fledgling cellular telephone industry and successfully brought connectivity to the large region. He returned to the Monterey peninsula in the late 90s, where he held membership at Corral de Tierra Country Club for almost a quarter century. Geno spent his final years surrounded by his family, and an exotic menagerie of animals.

Throughout his life, Geno maintained and nurtured his love of history as well as current affairs. A skillful skier, a beautiful dancer and a fearsome opponent in chess, he truly was a Renaissance man! His irresistible charisma never failed to draw in those around him, and his keen intellect, fabulous sense of humor, and calm, loving presence will be sorely missed by his wife of 25 years, Turi, and children, Rima, Alex, Cory, Oleg, and Gunnar. Geno was also survived by his siblings, Paul and Nancy; his grandchildren, Max, Adam, Olivia, and Kane; as well as his nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his parents, Ostaf and Christine, and his brother Alex and wife Betty.

He will be buried with full military honors at noon on Tuesday, September 13th at the San Carlos Cemetery in Monterey, followed by a celebration of life at Corral de Tierra Country Club in Salinas. Those who knew him are encouraged to attend. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Tunnel to Towers Foundation.