Jan Pucher, 82, passed away peacefully at his home in Venice, Florida, on September 22, 2026, after a long illness that he fought hard to overcome.

Known affectionately as Yanni to family and friends, Jan was born March 2, 1944, in Svatý Jur, Czechoslovakia, to Jan and Antonia Pucher. He was a man of remarkable determination, fearlessness, athleticism, with a deep appreciation for living life well and honestly.

Jan studied electrical engineering at the University of Agriculture and Technology in Nitra, Czechoslovakia. It was in Nitra, as teenagers at a local sports training complex, that he first met the love of his life, Eva. They married, and in late 1969, Jan and Eva left Czechoslovakia with their young son and began a new life in America. They arrived with very little—a small leather suitcase containing mostly baby clothes and a couple of toys.

After immigrating to the United States, Jan and his family made their home in Atlanta, Georgia, for just over 30 years. There he built a distinguished career with a multinational engineering firm, ultimately becoming a lead engineer on the design and construction of major industrial projects, including hydroelectric power plants and paper mills.

Athletics was always an important part of Jan’s life. From an early age, he was an accomplished athlete, performing as a junior ski jumper at European Alpine ski competitions in the Tatra Mountains. In Czechoslovakia, he played professional soccer, including for AC Nitra and in European league and national-team tournaments. In Atlanta, he helped form the Atlanta Metros, an adult club team for which he also played, and was instrumental in establishing premier youth club soccer teams that brought together some of the top young players from across the state. That organization is now one of the largest and most successful in the United States, and generations of young players have benefited from the foundation he helped build.

Jan was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He loved people and had a particular gift for making them feel welcome. His home was often filled with family, neighbors, friends, food, conversation, and laughter. Generosity and hospitality were among the ways he expressed his affection.

Jan loved technology and all team sports, and he spent much of his time cycling, sailing, and taking photographs. He completed several century rides and duathlons and enjoyed the technical side of sailing. He had a keen appreciation for architecture and design and was exceptionally handy. He also enjoyed cars, especially rebuilding and working on them. Some of the cars he owned earlier in life would be beautiful classics today—a fact he occasionally joked about with a smile: “If I’d only kept that car.”

Music was another lifelong passion. He invested in the finest hi-fi equipment because it made him feel like he was in the room with the artists. His musical tastes spanned generations, from classical to contemporary.

In retirement, Jan found his paradise on Venice Island. Nearly every evening, he would walk to the neighborhood beach to gather with neighbors and friends and watch the sunset. He especially loved the afterglow—the extraordinary light that could stretch across the dusk sky long after the sun had disappeared. Over the years, he sent thousands of these sunset photographs to his son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren, often with a note: “Sending to Denver beautiful sunset today.” Each was a small reminder that Jan was thinking of them.

Jan is survived by his wife of 61 years, Eva; his son, Martin, and daughter-in-law, Jennifer; his grandchildren, Simone, Sebastian, and Sascha; his brother, Vladimir; his sister, Elenka; and his sister-in-law, Alicia. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jan and Antonia Pucher, and his youngest brother, Edward.

Jan leaves behind much more than his career and athletic achievements. He leaves the example of a man who left everything familiar to begin again, worked hard to build a meaningful life, and became a U.S. citizen alongside his wife and son. He was a proud patriot who loved America and was deeply grateful for the opportunities it gave his family.

And for those who knew him in Venice, there will always be one more image of Jan to remember: walking to the beach in the evening, gathering with friends, watching the sky change, waiting patiently for that perfect light—and then sending that sunset westward to the people he loved.

Tonight, when the sun sets, think of Yanni.