South Sakhan Kousoum

South Kousoum was born on June 6, 1943, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. He lived between
the Cambodian Post Office building and Siem Reap, where he enjoyed many adventures
with his bicycle and his little brother, including playing in Angkor Wat as a seven-year-old.

He moved to the United States in 1962 when he came to study Engineering at California
Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo, one of his favorite places in the world.
South loved education, and he earned his PhD in Systems Engineering from Utah State
University in 1971.

In 1971, he moved to Merida, Venezuela where he began his career at the Inter-American
Center for Environmental and Territorial Development and Research (CIDIAT), an
institution created through an agreement between the Venezuelan government and the
Organization of American States, and now part of the Academic Vice-Rectory of the
University of the Andes. At the same time, he served as a graduate-level professor in the
Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences at the University of the Andes, as well as a
professor in the Faculty of Engineering, School of Systems Engineering, actively
participating in the advanced training of professionals in environmental, and engineering
fields. Speaking Cambodian, French, and English when he arrived in Venezuela, he taught
himself Spanish, becoming fluent in months.

During his time in Venezuela, South Kousoum found love and married Ada Kousoum,
sharing with her a life filled with companionship and support.

In September 1975, he moved to Caracas, where he joined Simón Bolívar University as a
graduate-school professor of Systems Engineering. On the weekends, he would take his
young daughter to local parks. During this time, he also discovered fishing and would hop
in his beloved Camaro for regular fishing trips.

In 1982, he returned to the United States, and reunited with his family from Cambodia. He
began a new professional chapter as an engineer, modeler, and operations analyst. In
1995, he became a U.S. citizen, an honor he was very proud of. From 1996 onward, he
worked in Northern Virginia on the development of technologies focused on national
defense. In the final stage of his career, in 2012, he returned to teaching as an Adjunct
Professor of Mathematics at Strayer University, closing his professional life where he had
always felt at home: teaching.

South Kousoum was an explorer by nature. From taking his son to WWE events, to visiting
the National Mall, he loved to explore both near and far. He especially loved to drive,
often without a fixed destination. Anyone who visited would be invited to a weekend
daytrip. When in the middle of his many roadtrips, he would say “Uh, oh,” everyone in the
car knew what it meant: there was trouble… and most likely were lost. Getting lost was
part of the adventure and fun.

Above all of his achievements, South Kousoum was an exceptional father, grandfather,
and uncle. In the last decade of his life, he enjoyed traveling with his family, returning to
his beloved California, discovering Hawaii with his grandkids, and enjoying Disney World,
and in particular, his favorite ride, It’s a Small World.

South Kousoum passed away on January 18, 2026, surrounded by his family, leaving
behind a full life lived across continents, disciplines, and generations. His legacy remains in the roads traveled, the minds he shaped, the laughter and dreams, and his love for his
family. He is survived by Ada, his children, Juliana and Anthony, his grandchildren, Daniel
and John, his son-in-law, Ryan, his sister, Nawon, his little brother, Reangsan, and his
many nieces and nephews.

His funeral will be held at St. Mark Catholic Church in Vienna, Virginia at 1 pm on Saturday,
February 7, 2026.