Faete Jacques Teixeira Filho

Faete “JT” Jacques Teixeira Filho, 45, of North Augusta, South Carolina, passed away on October 28, 2026, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

JT was born in Bonito, in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul, into a family of farmers. To his family he was always Faetinho, remembered by his cousin as “special from the day he was born: different, quiet, with an enormous heart.” He was the first in his family to go to college, and he kept going, earning a master’s degree in Brazil and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Tennessee.

His career took him to Eaton Corporation, then to East Carolina University, where he taught engineering, mentored more than 40 students and received the Outstanding Research Scholar award, and most recently to Savannah River National Laboratory, where he was a senior electrical and machine learning engineer. Colleagues knew him as brilliant, creative and always a step ahead, yet humble, patient and generous with his ideas.

JT believed deeply in education, for himself and for others. He inspired his sisters to earn their college and master’s degrees, sent books to students in Brazil, and volunteered with refugee and community organizations. When someone needed help, he simply showed up.

Quiet and unassuming, JT was a wonderful listener with a calm, gentle presence that put people at ease. He also had an adventurous spirit. He loved to travel, held sailing and diving licenses, ran marathons, competed in triathlons and earned a black belt in jiu-jitsu.

In his wife, Tatyana, he found his teammate. They traveled, danced and built a life together. More than anything, JT looked forward to becoming a father, and in June 2026 they welcomed their daughter, Eva.

His sister Larissa wrote: “It is so hard to say goodbye. Faetinho was always my guiding star. Kind and generous.”

JT is survived by his wife, Tatyana; his daughter, Eva; his parents, Faete Jacques Teixeira and Eleonora Azevedo de Souza; his brother, Rafael Souza Teixeira; his sisters, Larissa Souza Teixeira and Ariadne Souza Teixeira; and many friends and colleagues in the United States and Brazil.

A celebration of life was held on November 6 in North Augusta. A second celebration will take place in Bonito, Brazil, on November 28.

JT believed that education opens every door. In lieu of flowers, the family invites those who wish to honor his memory to contribute to Eva’s education fund at https://gofund.me/4333c3b4e.