Yury Gurvich

OBITUARY

Manhattan Beach resident Yury Michael Gurvich, 94, passed away surrounded by family and friends on January 23, 2026.

Born in Leningrad, USSR to a mathematician and an actress, Yury led his family out of the Soviet Union in 1976. After landing in New York City, he quickly found a job in California and never looked back, enjoying a successful career spanning over 40 years. He was trained as a geophysicist and became an expert in x-ray spectroscopy. He made significant contributions to his field and presented his research around the world as an employee of Bausch + Lomb and later Rockwell International, developing several technologies key to the space shuttle programs.

In 1985, Yury and his wife Marina moved into the Manhattan Beach home they would share for the rest of their lives. Yury would often remind his friends that it was Marina who made the decision to settle in the quiet town by the ocean, where they became regular morning fixtures on the bike path. They were weeks from celebrating their 67th wedding anniversary when Marina passed away in March 2022.

After spending the first 44 years of his life under Soviet oppression, Yury had a unique appreciation for his American citizenship. He made it his mission to pay it forward, sponsoring countless future emigrés – whether friend or stranger – to follow in his footsteps. Yury was not shy about sharing his (mostly conservative) opinions as a regular vocal attendee at MB City Council meetings, frequent contributor to the Beach Reporter’s “Letters to the Editor” section, and even a two-time candidate for city council.

Yury is survived by his daughter Dr. Tanya Gurvich, son-in-law Dr. George Zimmerman, ex-son-in-law David Zobel, grandsons and granddaughters-in-law Dr. Michael Zobel, Nicholas Zobel, Danielle Zobel, and Katrina Hauprich, and great-grandchildren Jack and Olivia. He was particularly proud of his grandchildren and had a uniquely close relationship with them, helping to shape their personality, work ethic, and Lakers fandom. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you honor Yury by speaking up for your beliefs, listening to your wife (who is probably right), calling your grandparents, and voting in every election.