Alexey Igorevich Bogomolov (July 4, 1981- February 21, 2024) passed away unexpectedly on February 21, 2024 in Jacksonville, Florida.
Alexey was born and raised in Almaty, Kazakhstan in 1981. As a young boy he lived through the fall of the Soviet Union and experienced life in the post-Soviet republic. In his youth, Alexey enjoyed participating in organized sports and excelled in Judo which he participated with his older brother, Vadim. Alexey unfortunately experienced hardship and adversity at a young age as he was tragically orphaned at 16 years old, leaving he and Vadim to depend on each other.
Seeking a refuge and change of environment, Alexey came to the USA from Almaty Kazakhstan in 1997 for a brief one-year exchange at Greensboro Day School (GDS) in Greensboro, NC. This one-year exchange soon turned into three years, and Alexey graduated high school from GDS in 1999. Several families supported Alexey in his journey to the US to include the Mengerts, Adams, Murphys, Groats, and Sigmon families. Alexey eventually moved in with the Sigmon family and became a part of their family through present day.
Alexey was warmly welcomed to GDS and quickly made friends. This was not surprising considering his infectious smile and good sense of humor. He was active in school and drew on his martial arts background to join the school wrestling team where he earned both all-conference and all-state honors in the 179lbs weight class. Alexey also excelled academically, graduating from GDS in the spring of 1999 and receiving a scholarship to study at College of Charleston. There, he received a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems and was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity where he made several lifelong friendships and was involved in many activities. Alexey went on to further his education by earning an MBA from University of North Florida.
After college, Alexey began his professional career in the field of computer science and hardware and worked on increasingly challenging applications and projects. Seeking fulfillment and a greater calling, in 2019 Alexey founded an interactive and educational toy company called Just Smarty. What started as a side business became a huge success in the e-commerce space, and Alexey left the computer science field to devote his full time and energy to grow the business. Alexey took great pride in knowing that his work would help positively shape the lives of children and educators.
Alexey was also generous with his success and always found ways to help others. Driven by a deep-seated passion for helping others, Alexey lived by the words of his mentor who once guided him in life: "We helped you, and perhaps someday you'll help someone else." As a testament to this, Alexey established the Beatty Alumni Scholarship at the College of Charleston in 2016. It was the Beatty Scholarship that helped support Alexey through college and Alexey established a way for scholarship alumni to honor those who assisted him and give back and help a new generation of students.
Locally, Alexey sought ways to give back as well. He frequently volunteered at a Meals on Wheels, personally delivering food to elderly individuals in need. He also actively participated in organizing annual Christmas donations for children through the organization, Daniel kids, which focused on supporting local abused, abandoned, and neglected children. Most recently, Alexey sponsored a family from Ukraine to come to the US during the war through the u4u program.
Alexey’s appetite for fitness and sports continued with him throughout his life. He remained very physically fit and was active in Cross Fit and other forms of difficult exercise. He enjoyed living an active and healthy lifestyle, which his children now embrace whole heartedly. But beyond his large stature, was a very gentle and kind human being.
Alexey was truly the embodiment of the American Dream. He came to the US with little to nothing. He worked hard and made meaningful friendships and positively impacted others. His hard work earned him scholarships where he pursued a career in the technology sector. He later leveraged his savings to start his own business which was widely successful. One of Alexey’s proudest moments was earning his American citizenship in 2016.
Most important in Alexey’s life, however, was family. He was so happy when his brother Vadim and sister-in-law Anna eventually moved to Greensboro from Kazakhstan. He adored his brother Vadim and would lean on him in both good times and bad. Alexey was also blessed to be a father to his two boys, Sasha “Alexander” and Ivan “Vanya” who he loved more than anything in the world. His love and care for his two adorable boys, as well as his extended family and friends, was unwavering. He was a pillar of support for those around him, always ready to lend a helping hand. Alexey often reflected that the most cherished days of his life were the days his children were born. He was present at both their births, holding them in his arms and even kept the t-shirts he wore on those special days for his memories. Alexey enjoyed taking them on trips and teaching them to play chess. A standout memory for his son Alex was their trip to Costa Rica, a cherished moment of bonding. His younger son Ivan fondly remembers the joy they shared playing games and spending quality time together.
Alexey never forgot his “American Family” either. He always kept in touch and never missed a reaching out on birthdays or special holidays. He often sent flowers and went the extra mile to visit in person whenever possible.
Alexey exemplified what it meant to be the best father, son, brother, and husband, embodying dedication, love, and unwavering commitment to his family. His family always came first, and he made sure to provide them with everything they needed.
Alexey is predeceased by his mother Nadezhda Bogomolova, and grandparents Pavel and Galina Kirupiny.
He is survived by his former wife and mother of his children, Olga Turutina; his children: Sasha “Alex” and Ivan “Vanya” of Ponte Vedra, Florida; his brother, Vadim (Anna); nieces and nephews: Nadia, Daniel, Samuel and Alissa all of Charlotte, NC; his “American Parents”: Mike and Jackie Sigmon of Greensboro, NC; and his “American siblings”: Alex Sigmon (Janet), Greensboro, NC and Kelly Adair Ross (Michael), Richmond, VA.
Visitation will take place on Wednesday, February 28 from 10am-12pm with a graveside service to immediately follow at the Ponte Vedra Valley Funeral Home, 4750 Palm Valley Road, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082.
