Wagner Kamakura, the Jesse H. Jones Professor Emeritus of Marketing at Rice University, passed away peacefully March 11 surrounded by his family.
A distinguished scholar and educator, Wagner made a lasting impact on the field of marketing and on generations of students and colleagues. His research, spanning consumer analytics, market segmentation and quantitative modeling, shaped the discipline in profound ways. As a faculty member at Rice Business, he was known not only for his intellectual rigor but also for his deep passion for teaching and mentoring.
“Wagner lived a full life, and we feel so lucky for the impact he’s had on our school and campus communities,” Dean Peter Rodriguez wrote in an announcement to the school. “Joining Rice Business in 2013, he brought a unique global perspective and an exemplary record of teaching and research from universities including Duke, Iowa, Vanderbilt, Pittsburgh and Buffalo. He was grateful for the opportunity to spend his career doing what he loved. His wife, Nomaiaci, shared that he especially cherished his time at Rice.”
Kamakura was a prolific researcher and author with hundreds of peer-reviewed papers, thousands of citations and three books, including “Market Segmentation: Conceptual and Methodological Foundations.”
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Wagner,” said Jing Zhou, deputy dean of academic affairs at Rice Business. “He was a brilliant scholar, a dedicated teacher and above all a deeply engaged member of our academic community. His pioneering work shaped the marketing research field in lasting ways, but what truly set him apart was his relentless curiosity and love for learning. Even after retirement, he remained a fixture at seminars and research camps, always eager to exchange ideas and challenge conventional thinking. He was a mentor, a colleague and a friend to many of us. We will miss his intellect, passion and dedication to research and learning. Our hearts are with his family during this difficult time.”
In accordance with Kamakura’s wishes, there will not be a formal service. He is survived by his wife, Nomaiaci, and their son, Daniel.