Umesh Kumar Verma passed away surrounded by his loving family on Monday, the 26th of December 2022, in Cleveland, Ohio following a courageous battle with cancer. He was 65 years of age.
Mr. Verma met his wife, Preeti, while returning home to Mumbai to visit his parents and was immediately taken in by her eyes that sparkled when she smiled. After marriage, they moved back to Houston and had three “strong, independent, well-educated yet compassionate” daughters, Reva, Neha, and Kara.
Mr. Verma moved from India to the United States at the mere age of 17 to obtain his Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering at the University of Houston. After starting out at Brown & Root and Shell Oil, he pursued his entrepreneurial passion and founded his cybersecurity firm, BLUE LANCE. Thirty-three years later, it has become a leading global provider of IT security audit and compliance automation software, helping companies safekeep their digitally managed assets.
Mr. Verma was also an active community advocate and supporter. He was passionate about helping improve the lives of people with diabetes, serving the American Diabetes Association as Chair of the Houston Community Leadership Board (CLB), Chair of the Finance Committee, 2017 Secretary/Treasurer for the National Board of Directors, and 2020 Chairman of the National Board of Directors. He also served on the executive committee of the Houston Diabetes Resource Center. In addition, he has served as Chair of the Center for Houston’s Future and founded the community organization Cyber Houston, which hosts the annual Houston Cyber Summit, aiming to connect business leaders across small and mid-sized businesses with industry experts to become cyber resilient.
A funeral service honoring Mr. Verma’s life is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Sunday, the 8th of January 2023, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston. For those unable to attend the service in person, virtual attendance may be accessed by visiting Mr. Verma’s online memorial tribute at GeoHLewis.com and selecting the “Join Livestream” icon in the service section.
(Kindly note: In respect and honor of Mr. Verma, the family requests that attendees wear the color white, thank you.)
Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception to be held in the adjacent grand foyer, parlor, and Republic Wine Room.
A cremation ceremony is to follow, via an escorted cortege, at the Chapel of Eternal Peace Crematory on the grounds of Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery in Houston.
In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions in Mr. Verma’s memory may be directed to the American Diabetes Association at http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR?px=16787986&pg=personal&fr_id=13321
Please visit Mr. Verma’s online memorial tribute at GeoHLewis.com, where fond memories and words of comfort and condolence may be shared electronically with his family.
In Memoriam