Gheorghe (George) Dumitru Calboreanu

Mr Gheorghe (George) Dumitru Calboreanu was a natural leader whose charismatic, winning presence allowed him to take control of various situations with ease. Equipped with a clear and calculating focus, he possessed a tough-minded, “take charge” attitude. Sociable, analytical and pleasant, George enjoyed life’s challenges and was always ready to take on the world.

His parents were Dumitru and Iuliana (Popovici) Calboreanu. George was born and raised in Bucharest, Romania. He was baptized in the Romanian Orthodox Church.

Always able to express himself well, George possessed strong interpersonal skills. He was optimistic in his outlook on life, open, and witty.

In college, George's strong personal work ethic and his direct, “down to earth” approach served him well. Armed with strong analytical abilities and an acute sense of how things worked, he earned his Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Polytechnic Institute in Bucharest in 1976.

George and Alexandra married in 1989. Their daughter is Cristina.

George was an accomplished mechanical engineer, deeply knowledgeable and passionate about his work. He was employed for 25 years by one of the largest industrial complexes in Romania, 23 August (later FAUR). A persuasive individual with strong decision-making skills, he rose through the ranks to become one of the company's most respected leaders.

George enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. He had something of an artistic flair in many of the things that he did, and he put this creativity toward all of his pastimes. He was passionate about cars, and loved to tinker with anything mechanical. And of course, he was a dedicated fan of Julie Andrews, having watched "The Sound of Music" more than 150 times!

Because he liked to take risks, George was a perfect match for athletics and exercise. He was enthusiastic and confident about these activities. In his college years, George loved to play tennis, and also pursued martial arts (judo) and track. He remained an avid tennis player throughout his life, and loved swimming.

Travel and vacations were experiences that George truly enjoyed. He preferred to seek out excitement wherever he went and he was partial to vacations that were casual and laid back, with an atmosphere of “live and let live.” He loved the beach, but his most memorable vacation was the time he spent in New York City with his lifelong friend Andrei in 1991.

George was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of his favorites was Robert Tiger. They were best friends during George's University days. In later years, his family was rounded out by his beloved cats Sandra and Blackie.

From 1996 to 1998, George and Alexandra lived in Piła, in northwestern Poland, where George was seconded for his work. They enjoyed discovering new places together, and it was an opportunity for a second honeymoon. In January 2000, George and his family relocated to Vancouver, Canada.

George passed away on August 21, 2012 at George Pearson Centre, Vancouver, BC. Services were held at Boal Chapel Memorial Gardens in North Vancouver, BC. He was laid to rest in Boal Chapel Memorial Gardens in North Vancouver, BC.

George was the kind of person who could win others over easily. A concrete communicator, he relied on his senses to increase his involvement and awareness of others. He was always able to provide amusing repartee to his friends and acquaintances, offering a seemingly endless supply of quips, anecdotes, jokes and stories. If George had a theme song written about him, it might well have been “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” He enjoyed his life and the experience of living it. This is how we will all remember Mr Gheorghe (George) Dumitru Calboreanu.

May he rest in peace.