Endre Geza Jakoy

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Endre (Andy) Jakoy, 91 years old, beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend. He passed away in his care home after enduring Alzheimer’s disease for many years.

Andy was predeceased by his wife, Marjorie June Jakoy, in 1984 and is survived by his wife, Adrienne Burton, children Lawrence Jakoy (Trish) and Diana Rosehill (Bill), stepchildren Drew Duncan (Dawn) and Adair Kreft (Dan), and Barbara Duncan Fujino (Yoshio)and his grandchildren Leah (Reggie), Joey, Amber, Kelsey, Eliot, Owen (Faith), Finn, Loch, Caleb (Miriam), Micah, Alina & Petra.

Andy was born in Kisber, Hungary in 1935, and spent his formative years at his family home in Balatonalmadi, where he discovered his love of sailing on Lake Balaton. He attended the University of Sopron, where he started his Forestry degree. Following the Hungarian Uprising of 1956, Andy fled Hungary with fellow students and professors from the University of Sopron's Faculty of Forestry. The group was welcomed by the University of British Columbia, where they completed their forestry studies. After learning English in Powell River, he finished his Forestry degree at UBC. He went on to earn a Masters degree in Forestry in 1965. He went on to teach plant identification and soil science at BCIT during a 30-year-career.

Andy met his first wife Marjorie while sailing at Kitsilano Yacht Club, and they married in 1964. They raised their two children in the Dunbar area of Vancouver until Marjorie succumbed to cancer in 1984.

After a 15-year-courtship, Andy married Adrienne Burton in 1999. They met while attending Knox United Church; together they shared a deep appreciation for Hungarian and French culture, and they enjoyed many trips to Europe. Andy and Adrienne lived their retirement lives together to the full.

Andy was an old school European gentleman. He is remembered as a gentle, playful, helpful man, who loved sailing, skiing, dancing, making wine, swimming in the ocean, playing bridge, getting together with his Hungarian friends and old classmates, traveling, and in his later years, going for regular walks and bike rides (until the age of 89!). Thrifty until the end, to the best of our knowledge he never threw out a pair of socks or underwear.

His family are grateful to the staff at South Granville Park Lodge and to Kim, Brigitta, Darren, Teresa, and other caregivers who provided compassion and care over the past five years. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Please join us for a memorial October 21 at Knox United Church, 1pm.