It is with great sadness that we announce that Leslie Szalatkay Rolko passed away peacefully at the Thompson House long term care facility in Toronto, ON on Wednesday January 19th, 2022. He was in his 90th year.
Les was predeceased by his parents László and Klára (née Siklován) Szalatkay. He is survived by his loving wife of over 64 years Brigitte (née Sailer), his sister Klára, his brother István (Ilona), and his two sons Michael (Edith) and Christopher (Jane, predeceased). “Nagypapa”, as he was known by his five grandchildren – Emily (Matthew), Andrew (Kristi), Sarah (Sam), Thomas, and David – will be sorely missed by all. Six nieces in Europe will also cherish his memory.
Les was an exceptionally gifted professional engineer and had a tremendous career in the field of geotechnical engineering. He graduated from the University of Budapest in 1954. He escaped Hungary in 1956 at the end of the revolution and met the love of his life, Brigitte in Vienna, while en route to Canada. They were married in Toronto in 1957.
In support of his plan to move to the West, Les dedicated himself to learning English prior to departing his motherland. But that was not enough for him – he learned several other languages too and was fluent in Hungarian, German and English. He also studied Spanish, Greek, Latin, Russian, and Mandarin achieving varying degrees of proficiency in each.
Les was a tremendous musician; his instrument of choice being the piano. He could “shake the tunes” out of his fingers at will – whether it was smooth jazz, big band swing tunes, or his favourite classical music – he was adept at all genres. He was always ready and willing to entertain at a keyboard for anyone who asked. Les passed on his gift of music to both his children and grandchildren.
Books were another huge passion of his; he could never have too many. A real history aficionado, he amassed a collection of hundreds of tomes over the course of his life, about war, art, religions, science, political ideology as well as the occasional technical handbook.
Les always had time for anyone who asked for his help or attention. Les will be remembered as a happy and witty man, quick to share a smile and a laugh, and someone who loved his wife and family above all else. He endured the last several years of his life with dignity and grace, and without complaint, through the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. By the grace of God he passed away peacefully and quietly, knowing that his entire family on both sides of the ocean love him dearly.
A private Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Bonaventure Catholic Church, on Saturday, February 5, 2022 from 10:45 AM. Please join us via livestream by clicking the following link https://funeraweb.tv/en/diffusions/45407
Followed by an entombment at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Please join the livestream by clicking the following link https://funeraweb.tv/en/diffusions/45408
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada or Better Living, Thompson House would be appreciated.
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