GEORGE FRANCIS MICHALS

(September 14, 1935 - September 8, 2025) George Francis Michals, a longtime resident of Vero Beach, Florida, passed away on September 8, 2025, at the age of 89. Born György Ferenc Mihalcsics on September 14, 1935, in Szombathely, Hungary, George was the beloved first-born son of Todor and Ilona; and big brother to Laszlo. During the Hungarian uprising, at the age of 21, George fled the country and immigrated to Canada, arriving in Montreal on Christmas Day in 1956, speaking no English and with no money. It was a period marked by personal hardship but also filled with abundant possibility, and George took full advantage. Within five years, working days and studying at night, George had learned English and become a CPA. He worked at McDonald Currie, now part of PwC, and later Dominion Textile, working his way up to become an Executive Vice President. In 1958, George married Eva Szabados, also a Hungarian immigrant. They had two daughters, Kathy and Julie. Tragically, Eva was diagnosed with breast cancer and died in 1969. Through a colleague, George met Patricia "Ricki" Hoffman, whom he married in 1971. Ricki was the spirited yin to his steadfast yang. They shared 54 happy years together. Ricki became "new mummy" to Kathy and Julie, and they had two more daughters, Lisa and Gina. George was an ardent family man who insisted on weekend outings in the family station wagon to explore the outdoors. He considered his wife and children, and later grandchildren, the greatest blessings of his life. In 1976, George became CFO of Genstar, which moved its headquarters to San Francisco in 1979. He and his family lived there until 1988, when he returned to Montreal as CFO of Canadian Pacific, taking with him an abiding love for the Sierra Nevada's and good wine. Upon his retirement, George and Ricki moved to Maple Lane Farm, a charming old farmhouse set on 75 acres in Mono, Ontario, where they spent many wonderful years entertaining family and friends. Being a gentleman farmer brought him great joy. Active in sports all his life, George became an avid golfer in his retirement years. Traveling also ranked high in his life. He and Ricki visited countries in all five continents, often on walking tours. George will be remembered for his dry sense of humour, his integrity, his interest in geopolitics and current events, his loyalty to family and friends, his wisdom, and his unwavering optimism. He was a consummate gentleman. He had many gifts and accomplishments, but his greatest legacy is his devotion to family. George is survived by his loving wife, Ricki; his adoring children, Kathy, Julie (Marty), Lisa (Jack), and Gina (Stuart); and his grandchildren, Whitney, Leah, Flynn, Ridgely and Anna, whom he cherished. A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, October 12, 2025, 2:00 p.m., at the ACTS Indian River Estates West Chapel, 7730 Indian Oaks Drive, Vero Beach. A reception will immediately follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: VNA & Hospice Foundation (foundation.vnatc.com), The PBS Foundation (foundation.pbs.org), Indian River Land Trust (www.irlt.org), or Concordia University (Montreal) (www.concordia.ca).