Laszlo Gyuriko GEORGE

LASZLO GYURIKO GEORGE May 30, 1931 - June 7, 2021 Laszlo was born in Budapest, Hungary on May 30, 1931 to Carolina Reiter and Istvan Gyuriko. He grew up in the beautiful village of Bozsok until he was 11, and then moved to Budapest. In 1954, Laszlo graduated with honours from the Cinematography program at the Hungarian Academy of Film. He left Hungary in 1956, during the Hungarian Revolution, by walking over the Hungarian/Austrian border in his home town of Bozsok. After his escape, Laszlo was recruited to study at Oxford University, where he learned English. He left the UK to immigrate to Canada. Laszlo arrived in Toronto in 1957 with hopes to work at the National Film Board. Instead, he met with Jerry Keedy at Motion Picture Center, who gave him a camera, a tripod and a roll of film with a taxi ticket, and the address of the CBC's lab on Jarvis Street. He was told to go film something as part of his job application, and to screen it at the lab the following day. He went to the CNE and made a short newsreel of the empty park ready to welcome the crowds the next day. It was broadcast on the CBC news that night. Laszlo began his career in Canada filming for the news. It was in Toronto that he met Ildiko Josa, whom he would marry December 11, 1958. Together, Laszlo and Ildiko built a life in Toronto and had to daughters: Caroline Leslie and Clara Lisa. In 1960, Laszlo was one of the first 2 cameramen hired by the Toronto Star and John Bassett to film the opening footage for CFTO TV on Dec 31. In 1963 Laszlo joined TDF Artists and began a career filming commercials. It was a wonderful time, and he was recognized with many awards as one of the best commercial cinematographers in Canada. In 1967, Laszlo and Ildiko opened their own commercial boutique in Toronto. This was the beginning of his transition into new film and televisions mediums. In the mid 70's, at the airshow in Toronto, Laszlo was inspired to make a film about flying. He was amazed by Oscar Bush's glider flight, and felt that there was a story to be told on how man had mastered the sky. Laszlo, Dave Mackay, and Doug Murray worked together to create 'Silent Sky', one of the most viewed Imax films to show at Ontario Place, inspiring a generation of young pilots and filmmakers. Laszlo was also asked to film the Imax film, 'The Planet Earth' for the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC. Laszlo then began to film motion pictures, television movies and series. Laszlo was a pioneer of the Canadian Film and Television Industry. Over his 70 year career, Laszlo travelled the world, working with A-List international stars, directors and crews; mentoring future filmmakers and inspiring them with his creativity, professionalism and kindness. He had a wonderful career which he never considered as work. The last show he worked on was in 2019. Laszlo has been honoured with countless awards for his work which include two lifetime achievement awards, presented by the Canadian Society of Cinematographers in 1995 and by the Hungarian Society of Cinematographers in 2019. In keeping with his love of photography, Laszlo began experimenting with digital photography creating stunning photographs that are in private collections, and in the Hungarian Szecheny Library. Laszlo was also an accomplished piano player. He played every day, and was recently teaching himself, by ear, Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No.2. Laszlo and Ildiko, although primarily based in Toronto, also established a home in Vancouver in 1985 and eventually moved full time to Lions Bay, BC in 2005. Here, they became a fixture of the beautiful coastal community, and were joined by both their daughters, and 4 grandchildren. Laszlo was living a full life until he had a stroke on May 19, 2021. He passed away peacefully on June 7, 2021. If one were able to contain his life in a day, he would have shared his brilliance, and infectious love of life with us, for all but the last 55 seconds. Laszlo is survived by his wife of over 62 years, Ildiko; his daughters, Caroline and Clara; and their children, Wylder amd Graydon Kohne, and Madison and Jayden George-Berlet; and many, many wonderful friends made over a 90 year beautiful life. In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations to the North Shore Hospice, at Lions Gate Hospital, North Vancouver where he spent his last few days surrounded by family.