Peter TATAY

TATAY, Peter
Suddenly at his Toronto residence on Sunday, January 22, 2017, at the age of 89.

Born in Budapest, May 9th, 1927 to Paul Tatay and Hermina (Miczi) Tatay (nee Steiner), Peter spent his first 25 years in Hungary where he earned a law degree and studied music, while keeping one step ahead of the ravages of war and communism. He escaped from Hungary in 1953, risking his life in the process, to seek a better life in Canada.

Peter adapted quickly to life in his new country, becoming proficient in English, and embarking on a career in accounting. In 1955, he married Doris Myers and they had two sons together: Paul and Neil. Soon after the birth of Paul, the family travelled to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where they lived for a year; Peter was keenly looking forward to revisiting SMA in an upcoming trip planned for this February.

After a successful accounting career, Peter moved on to work for the Ontario Rent Review Board and later became a founding partner of a successful property consulting firm.

In 1976 he met, and in 1980 married, Jean Rabone Gawn and they lived happily together for 36 more years until she passed away just last June. Peter and Jean had a passion for life and they divided their time between travelling the world, city life in Toronto, and their beloved cottage on Gloucester Pool in Ontario.

After 'retiring', Peter moved back to Budapest, where he and Jean worked and lived for several years. Then, having had enough of winter and working, they decided to divide their time between summer in Canada and summer in New Zealand, which became their lifestyle for almost 20 years.

Although he was recently becoming more active and enthusiastic about the future, it could be said that Peter never fully recovered from the broken heart of losing Jean.

Good-humoured and much-loved by all who knew him, Peter was passionate about travel, swimming, fine food, chess, the arts, literature and music. He was also unfailingly kind, supportive, generous and thoughtful, with a mind that remained sharp as a tack until the very end.

Peter will be sadly missed by his sons Paul (Laurie) and Neil (Michelle), as well as by Jean's children Penelope (Roy), Mallory (Sylvia), Sarah (Brian),Graeme (Rose-Aline), Brendan (Jennifer), and Pamela. Peter had a special connection with the next generation too, thanks in part to his proficiency on his iPad, and he will be sadly missed by grandchildren Jaclyn, Taylor, Evan, Claire, Isobel, Robin, Alex, Ian, Eric, Rachel and Louise.

Peter will also be greatly missed by many friends, neighbours, and relatives worldwide whose lives he touched on a regular basis and who meant so much to him.

The family will celebrate Peter's life at the Mount Pleasant Cemetery and Funeral Centre, 375 Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto on Friday, February 3rd, between 3:30 and 6pm. As an expression of sympathy, donations in memory of Peter may be made to Doctors Without Borders, www.msf.ca