STEVEN GEORGE KOMLOS

KOMLOS, STEVEN GEORGE November 26, 1929 - September 24, 2022 Steve was born to Geza Komlos and Angyalka Deutsch Komlos in Budapest, Hungary. He grew up on Pannónia Utca in the old fifth district of the city, graduated from Berzsenyi Dániel Gimnázium in 1948, and experienced the Second World War up close and personal, especially during the siege of the city when all five of the bridges over the Danube were destroyed. In addition, seven members of his father's family were deported from Tata and killed. From 1948 to 1952, he studied at the Technical University of Budapest and graduated as an Electronic Engineer. He then did two years of post-graduate studies, taught and did special projects but did not complete his Master's Degree because the Revolution of November, 1956, intervened. Along with thousands of other young people, he left Hungary. He arrived in Montreal on New Year's Day, 1957. Within two weeks, he began working for RCA on antennas for earth stations. These projects took him from Newfoundland to British Columbia, and included the CN Tower. In 1966, he married Maureen Forrester, and they lived in Montreal until 1969. When FLQ bombs started blowing up mailboxes, they decided it was time to leave. As Steve said, "I have been through all of this before; I'm not going through it again." They moved to Toronto, Maureen's home town. From 1969 to 1973, he worked for Ontario Hydro in the communications department, responsible for the operation and maintenance of communication equipment for the central region. In 1973, he joined the Federal Department of Communications, Ontario Region, and worked there until his retirement in 1994, where his focus was the various technical and regulatory aspects of telecommunication systems covering all frequency bands. In retirement, he did volunteer work with the Art Gallery of Ontario in the Prints and Posters section, and at the Canadian Opera Company where he took visitors on tours of the house. At about age eighty-five, he retired from these activities. During leisure time, Steve and Maureen enjoyed attending symphony concerts, operas and plays at the Shaw and Stratford Festivals. They also travelled extensively in Europe, and did one major tour of South America. Steve was also proud of having a pilot's license to fly small planes, such as the Cesna. Steve will be missed by his beloved wife of 56 years; his sister-in-law, Alana Forrester; his brother-in-law, Charles Verge; his nieces, Alexandra, Stephanie and Charlotte Verge and their partners and by some long-lived and longtime friends in Canada and Europe. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Basil's Church in Toronto on October 11, 2022. Steve rests in Mount Hope Cemetery with Maureen's maternal grandparents and great-grandparents, a long way from Budapest.