Albert Michael Chulay

1924 - 2017

November 27, 1924 - November 25, 2017
Albert M. Chulay passed away on November 25, 2017, just short of his 93rd birthday. A native of East Chicago, Indiana, he was born to Romanian immigrants John and Valeria Chulay on November 27, 1924, and raised there with his siblings: John, Vee, Marian, and Virgie. He is survived by his children, Michael Chulay, Suzanne Logan (and son-in-law John Logan), and Julia Chulay; grandchildren Sean, Nick, Seth, Jesse, Crystal; great-grandson Landon; his sister Marian Newman of Los Angeles; Benjamin, Cornell and Darrell of Pasadena, and Arlene Gibson of Oxnard. He is preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Betty Sue; and his son John David Chulay of Glendale. A graduate of Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, he was an avid fan of early jazz and swing music, studying tenor saxophone and clarinet beginning in his teens. He later played both instruments in various local bands over the years, as well as during his time assigned to the Army Air Force band during the Second World War. In the late 1940s he moved to the Los Angeles area, where he would meet and later marry his wife and raise a family. After retiring from the Southern California Gas Company, where he worked for 33 years, he spent his time enjoying his family, listening to opera and classical music, and working as an extra on several successful TV shows of the 1980s. Following the death of his wife in 2000, he moved from Glendale to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he continued to love all things musical, playing in a jazz band until his mid-80s. All who met him will remember his friendly personality and wonderful smile. He will be greatly missed by his family. Mr. Chulay will be laid to rest at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills alongside his wife and family.