Kalman CZEGLEDY

CZEGLEDY, Kalman N.
Passed away on September 24, 2014 quietly surrounded by his family. He was born September 26, 1930 in Budapest to Josef and Palma, and grew up surrounded by flowers, sunshine and pretty girls. When war came in 1939, Kalman showed early signs of entrepreneurialism by breeding angora rabbits, selling their coats to furriers and providing a little extra food for the family table. A small amount was set aside for his first subscription to the opera, which would become a love throughout his life. After graduating from a primary school taught by the Cistercian monks, and in keeping with his love of tinkering with things, he entered the Technical University of Budapest to study mechanical engineering. Heating and cooling systems seemed to have a lot of potential during the Cold War, so he became an expert and designed and built plants around the country. In 1956, he joined thousands of other young patriots fighting in the streets of Budapest. But, as Soviet tanks rolled across the city, he realized his future lay elsewhere. Under a white sheet with his first wife Nina Solymossy, he escaped across the snow to a new life in Canada. With only $5 each in their pockets, the young couple worked hard and long hours. Kalman knew minimal English at first. Some would say this later became his trademark. But he wouldn't let any disadvantage hold him back. Beginning his days as a draftsman, moving to a second job at an architect's office, then a third job when others went home, installing refrigeration on rooftops and finally finishing his nights as a car jockey parking cars at the Park Plaza Hotel. Kalman and three colleagues eventually started a group of companies that would later become Inducon, one of the largest corporate design and construction companies in the country. Kalman pioneered the concept of fast-track design-build, introducing the turn-key approach to land development and investment that was unique for the industry. Kalman was a builder in many other ways too: as a founder of The Textile Museum of Canada, as Chair of the Hungarian Helicon Foundation, as President of The Oriental Rug Society, as a dedicated member of the Hungarian Canadian Engineers Association and, not least, as a proud supporter of Canada's First Nations through his efforts in promoting international recognition of the Woodlands School of Art. Kalman was prolific in everything he did and never wasted time unnecessarily. In March 1964, he became the proud father of triplet boys, André, Peter and Thomas. When he was not working, his back was a mountain to climb on, and when he was working, there was always a space under the drafting table to grab his legs and play. Beginning in the 1980s, Kalman found himself a single parent with three teenagers. Three spirited boys were a lot to handle as they played on sports teams all day and went to night clubs at night, but Dad was always there at home to greet them and share stories over a dozen donuts and a classic action movie. Kalman found love again with Leni Häfner and they married at Lake Rousseau in 1994. Over the next two decades, Kalman and Leni visited many of the capitals and beaches of the world together and enjoyed the company of many friends at their homes in Toronto and Stuttgart. In time, they happily watched the arrival of seven grandchildren, Alexander, Nicholas, Natasha, Alexandra, Mátyás, Krisztina and Gray. Once again, playgrounds, hockey rinks and toy shops beckoned. After a difficult accident in 2011, Kalman's health faced a setback, but he continued to smile every day and pull sweets out of his pockets for family whenever he saw them. He never stopped working and will always be remembered as the most generous, selfless and loving of men. A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, September 29, 2014 at Mount Pleasant Visitation Centre, 375 Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto at 4:00 p.m. Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family is accepting donations for a bench in the park Kalman loved to sit in. Donations to Kalman Community Fund (BMO Bank of Montreal) Bedford and Bloor Branch, Transit 0398, Account 8964-670.