George Geza Madarasz

1929 - 2018

Madarasz, George Geza SARATOGA SPRINGS George Geza Madarasz passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on Thursday, June 14, 2018. Born in Astoria in 1929, he was raised in Jamaica, Queens and lived for 40 years in Glenwood Landing and Roslyn Harbor on Long Island, before moving to Saratoga in 2000. He was the son of Geza and Anna (Ersenyes) Madarasz, both Hungarian emigres, who arrived in New York following World War I. As the eldest of his generation, he led the way for his two brothers and many cousins. A proud veteran of the U.S. Army, he was stationed at a military Hospital in Berlin, Germany during the Korean War, building on the medical craft he learned as an orthotist working beside his father before and after his Army service. It was a career he continued throughout his working life. He met Jacqueline Guinan on a blind date after his release from the Army in 1953. They married in 1956 and were together until her passing in 2014, splitting their time between Saratoga Springs and Margate, Fla. They loved to entertain and were loyal friends to a wide circle of people as well as super volunteers for many organizations: The Boy Scouts, Meals on Wheels, St. Mary's Church (Roslyn) on Long Island, and in recent years St. Clement's Church (Saratoga Springs), the American Legion and the Wilton Senior Center. George's signature phrase was "Don't worry about it," usually expressed in Hungarian. Almost everyone he met spoke well of him and referred to him as a gentleman. He loved classic Hollywood films and had an encyclopedic knowledge of the interconnections between the screen actors of the 1930s and '40s - knowledge he still retained in recent years. George was also an avid and outstanding bowler, who prided himself on his awards and enjoying the sport with family members and friends. He leaves behind his loving family, sons, Stephen (Mary) Madarasz of Gansevoort and Paul (Maureen) Madarasz of Mendham, N.J.; eight grandchildren, John Paul, Bryan, Stephanie and Thomas George; Melody, Emma, Tess and Genny; and a great-granddaughter, Parker Grace; two brothers, Andrew (Marlisa) of Coram, N.Y. and Charles (Marie) of Margate, Fla.; six nephews and a niece and many cousins, great nieces and great nephews. The family wishes to extend thanks and respect to the medical staff and personnel of Saratoga Hospital for their outstanding professionalism. Relatives and friends may call from 3-6 p.m. on Sunday, June 24, at the Burke Funeral Home, 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Monday, June 25, in St. Clement's Church, 231 Lake Avenue, and burial with military honors will follow at 12 p.m. in the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, Schuylerville. Memorial contributions to the American Red Cross, 33 Everett Rd., Albany, NY, 12208 or Saratoga Hospital Foundation, 211 Church St., Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866 or Capitol Repertory Theatre, 111 North Pearl St., Albany, NY, 12207 are requested in lieu of flowers. Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.