After a happy and meaningful life Emery (Imre) Sandor Babinszki left this earthly world on September 5, 2024. He was predeceased by Charlotte (Sarolta), his wife of 53 years.
He is loved and will be deeply missed by his family: Andy Babinszki (spouse Colette), Alex Babinszki, Missy Babinszki. Al Duska (spouse Pam), Kelsey Fertitta (spouse David), Ryan Duska. Susanne Duska-Anema (spouse Frans), Aranka Anema, Yosha Anema great granddaughters Sunya and Saskya. Charlotte Magasi, Angie Magasi (spouse Wade), Susan Magasi (spouse Scott) great granddaughter Halle Magasi Richardson, great grandson Keegan Magasi Richardson, great granddaughters Duska Richert and Laci Richert, great great grandson Amias.
He was also respected by and will be missed by family and friends in Hungary.
On January 5, 1919, Emery was the youngest of four children born to Eszter Nemeth and Andras Babinszki in Monor, Hungary.
His early life was not easy, but with determination and hard work in various jobs such as a professional machinist and a baker while studying to finish high school, he was accepted into the engineering faculty at the university in Budapest. When WWII threatened Hungary, he and 1,500 other third and fourth year university students were sent to Germany to finish their education and training prior to completing their required military service. While in Germany, he had many experiences which he handled with grace and humour. Some, though clearly not all, were the subjects of amusing anecdotes he recounted later in his life.
After the war ended Emery chose not to return to Hungary given the Soviet imposed communism. Instead, he applied for and obtained an engineering job in France where he was regularly challenged with work that the French engineers considered impossible. It was there that he invented several coal handling technologies which won him the reputation of being a genius. On the strength of his reputation, the engineering firm hired more Hungarian engineers. During his experiences in France, he made the decision to move to Canada. First to Calgary, then later to Vancouver.
His engineering expertise was recognized and appreciated in Canada. He worked for large engineering firms in Calgary (Dominion Bridge Co.), Vancouver (Sandwell and Co.) and Montreal (SNC). He managed multi-year, multi million-dollar projects in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), Turkey and parts of Canada.
Between the various engineering projects, he and Charlotte and family travelled extensively in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. He spoke several languages including French, German, and Turkish, in addition to his native Hungarian and adopted English.
Life in Canada was busy and although his first priority was raising the family, he also became president of the Hungarian Social Club, assisting new immigrants to settle in their new homeland. Leisure time was spent with a large group of friends, playing bridge, and tennis. Emery had a wonderful sense of humour and frequently burst into song, or whistled our favorite tunes on request.
He was a loving but not doting father who enjoyed talking about world affairs and the economy while always providing a listening, non-judgmental ear. When asked for help, he would immediately stop what he was doing, listen to our issues or challenges, and help us to solve them before returning to what he had been doing.
When his beloved wife Charlotte lost her sight, Emery (or JB as we sometimes referred to him) learned to cook and bake delicious meals with engineering precision. He chose to be Charlotte’s primary care-giver until she died.
He was a gentleman, unfailingly polite, rarely losing his temper, and one who always wore a jacket and tie when he went out. He still played Bridge and Tarok, passed his first ever driver’s test, enjoyed completing crossword puzzles, reading the Financial Post daily, and reading a variety of novels well after his 100th birthday.
He was a man of great integrity. Once while withdrawing cash from an ATM, the machine issued an extra $20. He insisted on handing it back to an astonished teller who did not know what to do with it.
Emery was grateful to his University in Budapest for supporting him as a student and at the age of 95 he established a scholarship at the university for promising students who could benefit from financial assistance. He continued funding that scholarship for several years.
He was a good man, a role model to many, and is already deeply missed.
Cremation has taken place and the family will have a private celebration of Emery's life at a later date.