George Gelb

(Additional images below)

Birth: December 11, 1948 in Sarospatek, Hungary

Death: October 12, 2021 in Duncan, B.C.

Plot: Row L – Plot 2

Inscription:
פ׳׳נ
(Abbreviation of Hebrew: “Buried here”)
אברהם נפתלי בן יצחק ופרומא ז׳׳ל
(Hebrew: Avraham Naftali ben Yitzhak and Fruma of blessed memory [abbreviated])
ֵGeorge Gelb
1948 – 2021
נלב׳׳ע ח׳ מרחשון ה׳תשפ׳׳ב
(Hebrew: Taken to his eternal home [abbreviated] 8 Chesvan 5782)
ת נ צ ב ה
(Abbreviation of Hebrew: “May his soul be bound with the bond of life.”)

Biography:
George ‘Gyuri’ Gelb
Avraham Naftali ben Yitchak v’Fruma
December 1948 to October 2021

‘There are 3 crowns: the crown of the Torah, the crown of priesthood and the crown of royalty, but the crown of a good name supersedes them all.’ by Rabbi Shimon ~ Pirkei Avot 4:13

My beloved George lived an honorable life of dignity, integrity and indeed leaves a ‘good name’.

George was a cherished, spirited son born in post-Shoah Hungary. As a child, he was recognized as a violin prodigy, but preferred the free flow style of the gypsies in his hometown. Once enrolled in school, George escaped three times and was found playing by the riverbank and learning by the gypsy master. His mother was advised not bring him back as he was a ‘bad influence on the other children’ who were expected to nap.

Early on George learned about discretion and the complicated, layered world of adults. He understood never to mention that the family drew heavy curtains at night, uncovered the coveted radio and listened to Radio Free Europe.
Their world was shifting.

During the Shoah, his father Imre z’l endured the infamous Mauthausen labour camp and his mother Magdalena ‘Magda’ z’l survived the brutalities of Auschwitz. Both orphaned after the war, they married, rebuilt their lives and bravely brought children into the world; George and younger sister Judy ‘Jutka’ {Dvora Leah}. 
 
During the 1956 Hungarian uprising as chaos erupted, the family made a harrowing escape to Vienna, leaving all behind yet again, this time on a quest for freedom. On the December crossing from Genoa to St. John’s, parents languished below as the children ran wild on the upper decks. Three times, the call went out for lifeboats as the Atlantic heaved. George was fearless. He recalls this time as ‘another great adventure’, the first being armed soldiers, counter riots and burned out tanks on the Budapest streets.

Indeed, Life with George was one Great Adventure, for which I remain eternally grateful.

The family settled in a Montreal neighbourhood with other Hungarian refugees. As devoted big brother, George cared for Judy while the parents worked long hours.

In high school, George excelled in gymnastics and rugby and in post secondary specialized in the field of dentistry. As a student working part time in the largest dental lab in Canada, he was quickly recognized for his skill and work ethic and rose to Vice President of Shaw Laboratories while expanding numerous laboratories across Canada and USA.

George enjoyed resolving difficult cases of dental prosthesis and research and development. His team solved the problem of suitable bonding material for dental veneers. George was among the first to bring dental implants to Canada from Sweden via Nobel Biocare. However, you would not hear of such success from George, as he was modest about his accomplishments. He would say he ‘enjoys giving people back their smile’.

My parents, Miklos ‘Miki’ {Yonason Binjamin} z’l and Erika {Eszter} z’l first met the Gelbs in Montreal. We were also refugees having escaped Hungary in 1956. Judy and I bonded as life long friends and big brother George revelled in tormenting us with scary tales. He knew where the dreaded ‘bogeyman’ lived in the alley between our homes. His good-natured mischief got our attention. Over the years, our families shared simchas and our parents vacationed together during winter months.

In 1994, we reconnected and sought life as a blended family. In 2002, George realized a unique opportunity in Yellowknife to ‘work hard and play hard’ and over a decade, we enjoyed all the activities the North offered such as snowmobiling across the tundra as northern lights danced across the sky, watching famous Inuit artists carve soapstone destined for galleries, trekking in Pangnirtung, one of the most remote areas, visiting diamond mines and ice fishing with local RCMP friends.

With George as captain of our boat, we cruised the Strait of Georgia and Inside Passage from which memories of remote vistas, dolphins in our wake, glorious sunsets and amazing pan-pan rescue linger on. It was in nature that George found solace and spirituality. He enjoyed detailed planning for remote wilderness trips to Alaska and Yukon where more memorable adventures ensued such as an arduous trek after the Alaskan pilot forgot to pick us up. No matter where we were, I always felt safe and cared for with George by my side.  

Once retired on Vancouver Island, George enjoyed his Harley, but I feared sitting in the back. His solution was to buy another bike with sidecar to enjoy the back-roads together. This was a natural gesture for my beloved husband. George constantly challenged himself such as participating in IPSC. where he excelled.

When George entered the room, you noted the presence of a classic European gentleman, meticulously dressed for any occasion, impeccably groomed from his moustache to polished shoes, his posture inspiring confidence and respect. He was attentive and offered common sense advice and assistance. An unfailing optimist, George saw the good in people and importantly, you knew his word was golden. George meant what he said and expected the same in others.

Gyurl, my beloved classic European gentleman, dignified in all manner, known far and wide as a Man of his Word, connoisseur of life, seeker of truth and fairness, sought for sage advice and common sense ideals, innovator in dental technology for 40 plus years, intrepid wilderness adventurer, aigle beinveillant, Harley aficionado, skipper, devoted husband, father, father figure, ‘old’ brother and friend to all who loved and respected him.

…and one day, a dreaded test result collapsed the air in my lungs and crushed my bones. Nothing prepared me for the sudden wall of pain and tumultuous waves of grief that invaded my core. And one day, it’s time to summarize this dignified, robust man, to capture even a small measure of his amazing Soul who touched my essence and resides in the hole left in my heart.

It takes an extraordinary man to accept his fate with dignified resolve and leave farewell notes for family and friends saying, “…I can honestly say I have lived a productive, exciting and fulfilling life with the good stuff far outweighing the bad. I’ve always strived to explore beyond the next horizon, well soon I will have the opportunity to explore what if anything is beyond the ultimate horizon….”
George left us this sweet song to carry us forward.
Please listen to ‘You Got me Singing’ by Leonard Cohen

We honor George’s memory by living with the dignity and integrity he demonstrated in life and by recalling his sayings: *Life is Good *Life is a two way street *Focus on the positive.

By Elisabeth Gelb (née Sipos)
As a single drop of water disperses countless spirals, imagine the power within a simple act of kindness, all within our grasp everyday.

Parents:
Magdaléna ‘Magda’
Imre

Sibling:
Judy ‘Jutka’ {Dvora Leah}

Spouse:
Elisabeth, {Odel Miriam}

Children:
Private

Additional Images: