Obituary of Laszlo Paul Magasi

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On July 17, Laszlo (Les) Magasi ascended to heaven. A consummate family man, Les leaves behind the love of his life, Charlotte, his wife of 62 years. He took great pride in his daughters, Angela and Susan, and loved them deeply. They felt the same about him. He wholeheartedly welcomed his sons-in-law, Scott and Wade, into the family and enjoyed hanging out with them on the back deck, talking about their girls. He adored his grandchildren: Halle, Keegan, Duska, and Laci, and his great-grandson, Amias.

He grew up in Hungary, the oldest of seven siblings. He fought for democracy and independence as a student during the Hungarian Revolution in 1956. Laszlo and nine of his classmates from Sopron University escaped across the Austro-Hungarian border one harrowing night in November and immigrated to Canada. He earned his Bachelor's degree from Sopron University at the University of British Columbia (UBC), his Master's from UBC, and his PhD from the State University of New York at Syracuse. Through it all, he made and sustained lifelong friendships.

He served his entire career with the Canadian Forest Service and was a long-time member of the Fredericton Tree Commission. Meticulous and detail-oriented, he was an exemplary scientist and leader of the Forest Insect and Disease Survey (FIDS). He continued his monthly FIDS reunions until last month.

While his biography and accomplishments are many, he will be most remembered for his warmth, his kindness, his genuine interest in people, and his ability to find the good in everyone. He was a wonderful man.

He is missed and loved, but may we find peace in his faith and certainty in the love of God. As his great-grandson, Amias, said, he is an angel ghost watching over us all.