Géza György Kardos was born in Pinkamindszent on February 23rd, 1933, the year of the World Scout Jamboree in Gödöllő, Hungary. Pinkamindszent is a small village on the border of Austria in the county of Vas. He was the son of György and Anna Kardos and had an infant sister Évike who died shortly after birth.
Géza's family owned a Hungarian Restaurant called the Magyar Csárda in the city of Körmend which was confiscated by the communists who took all assets from the family. As a result of the family not signing up to join the communist party, Géza was not allowed to further his higher education academic studies as punishment. He then made the bold decision to flee the country during the 1956 Revolution. When the borders around the country opened up for a short time during the days of the revolution, Géza fled with thousands of others. He left his bicycle at the base of tree near the border for his father to pick up later, and crossed the Austrian border. From there he left to England where on December 13th, 1956, he boarded the R.M.S. Carinthia ship in the Liverpool harbour to start a new life in Canada. He arrived in Halifax December 20th, 1956. The Carinthia was 608 feet long with a breadth of 80 feet and weighed 21,946 tons. He wanted to get as far away from Hungary as possible so as not to get home sickness. Other Hungarian emigrants like Anne and Frank Somoskői befriended Géza and a lifelong friendship began. They became the Godparents of Gabriel Thomas Kardos, Géza's youngest son who moved back to Hungary in 1993. George lived for a number of years in Wawa Ontario where he worked for Algoma Steel. He later brought over the love of his life from Hungary, Gabriella Kardos (Elly) in 1961 and they wed at Niagara Falls shortly afterwards. Their first son, George Géza Kardos Jr. was born in Sault Ste. Marie on October 16th, 1963 followed by Gabriel Thomas Kardos born in Hamilton, April 8th, 1969. Moving to Hamilton, Ontario, Géza continued to work in the steel industry as a Metalurgical Laboratory Technician at Stelco Steel where he spent over 30 years. During this time, Géza was actively involved in the KMCSSZ, the Hungarian Scouting Association in Exteris. As a scout leader, he mentored and inspired young Hungarian/Canadian boys and girls to return to their Hungarian roots and he organized numerous scouting events. Although he was an active member of the Hungarian John Calvin Presbyterian Church, he was a devout Catholic. His two sons, George and Gabriel were baptised as presbyterians. Géza was an administrative member of the Hungarian social club and he was actively involved in all Hungarian events including fund raising with his friend Iván Végh and others for the new 1956 Revolution Memorial monument found in the Woodlands Cemetery where Géza was buried. Géza will always be remembered for his love of scouting in which he involved both his sons. He was kind, courteous and had a great sense of humor and whit and he will be sorely missed by his family and friends around the world.
