Passed peacefully, June 4th at the Heights at Mount View Long Term Care Facility, hours before his 88th birthday. Les was born June 5th, 1937 in Sopran, Hungary.
Many, many thanks to the outstanding staff, nurses and caregivers at the Heights for their kindness and compassion as well as Doctor Woodburn, for looking after his medical needs.
Les escaped the communist aggression as a teenager during the Hungarian Revolution fleeing to Austria and then France, and with the help of his sister ended up on Salt Spring Island.
Many remember Les as the retired ferry worker who contributed greatly to our community. Others may remember Les selling “Kayak Raffle” tickets in front of Mouat’s to raise funds for Shriners Children’s Hospital. He was jointly responsible for raising over $160,000, for Children’s Hospital and Lady Minto Hospital Foundation, through Freemasons and the Gulf Island Shrine Club. He was fluent in six languages and twice elected Worshipful Master of Admiral Lodge and 10 times elected president of the Gulf Island Shrine Club.
In April of 1999 Les set out on a trip across Canada in his 5th wheel and on July 4th 2000 on a “Voyage of Rediscovery” through the North West Passage aboard the M.V. St. Roch 11.
He will be missed.
A celebration of life will be planned for later this fall.
Les and I worked many years together on BC ferries and he had a great sense of humour. I could write a book on all the funny stunts we pulled on each other. He was a very talented man and could always find a solution to almost any problem. Rest in peace my dear friend 🙏🙏🍺
I’m Dad was a great gardener, troubleshooter, cook, always searching for answers how to make items work better. A life long islander, mentor to many, prangster, loved to laugh and make others laugh as well.
I miss you so very much Dad!
But you taught me well, your teachings have prepared me well for life.
Never will be forgotten, always in our hearts.
Sincerely,
Deirdre and Larry Aguilar
Nagyon jó érzés, hogy ennyire szerették és tisztelték Laci bácsit és olyan sokra vitte külföldön. Kíváncsi lennék azért pár viccelődésére, mik voltak. Jó lenne olvasni azért róla.
Családjárol nincs semmiféle említés.
Laci bácsinak van egy Canadában levő lánya Ditri és Sopronban még két élő testvére ill. meghalt testvéreinek családja.
8-an voltak testvérek. Canadában élt Emma néni, aztán Laci bácsi, apukám Lajos, Jancsi bácsi, Vali, Erzsi, Pityu és Józsi. Mikor Magyarországon volt, nagyon örült a testvéreinek és azok családjának, hogy újra látják egymást. Ugyanakkor hiányolta Canadában élő barátait. Nagyon fájó volt életében a két kisfia elvesztése. Egyik pár hónapos a másik 3 éves volt akkor talán.
Nagy űrt hagyott maga mögött Laci bácsi. Nagyon hiányzik mindannyiunknak Laci bácsi.
Bedőcs Lajos lánya Nagyné Bedőcs Emőke
Translated from Hungarian to English.
From Emoke Bedocs
It’s a great feeling that Uncle Laci was loved and respected so much and that he took him abroad so much. I’d be curious to know what some of his jokes were. It would be nice to read about him. There is no mention of family. Uncle Laci has a daughter in Canada, Ditri, and two other living siblings and the families of his deceased siblings in Sopron. There were 8 siblings. Aunt Emma lived in Canada, then Uncle Laci, my dad Lajos, Uncle Jancsi, Vali, Erzsi, Pityu and Józsi. When he was in Hungary, he was very happy for his siblings and their families to see each other again. At the same time, he missed his friends living in Canada. The loss of his two little sons was very painful in his life. One was a few months old and the other was maybe 3 years old at the time. Uncle Laci left a big void behind him. We all miss Uncle Laci very much. Lajos Bedőcs’ daughter Nagyné Bedőcs Emőke
Les was always a kind and generous man, a pleasure to have as an employee, and a great long harbor neighbor.
I am saddened to hear of the passing of Lotsi. He was a great friend of my Dad Jake and our family. We asked him to speak at our father’s service in 1989. When he first came to Salt Spring and met our family, he was often a visitor for Sunday dinner. I always remember Lotsi being very busy and donating time for island causes. Rest well. On behalf of our family, Janneke Buitenwerf Anderson.
Les worked with both my Dad (Jake) and myself. A fun guy to have known.
What a character. I had known Les for many years working on the ship(s). I am sorry to hear of his passing.