Dezso George-Falvy, age 74, died at his home on Mercer Island on Saturday, July 29, 2001 after a long illness. A loving father, a devoted husband and a brilliant aeronautical engineer, Dezso lived an extraordinary life on two continents. He was born December 15, 1926 in Bocsa, Hungary, the second of two sons of Dezso and Laura Gyorgyfalvy. As a child, he designed and built hundreds of model airplanes, the beginning of a life long fascination with flight.

Dezso served in the Hungarian Army in World War II and was rescued by his father from a Soviet POW camp. He overcame hardship and deprivation in the post war years to earn a master’s degree at the Technical University of Budapest, where he joined the faculty. After the 1956 Hungarian Revolution was crushed by Soviet tanks, he escaped across the Iron Curtain and received political asylum in the U.S. At the age of 30, Dezso began a new life in a new country. As an assistant professor and test pilot at Mississippi State Uniersity, he conducted research on the Horton IV Flying Wing. In 1960, he joined the Boeing Company in Seattle,. Dezso contributed to every generation of Boeging aircraft during his distinguished 30 year career. He was Boeing’s employee of the Quarter in 1984, one of many times that his skills were recognized by his colleagues and peers.

Dezso was also an avid recreational pilot and outdoorsman. He loved glider flying, skiing, hiking and camping with his family in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. He was a member of the Cascade Soaring Society.

Dezso is survived by his beloved wife Joyce, his brother, George, his children, Eva, Jane and Dean, his grandchildren, Marton, Denes, Katalin and Jonathan and his step grandchildren, Laura and Robbie. A memorial service was held in Bellevue, Washington. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Lake Washington Kidney Center, 1471 112th Avenue NE, Suite 100, Bellevue, WA 98004.

– Stephen Northcraft