Lester John Szabo, 93, of Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia, passed away peacefully on January 29, 2025 in Halifax.

Lester was born as László Szabó in Hódmezővásárhely, Hungary on May 30, 1931, the son of the late Andor Szabó and Irma Szabó (née Braun).

As a child, he spent his summers with friends at the local swimming pool and focused on his studies during the school year, graduating with a gold medal for the highest academic achievement.

Lester attended the Technical University of Budapest and graduated in 1953 with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering. After graduation, he worked at the Central Physical Research Institute in Budapest.

In November 1956, after the Hungarian revolution, Lester escaped from communist Hungary. By January 1957, he was working as a chemical engineer in Boston, Massachusetts. Lester was thrilled with his new freedom and experiences. He saw ocean beaches and mountains for the first time and was delighted that fresh fruit and vegetables were available year-round. Not long after, he met his soul mate, Eleanore E. Mincher (Betty), and they were married in 1958. They had two sons, whom Lester cherished deeply, always making time for them — whether it was helping with schoolwork, talking about their day, or discussing world events.

Lester’s engineering career advanced steadily, with projects in petroleum refining, plastic manufacturing, and metal ore extraction. He was the author of several patents, including an innovative chemical process to extract metals from deep ocean manganese nodules.

In 1973, after two decades of engineering work, Lester and his family relocated from Boston to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. There, he and Betty renovated several homes and later ran a gift shop for many years.

In 1995, Lester and Betty moved to Nova Scotia to be closer to their sons, daughters-in-law and new grandchildren. He enjoyed his retirement, visiting with family, watching movies with Betty, listening to classical music, and walking his beloved dogs.

Lester was a patient, kind, and gentle soul, with a sharp wit and a deep intellectual curiosity. He will be greatly missed.

Lester is survived by his sons, Steven (Margaret) and Jeffrey (Wendy) of Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia and grandchildren Jennifer of Halifax, Nova Scotia, David of Charlotte, North Carolina, Laura Duncan (Ryan) of Riverport, Nova Scotia, and Emily Sutcliffe (Alex) of Hammonds Plains.

Lester was predeceased by his parents, his brother Tamás, his wife and his cousins Dezső Székely, György Székely and Judit Szabó.

The family extends sincere thanks to all the dedicated and kind caregivers who supported Lester over the past 18 months.

Cremation has taken place. Interment will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.