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In Celebration of
John Vattay
December 6, 1935 –
February 20, 2023
John Gordon Vattay, 87, of Hamilton, Ontario passed away February 20, 2023.
John is predeceased by his wife of 56 years and survived by his three daughters Susan, Sandra and Sharon; sons-in-law Gary and Warren; and grandsons Adam, Mitchell, Eric and Spencer.
John, a life-long Hamiltonian, was born 6 December 1935, the only child of John and Catherine Vattay. He married his high-school sweetheart, Olita, in 1960 and soon thereafter settled in the Hamilton Mountain home where he provided for the family of three daughters (and many a Siamese cat). John will be remembered for his strong work ethic. He dedicated his entire working career to a single industry, first with S.F. Bowser/later Keene Corporation/later Enervac. Primarily a salesman (which had him frequently travel throughout the US), John initially worked as a draftsman and as a lab technician, at which time he and a colleague invented and were given a patent for a “Fuse for Filter Apparatus.”
His other job was working on the house (a task that only he could do – no repairmen or contractors allowed) – renovations and repairs were a product of his well-stocked basement workshop that had every tool imaginable, some amassed from his father who was also skilled with his hands. Dad was able to retire in 2000 and devote his time to his numerous hobbies like woodworking, carving, tropical fish, and creating an entire room-sized diorama for his model train. Those were winter activities.
In the spring and summer months he was tending to the extensive gardens, including the back vegetable “farm” with its homemade composting “factory” and the peaceful Japanese garden with its ever-evolving fishpond and waterfall. Dad’s gardening prowess was clearly a skill that was passed down generations through the Vattay family, starting with his relatives in Ibrany, Hungary.
John and Olita’s passion for gardening led them to begin their own business – O.J.’s Indoor Garden with stores at Westcliffe Mall and Mountain Plaza Mall in Hamilton – stocking the store with plants from the greenhouse that they built onto the side of the family home. After a long working career (with nary a sick day) and a tenacious few years trying to manage the house and garden on his own, John spent his final two years at Extendicare Hamilton.
Thanks go to all of the staff at Extendicare Hamilton especially those caring and patient professionals in Aberdeen wing. He died in his sleep and now he will truly be “fine.”
John will be interred at Woodland Cemetery at a private ceremony.
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December 6 1935
February 20 2023
Death notice for the town of: Hamilton, Province: Ontario
death notice John Vattay December 6 1935
February 20 2023
obituaries notice John Vattay December 6 1935
February 20 2023
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of John Vattay December 6 1935
February 20 2023 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
