ANDOR KELEMEN

Andy died peacefully at home watched over by his wife Donna, daughter Pamela and stepdaughter Kate.
He was born to Amalia and Ferencz Kelemen in Somogysamson, Hungary. Andy had wanted to be a doctor from the age of 11 when his beloved grandmother 'licked' a chaff of wheat from his eye. He wanted to help people. Due to hard work and achieving honours in high school, he was "allowed" by the Communists to study Medicine in Pecs where he graduated Cum Laude. His career was halted when the Hungarian uprising erupted in October of 1956. He fled with his friend Dr. Joseph Kiss through Austria, England and Scotland where they worked in Orthopaedics, then evacuated to Canada by the Red Cross eventually ending up in Edmonton. Andy joined the Royal Alexandria Hospital where he remained on staff for the rest of his medical career happily making his rounds every morning. Invited to join the Allin Clinic by Dr. Eardley Allin, he soon became a partner. Andy had a successful career in family medicine for 47 years delivering more than one generation in the same family. At one time he held the record for delivering the most babies in one shift. A bachelor, he offered to work Christmas Eve and delivered 24 healthy babies. He and some of his clinic partners were owners of Marmot Basin Ski Lifts for 35 years and enjoyed many happy hours on the slopes. Andy was never happier than when he was on a golf course. A member of the Derrick in Edmonton he organized the yearly Edmonton Medical Tournament and held The Kelemen Open at The Jasper Park Lodge Golf Course for 25 years. He was also an enthusiastic and successful curler skipping many a team to victory. Bridge was another of his great passions, playing every lunch hour in the clinic…he taught many a young doctor the game. Andy was widowed suddenly in 1978 and left with 14 year old Pam and 16 year old Mike to raise. He met his wife Donna in 1989 after discovering they had much in common -golf, red wine, skiing, travel, they married the same year… much to the joy and relief of friends and family on both sides. Andy and Donna retired to Sechelt in 2007 immediately joined the Blue Sea Golf Club where they met and thoroughly enjoyed the company of all. Andy is survived by the "love of his life" Donna, son Michael (fiancee T), Lucas and Zachary; daughter Pamela (Howard Wieler), granddaughters Tenelle and Breanna, grandson Austin, stepson Kelly Wheeler (Shelley Hordiyuk and Isaac), stepdaughter Kate Wheeler (Jasper and Sidney), sister-in-law Penny Main (Rayne and Ryan), brother-in-law Alan Main (Meriah), very special people, Trish Kelemen, Stephen Clark, Bettyanne Logan & Paul Bedore, Sharron & Ralph Russell, Sharon Mork, Ruby & Brian Airth and Dr. Joseph and Christine Kiss.
The family would like to thank Dr. John Hourigan, an exceptional doctor, all the home care services staff and Sechelt Hospital staff for the care they gave to our beloved Andor.
As Andy wished there will be no special service. There will be a gathering in the future; to be announced.
Donations may be made to the Parkinsons Society of BC or the Sechelt Hospital Foundation.

 

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