Otto Avvakumovits, Hungarian-American community leader and long-time Coalition supporter, died peacefully after a long illness at the age of 76, with his family at his side. He is survived by his beloved wife of 49 years, Elizabeth, his children Otto, Jr. (wife Tracy), Kathy (husband Zsolt), and Tom (wife Michele); and his grandchildren, Kevin, Kyle, Péter, Karly, János and Kamryn. He is also survived by his brother György of Budapest, and numerous family and friends.
He was born and raised in Budapest, Hungary, and emigrated to California after the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. He completed his studies at the University of California, Berkeley, earning a degree in Structural Engineering.
After serving in the US Army for two years, Otto worked for GFDS, a structural engineering firm in San Francisco, until his retirement in 2003, by then a partner of the firm. He was active in the Structural Engineering Association of Northern California, where he served as chair on several committees.
He will always be remembered as a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. He was known for his kindness, sense of humor, and inspiring leadership. Besides his commitment to family and the engineering profession, he was dedicated to the scouting movement. While serving for many years as leader and scoutmaster of the Hungarian Scout Troops of the Bay Area, he passed on to the younger generation the scouting ideal and loyalty to their Hungarian heritage.
As one of his former scouts wrote: “Only God knows how much he gave to others, how many “children” and families can thank him for their sense of Hungarian identity, and how many friendships and good memories of trips, hikes, and camps are connected with him.”
A man of integrity and character, he touched the lives of many, who remember him with gratitude and fondness.
December 30, 2011 | Washington, DC
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