News & Events

A distinguished engineer, developer, philanthropist and champion of education, George Vari has died at the age of 87.

"George Vari was a wonderful friend to Ryerson and education. He believed passionately that students were the key to the future and he saw to it that they had the tools to succeed," said President Sheldon Levy. "All of us in the Ryerson community extend our deepest sympathy to Helen Vari and the Vari family. The city and the country have lost a true visionary."

Vari's life was a remarkable Canadian success story. Trained as a civil engineer, Vari came to Canada after the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. He became a successful international real estate developer with projects including Dorval Airport, six pavilions and the theatre at Expo '67 in Montreal, and Europe's tallest building. For the 1980 Olympic Games, he built the 3,000-room Cosmos Hotel in Moscow.

Vari and his wife Helen established the Vari Foundation in 1984. The foundation contributed $5 million toward the completion of the George Vari Engineering and Computing Centre at Ryerson, which opened in 2005. Built by Moriyama & Teshima Architects, it is home to Ryerson's engineering, computer science and mathematics programs.

The Foundation also contributed to the Vari Research Laboratory at Princess Margaret Hospital and Vari Hall at York University.

"George Vari was a builder in the purest sense of the word. He would say that 'a country cannot live without engineers' and he backed up his belief with tremendous support for education and for students," said Vice-President, University Advancement Adam B. Kahan.

Vari received an honorary doctorate - Doctor of Engineering, Honoris Causa - from Ryerson University in 2007. In addition to his degree in civil engineering, Vari held a doctorate in economics and was appointed to both France's Legion d'Honneur and the Order of Canada. He was also a member of the Privy Council of Canada.

Helen Vari has served on the Ryerson Board of Governors, and Vari's nephew Christopher Hilkene is a current member of the Board.

Friends may pay tribute at the Visitation Centre, Mount Pleasant Cemetery, 375 Mt. Pleasant Road (east gate entrance) on Friday, Dec. 17, from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m.  A funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, Dec. 18 at 11 a.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 351 St. Clair Ave. West with interment and reception to follow at Mount Pleasant Cemetery.