| Rezso Gallai | |
 Rezső Gallai in January 2014 | |
| Birth: | 29 January 1904 Szombathely, Austria-Hungary (now Hungary) |
| Death: | 25 September 2014 Győr, Győr-Moson-Sopron, Hungary |
| Age: | 110 years, 239 days |
| Country: |  HUN
|
| Validated | |
Rezso Gallai [Hungarian: Gallai Rezső] (29 January 1904 – 25 September 2014) was a Hungarian supercentenarian who was the oldest living person in Hungary and the oldest known living man in Europe at the time of his death. As of today, he is the oldest known man ever to die in Hungary. His age is validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG).
Biography
Gallai was born as Rezső Galajda in Szombathely, Hungary on 29 January 1904. Rezső was a foundling; his mother had left him in the hospital after giving birth, thus he grew up with foster parents in Pápa. He remembered seeing a newspaper article about the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. In his teenage years, he became a jockey. In 1924, he was suspended after he had been disqualified in a race in Vienna. With no money, he had to go home by foot. In 1926, he moved to Győr, where he lived until his death. Shortly after, he started writing stories and novels, in which he was very successful.
As a corporal, Gallai participated in the reannexation of Southern Upper Hungary and Northen Transylvania in 1938 and 1940, respectively. In 1942, he volunteered for military service in the Eastern Front. His main task was to deliver the mail to the soldiers. However, as the circumstances were awful, he decided to destroy one of his hands at a train buffer in order to get home. Luckily, before his planned act, he had been injured in a partisan attack, and was brought to Budapest to a hospial where he was able to recover. He never went back to the front.
After the war, Gallai worked in the water resource management until the age of 94. At the age of 102, his book "Embermesék" was published, therefore he became the oldest active writer in the country. He lived independently in his flat until shortly before his 106th birthday in 2010, when he moved to a care home. He was very popular there with his great stories and lovely personality. He would even help other residents in their daily tasks - although they were decades younger. He did not have any health problems except the nightly numbness of his hands. At the age of 110, he was still able to build a snowman. His biggest wish was not to become bedridden, and to die peacefully in his sleep without suffering.
Gallai got first married in 1928, and had a son who emigrated to Cologne, Germany after the 1956 Revolution and never returned. After a divorce, he married to another woman, and had another son who died in 2011. His second wife died in 1994. Rezső was married for 32 years to both of his wives. He had a grandson, Tibor, who visited him regularly.
He was the oldest living man in Europe after the death of 111-year old Arturo Licata on 24 April 2014 until his own death 5 months later.
In September 2014, two weeks before his death, Gallai got a fever and had to be hospitalized. He died in the care home on 25 September 2014 at the age of 110 years, 239 days. After his death, Philippe Vocanson of France became the oldest known living man in Europe.
Gallery
References
- 2017 validations Gerontology Research Group
- 107 éves lett Gallai Rezső, az ország legidősebb embere EESZI Idősek Otthona, 29 January 2011 (Archived)
- Rezső bácsi 108 évesen is jó egészségnek örvend VAOL, 4 February 2012 (Archived)
- A 110 éves Rezső bácsit, az ország legidősebb férfijét köszöntötték Győrben - fotók Együtt dalolta a nótaénekessel kedves dallamát a 110 éves Rezső bácsi kedden tartott születésnapján Kisalfold, 25 January 2014 (Archived)
- Meghalt Gallai Rezső bácsi, az ország legidősebb lakója 110 éves korában, a győri Lepke utcai idősek otthonában - ahogy Rezső bácsi mindig is kívánta -, álmában érte a halál csütörtökre virradóra Kisalfold, 25 September 2014 (Archived)
| Hungary's Oldest Living Person Titleholders (V • E) |
|
Lajosne Kovassy • Unknown • Jozsefne Laki • Unknown • Gyorgyne Kokenyesi • Alajosne Duronelli • Istvanne Vojcek • (Gizella Bartha) • Alajosne Zsarko • Imrene Szaloczy • Boldizsarne Sztrecho • Mihalyne Gneisz • Gyorgyne Jonas • Imrene Vajda • Emilne Flochel • Karolyne Nemeth • Karoly Burjan • Henrik Havasi • Sandorne Sarkozi • Istvanne Ladi • Janosne Ando • Antalne Banga • Janosne Kemeny • (Ilka Zolnai) • Istvanne Morocz • Ferencne Lazar • Jozsefne Szucs • Ferencne Vadasz • Sandorne Csiki • Janosne Varga • Gergely Andras Molnar • Lajosne Buzaky • Janosne Szentirmay • Ferencne Kustos • Margit Ambrus • Matyasne Kovesdi • Gyorgyne Toth • Maria Magirius • Janosne Kudasz • Rezso Gallai • Maria Hoffner • Margit Dezsone Kovacs • Janosne Belik • Veronika Zsilinszki • Istvanne Fejes • Arpadne Juhasz |
| Hungary's Oldest Living Man Titleholders (V • E) |
|
Geza Penzes • Unknown • Janos Puskas • Unknown • Henrik Havasi • Unknown • Zsigmond Kun • Jeno Jenovay • Karoly Molnar • Jozsef Petho • Gyorgy Laszlo • Gergely Andras Molnar • Anonymous • Gusztav Karoly • Jozsef Pelles • Rezso Gallai • Tibor Kosa • Miklos Angelus • Antal Ribnikar • Elemer Spiegler • Jozsef Kasalyak • Jeno Homonnay • Bela Csendes • Jozsef Standovari • Ferenc Pal-Szabo • Ferenc Bako |