Obituary: Louis E. Varadi Sr.; Awarded 10 Patents For Creating Jet Engine Designs, Including the Renowned T-58

Obituary from C.R. Lyons & Sons Funeral Directors.

Louis E. Varadi, Sr., 91, died at his home on his birthday, Sunday, April 19, 2015 surrounded by his loving family. He was the devoted husband of Marie (Lenahan) Varadi, who predeceased him in 1992.

Born in Buffalo, NY on April 19, 1924, he was the son of the late Martin and Emma (Toma) Varadi. He was raised and educated in Buffalo, attending Midshipman School and Canisius College, and graduated from the University of Buffalo. He was then credentialed as a Professional Engineer (P.E.).

As a youth, Mr. Varadi was an accomplished athlete, playing semi-pro baseball, college basketball, softball, handball and competing as a boxer. An avid Red Sox fan, he was thrilled to see his team break the curse by winning the World Series in 2004.

During World War II, he served honorably in the U.S. Navy as a lieutenant in the Pacific theatre on the USS Cecil (APA-96) witnessing the raising of the American flag at Iwo Jima and the ultimate surrender of the Japanese at Tokyo Bay.

Mr. Varadi welded parts of the first jet aircraft engine made in America qualifying him the honored distinction of Jet Pioneer. He was a longtime employee of General Electric at the River Works Plant in Lynn where he earned ten patents for creating jet engine designs including the renowned T-58. In 1963, he received the Ralph J. Cordiner Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to General Electric.

A longtime Danvers resident, he was a faithful communicant of Saint Richard Church, an active veteran and a town meeting member.

He was proud of and leaves his cherished children, Kathleen Varadi, M.D. and her life-partner Kim Turner of Savannah, GA, Mary Louise Varadi of Exeter, NH and her significant other Thomas Giolito, Leslie Whitaker and her husband Richard of Huntersville, NC, Elizabeth Varadi of Corinth, TX and her significant other Teddy St. Pierre, Louis Varadi, Jr. and his wife Katharine of Bolton, his grandchildren, Trevor and Austin Ramberg, Matthew McGinnity and his wife Sue, Paul McGinnity and his wife Jill, Robert McGinnity, Sean, Kathleen, and Harrison Gorman, Louis III and Katharine IX Varadi, and two great-grandchildren, Evan and Justin McGinnity. Predeceased by his beloved daughter, Debra Varadi, he also leaves her fiancé, Thomas Moran.

His Funeral Mass was celebrated on Friday, April 24, 2015 at 9:30AM in Saint Richard Church, 90 Forest St., Danvers. Burial followed in Annunciation Cemetery, Danvers. Donations in Mr. Varadi’s memory can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, 150 Cambridge Park Drive, Suite 202, Cambridge, MA 02140.