A very touching story.
p.s. I urge you to read from the link. The font is bigger and easier to read.
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THEY were the gifted mathematicians who worked out the formula for happily ever after.
"George and Esther Szekeres' life together began more than 70 years ago after a chance meeting at university.
And it ended together when they passed away peacefully on Sunday within half an hour of one another at a nursing home.
George, 94, and Esther, 95 – both leading Sydney academics – were married for 66 years.
Their children Peter and Judy yesterday described them as "humanitarians who will be remembered for their humanity and kindness".
As students, the pair first came together to solve mathematical problems and discuss their solutions at the Technological University of Budapest, in Hungary. But as their love bloomed, they soon found it wasn't just a genius for numbers they had in common.
Judy Szekeres said her parents also shared a love of music, art galleries and concerts.
"They also loved bushwalking, but Mum wasn't as good at it as Dad," she recalled fondly.
"They were great contributors to the mathematical life of Australia."
After their marriage, the couple moved from Hungary to Shanghai in the lead-up to World War II, where their son Peter – also a gifted mathematician and physicist – was born.
Judy was born in Adelaide after her father accepted an offer to lecture at the University of Adelaide in 1948.
After 15 years, the family moved to Sydney where Mr Szekeres – who was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in 2002 – took up the role of Chair of Pure Mathematics at the University of NSW. Mrs Szekeres was one of the first academics to lecture at Macquarie University.
The couple moved back to Adelaide from Turramurra last year to be closer to their children. Before the move, Mr Szekeres was still a common sight at the University of NSW, where he was appointed Emeritus Professor in the mathematics department.
"He kept going to the university well into his 90s,"Dr Peter Szekeres said.
Mrs Szekeres had a stroke last year and was nursed back to health by her husband.
"Dad visited Mum in hospital every day. I'm sure that's what pulled her through and gave her an extra year of life," Dr Szekeres said.
Mrs Szekeres moved into Adelaide's Wynwood nursing home last year and was joined by Mr Szekeres seven weeks ago as his health deteriorated.
"They got to share a room which was just lovely," Ms Szekeres said.
As Mr Szekeres' condition worsened last weekend, his wife kept a bedside vigil.
"When she realised that Dad was going to go, I think the grief just took over," Ms Szekeres said through tears.
"Dad passed away at 6.15am and Mum died at 6.45am."
Australian College of Applied Psychology chairwoman Dhurva Davis said not all deaths are caused by illness, and some part of Mrs Szekeres' mind decided she could not live without her husband.
"Emotional connections such as love and close companionship over the years have a big impact on people's mind, body and emotional connections," Ms Davis said.
"Medical science has a long way to go to understand the mind-body connection."
