Ted Rozsa (pronounced Rose-Eh) was born in 1915, the son of a Hungarian immigrant barber and a Michigan girl. He graduated at the top of his class in 1933 and completed a four-year geology degree at Michigan Technology University in two and a half years. With the U.S. in the midst of a depression, he was unable to find work in Michigan and moved to Oklahoma to work with Shell Oil.
In 1939, Ted Rozsa married Lola and they moved often as Rozsa’s expertise in data interpretation and explosives kept him in great demand. In 1949 the Rozsas moved to Alberta and Rozsa immediately recognized the potential of Calgary. He cashed in his pension, bought an instrument truck and set up his own shop – Frontier Geophysical Ltd. Ironically, his first client was Shell.
The company flourished until the economic slump in the 1960’s. To avoid laying off staff, Rozsa sold Frontier Geophysical and formed Basset Oil – named after the family’s dog - which thrived in the OPEC boom. At the age of 65, Rozsa sold Basset Oil to Oakwood Petroleum but, not ready to retire, he founded Rozsa Petroleum.
When in New Orleans with Lola, Rozsa discovered a love of symphonies. Music became an immense pleasure and music was where Rozsa decided to focus his good fortune.
Ted Rozsa's Love of Music
In 1985 the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra hired genius conductor Mario Bernardi to take the symphony to the next level. But the CPO couldn’t afford the conductor’s salary. CPO fundraiser James Palmer convinced Rozsa over lunch that Calgary classical music needed help. Rozsa agreed and laid a $1 million cheque on the table to cover Bernardi’s salary and start a fund called the Maestro’s Chair.
One year later he hand-delivered another seven-figure cheque and quietly helped when needed in other instances. Rozsa kept his donations hush-hush but was convinced to go public with his philanthropy to serve as a role model to others.
Over the years Rozsa has given generously to not just the music industry (CPO, Honens International Piano Competition, and Calgary Opera, in particular) but also to theatre, education, social causes, and medicine. Specific recipients include Foothills Hospital, Banff School of Fine Arts, Calgary Centre for Performing Arts, Grace Presbyterian Church, Glenbow Museum, and Theatre Calgary.
In 1997, what some consider Rozsa’s greatest philanthropic achievement came to fruition – the $7.2 million performance, meeting, and rehearsal facility at the University of Calgary, The Rozsa Centre. Ted Rozsa personally contributed $3.5 million to the project. Three years later Rozsa donated $1 million to his alma mater, Michigan Technology University, to start a similar project. In 2000 a Rozsa Centre opened in Houghton, Michigan.
Calgary lost a great man when Theodore Rozsa died on March 2, 2006, at the age of ninety.
Ted Rozsa's Philanthropy Continues
Rozsa’s family continue his acts of generosity. As per Rozsa’s last request, Lola, not just his wife but also Rozsa’s partner in most of his philanthropic endeavours, keeps a watchful eye on the family foundation. The Rozsa Foundation, which is headed by his daughter, Mary Rozsa de Coquet, supports artistic initiatives and administers the Rozsa Award for Excellence in Arts Management.
For additional reading, check out:
- Philanthropists in Calgary - The Spirit of Giving is Alive
- Esther Honens - One of Calgary's Greatest Philanthropists
Toby Welch - Toby is a full-time freelance writer who specializes in magazine articles, online writing, e-books, and manuscript editing.
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