Andrew Molnar

Andrew James Molnar, 90, died peacefully on December 18, 2023, with his wife and daughter at his side, after a long illness with Cancer. He was just shy of his 91st birthday. Born on December 23, 1932, Andrew Molnar was raised in the Hungarian immigrant community of Delray in Detroit, Michigan. He was the oldest of three siblings and is survived by his brother David and sister Janeen, as well as his wife Sonia, three children: Kathy, Gail, and Dan, two grandchildren: Ian and Evan, and two great-grandchildren: Nolan and Quinn. Because his father died when Andy was very young and his mother was on her own, Andy helped support his family as a child and all throughout his life. Raised in a very industrious household, he shined shoes, sold newspapers to the factory employees in the bars after their day ended, and even worked for a haberdasher who made hats. Andy was such a hard and precise worker that the haberdasher wanted to legally adopt him and bring him into the business. Proud but indignant, his mother replied, “Oh no, I need Andy to help ME at home.” From those days on, Andy almost always wore a hat. Andy was extremely energetic and adventurous. He had many friends, loved playing baseball with his pals, and as an adult became a passionate fly fisherman. He was given a vast amount of freedom as a child, but told us, “With freedom comes great responsibility.” Even so, there were times that his adventurous spirit got the better of him. One hot day he and his friends decided to float down the Detroit River on inner tubes. Before they knew it, they got caught in the strong current and became trapped in the freighter ship lane. Luckily, they were rescued by one of the freighters instead of being plowed under by one. Andy was a confirmed “chocoholic” for most of his life and was mad for any version of this treat. As a child, the family Christmas tree was hung with foil wrapped chocolate Santas. After sneaking a few on the lower branches, he reached up high to try snagging a few more, but leaned in a little too far. With a crash, Andy knocked over the whole tree. It’s likely that he may have received a lump of coal that year. Another time Andy and his brother David decided to bake a chocolate cake while their mother was out at the movies on “free dish night.” They had no butter so they decided to use a leftover can of grease they found in the refrigerator. Unfortunately, the “grease” was leftover drippings from deep fried fish, resulting in America’s first fish flavored chocolate cake! Andy went to Cass Technical High School where he majored in art before continuing to Olivet College, Wayne State University, and The Center for Creative Studies. He taught at the latter during his working years. He began his career as a lettering artist before it was interrupted by the Korean War. There he served in the U.S. Air Force as a draftsman/illustrator with the “very prestigious assignment” of creating V.D. and A.W.O.L. charts for Headquarters Squadron; a small but important part of keeping our service members safe! Later, he resumed his career and moved on as Art Director and later as Creative Director in Advertising. He worked for 40 years on the Chevrolet, Pontiac, and Cadillac accounts plus many more at Campbell-Ewald, Ceco Publishing Company, and D'Arcy, Masius Benton & Bowles advertising. He retired at the end of 1997 having found his advertising career to be satisfying, challenging, and fulfilling because it gave him the opportunity to “make things happen” by creating concepts for advertising consumer products, and following ideas through the entire printing process. Andy had many interests and was a very passionate fly fisherman, but was also a golf enthusiast, loved tennis, did cross country skiing, enjoyed working outdoors in the yard, and delved deeply into photography. He was a camping enthusiast and passed on his love of nature to his children, teaching them respect and appreciation for the natural world. The family car-camped all over Canada and many parts of the United States with family friends, which generated many funny and entertaining memories. He also took annual trips out West to fly fish with his fisherman buddies on the rivers of Montana and Idaho. He wrote about and published many articles and stories about these experiences in fishing magazines. Andy was married to his loving and devoted wife Sonia for 68 years, with whom he shared interests in nature, art, music, and travel. They met in high school but didn’t start dating until his return from active duty in the U.S. Air Force. After marrying in 1955, Sonia and Andy started their family in Garden City, Michigan. They later settled in Troy where they lived for 58 years until his passing. Andy was a very loyal, honest, steadfast, generous, and devoted father and husband. He was greatly valued by both his advertising colleagues and the students he taught at The Center for Creative Studies for his integrity and respect for their creative skills and ideas. He fostered an atmosphere of open-mindedness, non-judgement of others, and social service towards others through his Unitarian Universalist Church activities. He taught his children to examine many points of view, to reach for their highest personal goals, and to take the best from all religions and philosophies. He will be forever missed and loved. A memorial service for Andy will take place on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 2:00 pm at Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 4230 Livernois Road, Troy, MI 48098. For those unable to attend, please use the following Zoom link: https://beaconcongregation.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e6a676c72793910e3238fb394&id=fd8c0aa135&e=651912d867

Andrew Molnar

December 23, 1932 - December 18, 2023