Antal (Tony) Deutsch R.I.P.

On 1 December, Julia Deutsch wrote:
Dear Friends,
We write to you with sad news. On November 28, 2025, Tony passed away peacefully at the Royal Victoria Hospital.
He enjoyed relatively good health until his last months and kept up with the affairs of the world until the very end. We will miss him dearly.
A Memorial at the McGill University Faculty Club in Montreal will take place in January. We will inform you of the details.
Hanna and Julia Deutsch

Antal “Tony” Deutsch, Professor Emeritus of Economics, McGill University, Montreal.
(Globe & Mail) On November 28, 2025, Antal “Tony” Deutsch passed away in Montreal, aged 89.
Born in Hungary, Tony and his family survived the Siege of Budapest and immigrated to Canada.
Working full-time, he attended night school to earn his B.Comm. from Sir George Williams.
While there, he happened across Paul Samuelson*‘s Foundations of Economic Analysis, which sparked his lifelong interest in Economics.
In 1967, Tony earned a Ph.D. from McGill University’s Department in Economics, a department he would later serve as Chair. He would also serve decades on the McGill University Executive Committee of Board of Governors, the Senate, the McGill Association of University Teachers (serving as President and Vice-President) and the McGill Pension Committee (serving as Chair).
In addition to his experience at McGill, Tony was shaped by several years as a Visiting Scholar at Harvard University, which provided a springboard for his later work in international development.
As a professor, Tony was erudite and approachable, which made his classes notoriously popular. As a colleague, he was a voice of moderation and practical good sense in departmental discussions. He was tolerant and imperturbable when facing disagreements and will be remembered for his kindness, good humour and exceptional courtesy.
Tony was passionate about public finance and, particularly, the effective design and implementation of public and private pensions systems. His expertise was sought out by governments in Canada, Singapore, China, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and, through Harvard Institute of International Development, his native Hungary.
In 1995, he was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order of the Republic of Hungary for his outstanding contribution to Hungarian society for this work.
In 2006, Tony was also amongst the 50 Hungarian-Canadians featured in the “Lives Lived” collection by the National Arts Centre, which recognized his distinguished contribution to Canadian society, on the 50th anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution.
Tony frequently collaborated with colleagues and friends. His most notable collaboration, however, was with his wife of 40 years and fellow economist, Hanna, with whom he shared a wonderful life and several publications. Tony’s memory will be cherished by his family: wife, Hanna; daughter, Julia (Alexandre); Gabor (Lorraine), Nick (Jane), Andrew, Etienne (Amanda), Michael (Tatiana), Jonathan, Greg, Adam, Anna, Mischa, Annabelle and Nicholas.

A Celebration of Life at the McGill University Faculty Club will be hosted to honour his memory from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. on January 21, 2026.

*NB
13 December
Nobel-winning economist Paul A. Samuelson dies at age 94
In a career that spanned seven decades, he transformed his field, influenced millions of students and turned MIT into an economics powerhouse
MIT economist Paul A. Samuelson, the Nobel laureate whose mathematical analysis provided the foundation on which modern economics is built and whose textbook influenced generations of students, died today

While the Globe & Mail Obituary above gives important highlights of Tony’s career, it does not begin to address some of his more unusual experiences and interests. For those, one must consult the detailed and otherwise dry, matter-of-fact McGill c..v. which goes a long way to explaining Tony’s vast range of sometimes abstruse information. Who knew, for instance, that he had served as a Consultant on the Olympic Coin Programme to the Organizing Committee of the 1976 Olympic Games (C.O.J.O.)?

On Wednesday #1577 of 23 May 2012 , an evening of homage to two exceptional Swedes (perhaps both spies?) from distinguished families, Raoul Wallenberg and Knut Hammarskjold, Tony Deutsch delivered a masterful summary of the historical and geopolitical context surrounding Raoul Wallenberg’s work among the Hungarian Jews of Budapest, his arrest by the Soviets and the mystery of his final fate.

Such a wonderful wise and sweet man. He was truly loved. It’s heartbreaking.
Marc Nicholson

“My favorite economist in the whole wide world”
His wit and wisdom enlivened our lives in equal measure. He was a treasured friend and is sorely missed. My most affectionate condolences to his family, especially Hanna and Julia Alexandra. Tony will be in my thoughts and prayers for many years.
Diana Thébaud Nicholson

He was always concise and perceptive in his analysis and good cheer around the table.
Rev. David Oliver

I’m so very sorry, Diana for your loss of a dear, gifted & lovely friend.
My deepest condolences to you and Tony’s family.
John Evdokias

We will deeply miss Tony, whose eloquence and insight always illuminated our WN conversations. Although we only saw half of him most of the time because of the position of his webcam (!!), his unique ability to discuss issues with kindness, wit, and thoughtful reflection made every topic he participated in a delight to listen to. He will be missed for sure and impossible to replace.
Michel (Jutras)