By Anna Erickson
aerickson@parkrapidsenterprise.com
Gabor Erich Nemeth will be remembered in the art community of Park Rapids through his knowledge and contributions.
He died Thursday, July 3 at the age of 87 at Heritage Living Center in Park Rapids.
Nemeth worked in art restoration and research over the years. He studied in Amsterdam and Brussels and organized museums in Los Angeles. He moved to Two Inlets with his wife and children in 1970.
The collection of Old Masters works, now displayed in the Nemeth Art Center, were remuneration for work he’d done in Europe.
In 1977, after the Park Rapids exhibit of the works by 16th and 17th Century Flemish and Dutch masters drew more than 4,000 viewers on a frigid January night, Nemeth and his wife decided not to donate the works to St. John’s University, as originally planned.
The collection remained in Park Rapids, exhibited at the North Country Museum of Arts.
“The board of the North Country Museum of Arts decided to change its name to The Nemeth Art Center as a way to honor the Nemeth family’s role in securing 40 paintings that comprise our study collection,” said Nemeth Art Center board member Aaron Spangler. “Gabor was an influential figure in the Park Rapids art community. He will be greatly missed.”
Nemeth never retired. Instead, he continued to paint and had plans to open an art institute at the old Ford dealership on Highway 71 south of Park Rapids.
Although he had an opening for the gallery, he became ill shortly after and was unable to continue with his plans, which included sharing insight and knowledge on painting techniques. He was a prolific artist, especially in his later years, and worked on landscapes as well as portraits.
He is survived by his sons, Gabriel Walter Nemeth, of Park Rapids and Eric Anton Nemeth, of Trang, Thailand; his daughter, Julia Nemeth, of Park Rapids; and his granddaughter, Zsofia Vicsabel Nemeth, of Park Rapids.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Johan and Juliana Nemeth; his wife, Edith Nemeth; his brother Karl Nemeth and his mother in law, Juliana Zentai.
Funeral services for Nemeth will be at 2 p.m. Friday, July 11 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Two Inlets. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.
Interment will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Two Inlets.
Cease Family Funeral Home in Park Rapids is handling the arrangements.
