E. Paul Kovacs

‘Tomato Man’

Was Full Of Life

E. Paul Kovacs, 95, of Newtown, died April 4 at the Danbury Health Care Center. He was born in Danbury, June 29, 1910, son of Joseph and Barbara Kovacs.

Mr Kovacs owned one of the largest sand and gravel processing operations and excavation companies in the state for more than 40 years.

At times, he employed more than 100 workers and even generations of families throughout the years, building roads, excavating for schools, municipal projects, and commercial development while also developing many of Danbury’s subdivisions during the boom and growth period in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.

While he expected his employees to work as hard and long as he did, he was also a very generous person who helped many “behind the scenes.” His “never tiring” and “always giving” spirit will be missed.

Mr Kovacs was an avid vegetable gardener and his garden was his pride and joy. His 50-plus tomato plants were his favorites and he shared the fruits of his labor with family, employees, and friends. He was affectionately known as the “tomato man.” He was an avid hunter and bowler. He played softball and he especially loved sport fishing in Montauk and in the Florida Keys. He was a man full of life!

He was a past member of the Danbury Club, Ridgewood Country Club, and Danbury Exchange Club.

He is survived by his wife Karen; and by his sons, Paul Kovacs, Jerome Kovacs, and Kenneth Kovacs; and by his daughters, Karen Parks and Rita Piela and her husband, Kenneth. He leaves behind eight grandchildren, Kristen Hardy, Adrienne Qui, Jennifer Kovacs, Jeremy Kovacs, Jessica Kovacs, Melissa Parks, Amanda Parks, and Edward Weller; two great-grandchildren, Jenna and Justin Qui; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his brother, Alexander Kovacs, and by his sisters, Margaret and Elizabeth Kovacs, and Barbara Anderson.

Friends may call Friday, April 7 from 5 to 8 pm at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main Street in Danbury. Graveside services will be held Saturday, April 8, at 9:30 am at St Peter Cemetery, Danbury.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mr Kovacs’s memory may be sent to Connecticut Eye Bank & Visual Research Foundation, Inc, 100 Grand Street, New Britain CT 06052 or the American Heart Association, 2550 US Route One, North Brunswick NJ 08902.

The Newtown Bee        April 7, 2006