bánáthy spent considerable time during the last few years of his life caring for his wife eva in their home in carmel, california. she had been in poor health for a number of years after a stroke. in the summer of 2003 bánáthy and his wife moved to live with their son tibor in chico, california. after a brief and unexpected illness, bánáthy died on september 4, 2003. he and eva had been married 64 years at the time of his death.