Akos Revesz, 80; Pioneering Semiconductor Researcher

While working at Tungsram Corp. in Budapest from 1951 to 1956, Dr. Revesz developed and eventually ran that nation's first semiconductor research and development facility. He was a staunch critic of the communist regime and fled Hungary during the 1956 revolution.

For the next three years, he worked at Philips Co. in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, where his research led to the development of advanced electrical capacitors now used worldwide.

Over the years, Dr. Revesz was a guest research scientist at Centre National d'Etudes des Télécommunications in Grenoble, France, and at Forschungszentrum Rossendorf in Dresden, Germany.

After leaving Comsat Laboratories in 1983, he started a Bethesda-based consulting business and worked with the Naval Research Laboratory and the Defense Nuclear Agency in Washington, among others.

In 2003, Dr. Revesz received the prestigious Thomas D. Callinan Award from the Electrochemical Society in Paris for lifetime achievement in dielectric science and technology.

Dr. Revesz, who spoke five languages, enjoyed music, reading and gardening. He also was a wine and cheese connoisseur who delighted in explaining his choices.

He belonged to the Hungarian Club of Washington, the Carderock Springs Citizens Association, the Wagner Society of Washington, the Goethe Institute and the Appalachian Mountain Club.

His marriage to Agnes Ernst Revesz ended in divorce.

Survivors include his wife of 33 years, Kinga Revesz of Bethesda; a son from his first marriage, Thomas Revesz of Washington; and a son from his second marriage, Paul Revesz, also of Washington.