Vale Vili: Adelaide baking magnate, Vilmos Milisits, dies aged 72 after lung transplant complications. Your tributes will be made into the state’s biggest sympathy card

Hundreds of tributes to SA food legend Vili Milisits, who died in March, will be made into the state’s biggest sympathy card. Leave your tribute for Vili here.

From one SA food industry icon to another – Foodland plans to gather the public’s heartfelt tributes to mighty South Aussie pie maker Vili Milisits and create the state’s biggest ever sympathy card for him.

The legendary Adelaide baking magnate, Vilmos Milisits, affectionately known as Vili, died on March 26, aged 72.

Messages will be added to a card, to take the form of a hard cover book which will be presented to the Milisits family in the coming months.

Scroll to the end to leave your tribute to Vili in the comments.

Foodland CEO Franklin dos Santos said they wanted to give everyone an opportunity to send a message to the family.

“Whether they knew Vili personally, enjoyed his products or saw the joy his products brought

to family and friends, we think it’s important to celebrate everything that he created,” he said.

Mr Milisits had been battling several health conditions, including multiple pneumonias, before undergoing an lung transplant on March 26 at St Vincent’s Public Hospital in Sydney.

The transplant was successful, but Vili died from complications shortly after 9pm.

Baking magnate, Vili Milisits, has died in Sydney aged 72. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

His wife, Rosemary Milisits, remembered Vili as a genuine, hardworking man who was adored by many.

“The family are all totally devastated,” Mrs Milisits said.

“He was always a fighter and believed in quality and values above all.

“He was a benefactor and an all-round good bloke, someone who when he gave his word, you know would honour it.”

Mr Milisits fled war-torn Hungary in 1956, before arriving in Australia and finding a job at a chip shop aged 12.

Since then, Vili’s bakery has grown as one of the largest baking companies in the world, making more than 40 million products a year and exporting to 24 countries at the height of operation, pre COVID-19.

Mrs Milisits said Vili was eternally grateful to the opportunities life in Australia presented to him.

“Vili always said ‘I’m Hungarian by birth, Aussie by choice’ and said Australia gave him every opportunity.”

Both Mr and Mrs Milisits received Order of Australia medals in 2005, recognising their generous work for more than 50 charities.

Vili worked tirelessly to build the bakery to be the best it could be, believing in fostering positive relationships and trust with employees and customers.

Mrs Milisits extended sincere gratitude to customers and friends who offered support throughout Vili’s various health issues.

“The three generations of our family in the business would like to thank customers and friends who made inquiries over the months,” she said.

“People have been very kind in his sickness, and everyone was wishing him a speedy recovery.”

Vili is survived by Rosemary, their children Alison and Simon and grand children, Luke and Josh.

Many prominent South Australians, as well as friends and customers who enjoyed Vili’s famous pies and pasties, have paid tribute.

Premier Steven Marshall said the state had “lost one of its most iconic businessmen”.

“My heartfelt condolences go to his wife Rosemary, and their family,” he said.

“Vili and Rosemary have employed hundreds of South Australians and have generously given back to the community as proud supporters of charities, community sport and the arts.

“Vili was a passionate businessman with a tremendous work ethic. He will be missed by many.”

Advertising guru, Andrew Killey of KWP!, worked closely with Vili after they met in 1991, devising the big blue ‘V’ on the pavement of the Cafe de Vili’s Mile End headquarters and ran several ad campaigns for the company.

“If it hasn’t got a V – it ain’t me,” ran a popular commercial radio slogan.

Mr Killey offered his condolences for a man he “had nothing but respect for”.

“Like all the people who’s lives have been touched and enhanced by Vili, I’m saddened but I’m glad we met and became friends. That’s something I’ll keep forever,” he said.

“They (Rosemary and Vili) are also two of the most generous and community minded people I have ever met.”

As well as extensive charity work, Vili’s sponsor many sporting clubs around the state.

President of Forestville Eagles Basketball Club, Rod Cocks, offered condolences on behalf of the club.

“The Forestville Eagles Basketball Club community is deeply saddened by the sudden passing Vili Milisits,” the club wrote.

“FEBC extend our deepest sympathies to his wife Rosemary and his family.

“Vili has been a long-time supporter and major FEBC benefactor and sponsor.

“He was not only a successful businessman, but also a gentleman, always friendly and welcoming to all those he encountered over the years.

“His generosity and good deeds will be remembered by the many people whose lives he has touched.”

London Agent General to SA and prominent businessman, Bill Muirhead, visited Vili “a few weeks ago”, and remembered him as a “legend”.

“He was one of those rare people who you were always better after you’d seen them, than you did before,” Mr Muirhead said.

“Some people are good on surfboards but Vili Milisits made waves. He was an inspiration whose success was due to his hard work and total commitment to producing the best quality Australian pies and pasties in the world.

“People used to steal them from our South Australia Club events at Australia House in London. That’s how good they are.”

Vili’s Mile End home base was swamped by customers, offering tributes by purchasing baked goods at Cafe De Vili’s.

Brett Lewis, 54, of Kingston Park, enjoyed a pie and remembered Vili as a man with an “amazing story”.

Mr Lewis said Vili’s stood for “quality food, quality people, and supporting SA”.

Helen Douglass, 65, of Murray Bridge, came with her family to Cafe De Vili’s every Sunday since she was a child.

“He was such a wonderful man, it’s a tragic loss,” Ms Douglass said.

ABC Radio host, Peter Goers, said Vili was an “extraordinarily generous man and a great character.”

Mrs Milisits also thanked the team of respiratory specialists, cardiologists, doctors and nurses that cared for Vili at The Royal Adelaide Hospital, Calvary Adelaide Hospital and St Vincent’s Public Hospital throughout his various health issues.

POST YOUR TRIBUTE TO VILI AND HIS FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES IN THE COMMENTS BELOW. SOME WILL BE SELECTED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE STATE’S BIGGEST SYMPATHY CARD.