Amerikai Magyar Hírlap, 2007 (19. évfolyam, 1-50. szám)
2007-06-15 / 25. szám
AMERICAN .. ". '„.'..."-.'.I'."!,-'....'■...'!'. ■-.'', '.=-i-.g............-■■■'■,..................... ■■■■■■......,....■■■ "1.1....1..1.,., _ Nobel Laureate George Olah Celebrates Birthday at Duna Csárda Text and Photos by Julius and Susan Jancso Professor George Olah, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1994, is a frequent guest at the Duna Csárda in Hollywood. He usually comes with his wife Judy and likes to chat with the owners about politics and life in general while the Wiener Schnitzel is frying in the kitchen. The Olahs were there recently at the greatest living Hungarian actress, Eva Szorenyi’s 90th birthday party, and a few days later it was his time to celebrate. There were no numbers mentioned except that they are “big and round”, but according to his autobiography on nobelprize.org, George Olah was born on May 22, 1927 in Budapest. There were no scientists in the family before him, and he himself had preferred the humanities when he studied with the Piarist fathers - history, literature, and 8 years of latin provided him with a strong humanistic base few scientists can afford once they get involved in science. Mr. Olah got interested in organic chemistry and studied at the Technical University of Budapest after WWII. He became research assistant to Géza Zemplen who in turn had been a student of Emil Fischer in Berlin. He soon found his niche pursuing fluorine chemistry, but the odds against succeeding were incredibly high. Chemicals were scarce in post-war Hungary, and he had to convert an old balcony into laboratory. He married Judith Lengyel in 1949, “the best thing ever to happen to me in my life” he confesses. His wife studied Chemistry and became his partner in work as well. In 1956 they escaped Communist Hungary and briefly stayed in London where Mr. Olah enlisted the help of wellestablished chemists he had long admired. The family, now including son George John, moved to Montreal, Canada, and then to a small town where Dow Chemicals was establishing a new laboratory. He first started work on carbocations in Sarnia, Ontario, and their younger son, Ronald Peter was born there. The Olahs spent 12 years in Cleveland, Ohio, where Mr. Olah was a professor at Western Reserve University. In 1977 they moved to California where USC was building a Chemistry Department. Now the team had about 15 members, including Mrs. Olah. And, as they say, “the rest is history”. In addition to his wife, Professor Olah had his younger son Ronnie and his grandchildren present at the birthday party. The Hungarian specialty cake “Dobos Torta” was presented and cut by Csárda Executive Director László Bossányi. We were honored to be part of this memorable event. Professor Olah is much loved and admired by the Hungarian community. DUNA Travel 8530 Holloway Dr. ft 102 W. Hollywood, CA 90069 Spa, Hotel foglalások, Kocsi bérlés Kedvezményes repülőjegy árak LAX-BUD-LAX $575.-tol +TX. (május 17-ig) Információért hívják ZSUZSÁT TEL: (310) 652-5294 FAX: (310) 652-5287 1-888-532-0168 Június 15, 2007 ÍD AMERIKAI Hfagyar Hírlap The English Page of the Hírlap can serve as a bridge between the non-Hungarian-speaking members of the family and the community. Use it to bring people together! Subscribe to the Hírlap! Advertise your business in the Hírlap! If you have any questions or suggestions, please call (323) 463-6376 Guerilla Gardening Budapesters crossing Margit hid on the morning of June 5 were greeted with an unusual sight: the bridge had sprouted flowers overnight. The sudden appearance of foliage was not limited to this one Budapest bridge, either. Similar outbreaks of flora appeared at the same time in Nyíregyháza, Debrecen and Miskolc. In Budapest, Margit hid’s 38 lamp posts were planted with more than 160 sets of flowers. Budapest Council had threatened legal proceedings, but Alex Poulson, Creative Director of Raygun, said on Wednesday (June 6) that he had heard that idea had been dropped, and that the council was rumored to be considering offering more soil to the “guerilla gardeners” to plant more flowers. Raygun are now organising a “summit” between the two parties to help them work together to brighten the city. The campaign of “guerilla gardening” was organized by Budapest-based ad agency Raygun, to promote the Hegyalja Festival (www.hegyaljafestival.hu ) in the upper Tisza region, which runs from July 11 -15, and to mark the World Day of Environment Protection (June 5), being observed in Hungary for the first time. POOL RESTORATION Industrial Bond Coating Free Estimate! High Resistance against algae and stains Non-abrasive surface * Six different colors No more leaking * Maximum Durability Reduced chemical consumption Tony (213) 422-9386
