Hungarian Heritage Review, 1985 (14. évfolyam, 12. szám)
1985-12-01 / 12. szám
2 HUNGARIAN HERITAGE REVIEW DECEMBER 1985 NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. - According to Mr. Zoltán Merszei, the Vice-Chairman of the Occidental Petroleum Corporation who is serving as the Chairman of the Capital Fund Campaign of the American Hungarian Foundation, over $600,000 has been contributed and pledged so far by individuals and organizations towards the $2.9-million needed to complete the construction and implementation of the operations of this 30-year-old foundation’s national Hungarian Heritage Center. This magnificent project, which is already well underway, merits the generous support of the more than 1.7-million Hungarians in America. To learn more about it, write for a copy of the project's prospectus to: Dr. August J. Molnár, American Hungarian Foundation, 177 Somerset Street, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903 (Tel: 201-846-5777). SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - Gary Bar tay, whose family settled in Texas more than 100 years ago and who helped to organize the establishment of the Hungarian Cultural Society of San Antonio, claims that there are about 100,000 Hungarians living in the Lone Star State. The U.S. Census of 1980, of course, came up with the figure of only 27,964. Be this as it may, Bartay also claims after participating in a 2-day-long picnic at Lake Sommerville (which went on day and night) that there are actually 75 different ways to cook Hungarian goulash. Well now, is it possible that some Hungarians fought in the historic Battle of the Alamo? ELIZABETH, N.J. - Dr. Maria Berky, a 75-year-old Psychologist and former professor at the University of Budapest, recently published a 24-page booklet in which she tells the story of the illness and death of her husband and how their love grew through adversity. She wrote it in the hope that her story could help others in similar circumstances. For a free copy of her inspirational booklet, write to: Dr. Maria Berky, 220 West Jersey Street (Apt. 1-1), Elizabeth, New Jersey 07202. UPPER MONTCLAIR, N.J. - When New Jersey got hard hit with a water shortage this past summer, David Biro, a Hungarian musician and copywriter, decided to do something about it. Complete with sounds of dripping faucets and flushing toilets, he banged out a 60-minute jingle urging residents to stop wasting water. His “Save Our Water” has become a public service announcement on radio. Maybe, someday he will become a Hungarian “Irving Berlin”? WASHINGTON, D.C. — Just in case you missed the “news” in your local paper, Alexander (Sándor) Stiglitz was sworn in by Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Sandra O’Connor, as a member of the Presidential Advisory Council on the Peace Corps. Following the swearing-in ceremony, the new Hungarian member of the Advisory Council toured Peace Corps operations in South America. Incidentally, he said that he has openings for farmers and people knowledgeable about animal husbandry. If you can qualify and are interested in a stint with the Peace Corps, you can get in touch with him by phoning 213-651-4199. VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA -When 19-year-old, Steve Fonyo, a onelegged victim of cancer, completed his incredible coast-to-coast run to prove that the dreaded disease can be licked, some reporters tried to discredit him by labeling him a “copycat” for duplicating the heroic feat of the late Terry Fox, and a “blunt, stubborn, and irritable young man of few words”. What they refused to understand about this young Hungarian was that he did not want to be compared by them to the great Canadian hero for whom statues and monuments have been erected across Canada and that, it was for this reason, that he was not “friendly” towards newsmen. Blunt, stubborn, irritable or not, the fact still remains that this remarkable teen-ager raised $7-million for cancer research, care, and education with his marathonic race across Canada! SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — The Hungarian-produced film “The Revolt of Job” and televised story of Wallenbürg notwithstanding, the fact still remains that thousands of Hungarians endangered their lives in heroic efforts to save Hungarian Jews from extermination after the Nazis took over Hungary in World War II. On the wall of the South Sydney Memorial Synagogue here, for example, there has been a memorial plaque erected which reads as follows: “In memory of the Jewish martyrs who perished in the Hungarian holocaust and in memory of Col. Imre Reviczky who risked his life by saving many Jews during World War II”. The story of Colonel Reviczky’s heroism was written by his son, Adam, and is scheduled for publication in Budapest as part of the planned series of books called “Lost Wars, Won Battles: Facts and Witnesses” and will be made available during “Book Week”. EDITOR’S NOTE: If you should spot any “news” about Hungarians, or about Hungarian activities, in your local newspaper please clip it out and send it on to us. Your cooperation would be greatly appreciated.
