Magyar News, 1992. szeptember-1993. augusztus (3. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1993-04-01 / 8. szám
the spot with the train waiting for the honeymoon ride. Quite a story for a 22-yearold Hungarian immigrant. John and Mary with their little daughter went to visit the Old Country. The father, Andrew, was 99 years old still living in Hejcze. During this visit a new baby was bom, John Junior. Experiencing the changes in the Norwalk area, the strengthening of these Hungarian communities, probably influenced the decision that John and Mary made. They sold their property in Virginia, moved to Bridgeport, CT, hoping for a better future then what the mining town was offering. Immediately they invested in a saloon on the comer of Hancock Ave. and Spruce St. Having experience with it, John built boarding houses as a source of income. He turned out to be quite a businessman. He started out with trucking and rigging. He built stables in Lesko Court, purchased many horses, then on Spruce Street he opened an office and added on a livery service. John purchased a property in Fairfield where Home Depot and Holland Hill Road is now. Here he built a recreation and bowling center for the Hungarian community and called it the Lesko Park. After the abolition he donated the buildings and equipment to the Catholic church. At the age of 45 John, with his son John S„ 20 years old, who was bom in Hejcze during a visit, laid the foundation to the business that the family has today. Ten years later they moved from this Spruce Street business to a three-story brick building that they constructed on Hancock Ave. Soon they switched to modem times and had their livery fleet completely motorized. The offspring seemed to follow in the footsteps of John and John S. S tarting in the middle of the 1930s, John T., the grandson of the founder joined the funeral home. We might get a bit confused with all the Johns. Father Csemitky tried to break the pattern when John T. was bom and christen the newborn Thomas. But the father and grandfather felt very strongly to have the baby named John. At this point Father told them that they have no imagination. With a compromise, the third generation John received the middle name Thomas. With John T.’s help, the business was moved into the beautiful house at 1390 Fairfield Ave. As a result of a successful operation, additions were made. The biggest was done when a new generation, John T. Jr, joined the funeral home in 1960. The latest generation also joined; J ohn S. in 1980 and Kevin in 1986. John S. and his wife Mallory are involved in many area organizations, including the International Order of Alhambra and the Advisory Board for the Diocese of Bridgeport - Special Education. Holding positions, also member of St. Emery’s Church and the Kiwanis Club. Kevin is an Eucharistic Minister at St. Ann’s Church in Black Rock. He is a third degree Knight and a member of the building committee for Fairfield Knights of Columbus. As a fund-raiser, he works hard for several Fairfield County Rehabilitation Centers. As the latest generation, they also made decisive decisions and moved the Funeral Home to Fairfield, the town that absorbed most of the Hungarian population from the West End of Bridgeport. As you see each generation made their own move to carry on the Lesko family’s business, to keep on serving our Hungarian community. Joseph F. Balogh WHAT YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT HUNGARIAN PAPRIKA This phrase has been used in many topics and the audience probably ends up knowing more than they really want to. At the lecture sponsored by the American Hungarian Heritage Association, the audience truly got a “mouthful.” After president Joe Stiber greeted the guests, Joseph Balogh talked about his own experience visiting the paprika fields in Hungary. He also referred to the 23 books he knows written on the Hungarian paprika. The lecture was held in the Puritan Hall at the United Church of Christ. During the intermission a reception took place with coffee and a large spread of Hungarian pastry that was organized by the ladies of A.H.H.A. and also donated by the ladies in the audience. Drotos Brothers of Fairfield donated samplings of kolbász made with Hungarian paprika. This nice participation seems to be the hallmark of A.H.H. A. gatherings. After the intermission Mr. Balogh showed the different kinds of paprika and also demonstrated the proper way of cooking with paprika. At the closing of this nice event Joe Stiber talked about future plans. He also called attention to the March 14 celebration of the Hungarian Patriot’s Day and the 100th Anniversary of the Hungarian Reformed Church in So. Norwalk. The ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new Fairfield location. Standing with First Selectman Jaquelyn Durrell are John T. Sr., Kevin and John S. Lesko. Page 7
