Magyar News, 1993. szeptember-1994. augusztus (4. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1994-03-01 / 7. szám
STEVEN SZONDY, SR We personally, and our Hungarian Community lost a very loved and respected member and leader. It was hard to say goodbye to him, we can’t fül his place and we will miss him. Steven Szondy, Sr., of Westport, Connecticut died January 15 at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport. He was bom in 1914, in Nyíregyháza, Hungary. After high school at Gödöllö and Nyíregyháza, he spent four years at Magyaróvár Agricultural Academy, followed by an additional year in Vienna at the Austrian Handels Academy. In sports he earned numerous track and field tides during his college years and was national champion in the decathlon. In 1936 he was named to the Hungarian Olympic Team that competed in Berlin. With the war breaking out, he enlisted in the Hungarian Army in 1938. “I could not sit at home,” he always said, “when other young people were fighting and dying for my country.” At the end of 1944 he had attained the rank of Captain in the Hungarian Artillery. When Hungary was occupied by Soviet forces following the war, he went to Austria and worked for the American forces as a file clerk in an American Hospital. There, in Passau, he married the former Helen Fratrits in 1948. In 1951 the Szondy family emigrated to the United States and lived in New York City, where Steven worked as a moving man for Sofia Brothers. In 1956 they moved to Westport where S te ven and Helen started their own business, Abbey Richmond Rental Service. Steven Szondy, Sr. joined the M.H.B.K., an organization of Hungarian war veterans. For many years he organized an outstanding Hungarian gathering, the annual Hubertus Borbála Dinner Dance which was attended by veterans from all over the US A and Canada. The proceeds every year were sent to surviving veterans and their families in Hungary. He was also a board member of the American-Hungarian Pannónia Club. Through the years he supported and worked on all our major Hungarian events; The Hungarian Children’s Christmas Program, March 15, Debutantes’ Ball and the October 23rd Celebrations. Steven Szondy was always there with a helping hand for all Hungarians who in the struggle for survival were adapted by this country. He was very proud of his American citizenship and of his adopted homeland, but he never forgot his Hungarian heritage. He owned an extensive collection of Hungarian literature and music, and worked tirelessly on behalf of Hungarian causes. He is survived by his wife Helen; two sons Steven Jr. of Shelton, CT and George of Fairfield, CT; two daughters-in-law Valerie and Ginny; five grand-children Elizabeth, Vicki, Jennifer, Kimberly and Matthew; a brother László Szondy and sister Katalin Szondy Kelepecz, both of Australia; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and relatives both in Australia and in Hungary. Funeral services were held at St. Emery’s Church in Fairfield, CT. His friends, for this farewell, filled the church to capacity. His sons and closest friends did the readings and talked about the most memorable times of their life together. After the service he was laid to rest at Willowbrook Cemetery in Westport. We will miss him. ELINDULTAM SZÉP HAZÁMBÓL By the end of October, the Magyar News called attention to a show by the Hungarian State Folk Ensemble. They were to perform in New Haven at the Schubert Theater. The American Hungarian Heritage Association, with Claudia Margitay-Balogh organizing, announced a bus trip to the show. To meet the proper requirements, reservations were a must. She expected the usual Hungarian style, that “we have time,” but now it was stretching out too far. So she had to cut the reservations when finally one bus-load was reached. The late-comers were lining up as the date of the show was getting closer. It was too late to organize another bus so many who do not like to drive at night or in WANTED We are looking for volunteers to help out with a large variety of matters. 1. One or two people familiar with typing or administrative work on a Thursday morning around the 20th of the month. 2. Hungarian speaking person to catalog audio tapes and set up a card system for it. Could be done at home. You have to have a cassette player. Approximately 200 tapes. 3. One who is interested in local Hungarian history. Work with old documents, photographs, prepare things for exhibits. Call 377-0569. bad weather were left home. We saw people from our area who finally organized carpools and made it to the theater. Nobody regretted coming to the show “Elindultam Szép Hazámból” (I was leaving my nice country). There was not one seat left in the theater; it was jam-packed. There were so many Hungarians that one would think that he is in Budapest. The dozen dances and a few orchestra pieces performed by 75 dancers and musicians of the best quality left everybody with a lifetime experience. It wasn’t surprising to hear somebody in the audience say that he wished he was Hungarian. The variety of the beautiful Hungarian costumes was a feast for the eyes. The familiar music flowed through the body down to the feet, and the power of the young dancers just lifted you out of your seat. Sándor Timár’s artistic direction gave the performance a new dimension by emphasizing the dance to the play. The supporting dance chorus participated in more of the fancy steps than previously. The gypsy orchestra leadby Lázsló Berki gave a gem performance. Unfortunately we don’t know the name of the cimbalom player. He really deserves to be mentioned. His virtuoso performance itself was worth going to the theater. The dance entitled “DanceWords” definitely needs mentioning. It is an adaptation of an ancient art form from the Eastern Carpathian Mountains. They use a monotone percussion instrument for the beat. The words of a poem is shouted with the rhythm. In this case Lázsló Nagy wrote the poem with a political message. The dancers with their choreography expressed their feeling. It was an interesting performance. You may compare it to today’s rap, but the artistic level is much higher, nicer, and the art form is many hundreds of years older. This was the Ensemble’s fourth appearance in the USA, and the first since the political changes. Throughout the past the Ensemble kept its integrity, and we wish them new success in the future. The bust trip home was with a pleasant surprise. Claudia, with the help of her son Justin, gave out goody-bags with little snacks and juice. On the bags she printed: “A nite to remember.” How right she was. ERA®V.P. REALTY INC. MARGARET FENVESI Office: 203-268-8645 • Home: 203-924-8472 Magyarul Beszélünk 5802 MAIN ST. • TRUMBULL, CT 06611 Each office independently owned and operated ERA® REAL ESTAlV
