Fraternity-Testvériség, 1997 (75. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1997-04-01 / 2. szám
FRATERNITY • Page 23 OBITUARIES WILLIAM BELA PUSKAS 1926-1997 William Bela Puskas, Honorary Treasurer of the Federation, passed away on April 23, 1997. He was born in Szamosszeg, Szatmár County, Hungary. He graduated from the Reformed Gimnázium of Debrecen in 1946 and came to the United States in 1947. He joined the U.S. Army in 1950 and was honorably discharged in 1952 after two years of active service with the First Army as Medical Technician. After receiving his Bachelor of Science degree from Rutgers University in 1957, he began a career of more than 30 years’ service in the fraternal life insurance industry, of which nearly 25 years were spent with the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America. He retired from the HRFA in 1992 as National Treasurer. He was a member of the Magyar Reformed Church in New Brunswick and a member and past president of the Hungarian American Athletic Club in New Brunswick. He is survived by his wife of forty-five years Onerva Ullven, his son William, daughter-in-law Linda, his granddaughter Katherine, and his sister Julianna Pajor. President of the Federation George Dózsa addressed the following words to family members and friends of William B. Puskas, Sr., at the memorial service on Saturday, May 17, 1997 that was attended by 150 people. ^fPe are assemA/ec//iere tofiay homage to tAe memory o^ycucr Zoned owe, our flrieru/j i/Z ZZPtuZcoAj wAco Ze/cmyecZ not om/y to Zus immediate ßcmö/y /at to us aZZ wAo cere yatAered /tere ire yrate^uA rememAranoe. C^D Bill came from a family that believed in and emphasized the values of a higher education for their children. In fact, all three children of the family went to boarding schools in Hungary with scholarships. All three received college degrees, and two earned doctorates. Bill entered boarding school in 1937 at the age of 10, achieving excellency every year. Therefore, from his second year on, he received a full scholarship from the Reformed Gimnázium of Debrecen, from where he graduated in 1946 with highest honors at the top of his class. During the high school years at the Gimnázium, Bill participated in a school “legatus” program and because of that he preached at many of Reformed churches in Szatmár County. He was known among his peers as the “preacher with the golden words.” During school breaks, especially at Christmas time, Bill would also preach in his beloved home village, Szamosszeg, at social gatherings, such as the “fono” and the like. He would also tutor during school breaks and summer vacations most of the young candidates of Szamosszeg who wanted to enroll in the Reformed Gimnázium of Debrecen. He was very active in the literary club of the Gimnázium and the recipient of several literary awards. As a collector of folklore from the Szamosszeg region, Szatmár County, he received one of the most coveted awards of the Ministry of Culture. Upon graduation from the Gimnázium in 1946, he entered medical school and finished the first year only, because in 1947, he came to America, following his father’s footsteps and those of other relatives. After his arrival here, Bill continued his college education which was interrupted by the Korean War. He served in the US Army for two years and was honorably discharged as Sergeant. During his tour of duties in Germany, Bill renewed his pen-pal relationship with his Finnish sweetheart that he had started when he was 16 years old. The renewed relationship ended with his marrying the lovely Onerva Ullven in Germany in 1951. At the end of Korean War, he resumed his college education and received his Bachelor of Science degree from Rutgers University in 1957. Bill entered the fraternal life insurance business in 1963. From 1963 to 1968, he was with the William Penn Association. From 1968 on, he worked for the Federation and held the positions of agent, branch manager, section manager, district manager, area manager, and national coordinator. In 1984 and 1988 Bill was elected national treasurer. During his tenure as treasurer, he enriched the Federation with his broad knowledge of financial matters and initiated several programs that brought the Federation up-to-date in the life insurance industry. Bill served the Federation for 25 years with distinction and dedication. He had a brilliant mind. Had he stayed in Hungary, he would have become one of the best physicians in the country. By coming to America in 1947, his outlook on life changed completely, and he became a pragmatist. He believed that ideas have value only in terms of their practical consequences and that results are the sole test of the validity or truth of one’s beliefs. Throughout his life in Hungary or in America, he was known for his willingness to help and assist all those who turned to him in their need. He will be missed not only by his beloved wife, Ovi, his son, Bill, his sister, Julia, his granddaughter Kati, his daughter-in- law Linda, but by all who knew him. His memory we will always cherish.”
