William Penn Life, 1968 (3. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1968-12-01 / 12. szám
of the Association. This writer was fortunate to have been associated with Mr. Vasas for more than 25 years and thus am probably more aware of his efforts on behalf of the Americans of Hungarian descent than anyone else. The history of his life in the fraternal field would fill volumes, unfortunately for all of us, he never got around to writing his memoirs which is what he intended to do in his Florida retirement, but he never had the time because even there he was constantly helping his compatriots and thus will not have this recorded. Mr. Vasas was laid out in Orlando, Florida, where more than 150 friends came to pay their last respects. Hungarian services were conducted by Rev. Louis Novak of Eagle Lake, Florida and Rosary was recited by Holy Name members of St. Charles Church were Mr. Vasas was an Usher and Trustee. His body was then flown to Bridgeport, Connecticut and friends and relatives visited at the John T. Lesko Funeral Home on Monday, November 4, burial was in St. Michaels Cemetery, Tuesday, November 5. Mr. Elmer Charles, National President of the William Penn Fraternal Association delivered the Eulogy at the Funeral Home, Monday evening. We bring the full text of the Eulogy, because it most fully expresses the feelings of a grateful Association to a diligent worker and builder. * BEREAVED FAMILY OF OUR DEPARTED FRIEND, MEMBERS OF THE WILLIAM PENN FRATERNAL ASSOCIATION AND FRIENDS: As we stand here to pay worthy tribute to a good and great man, Fraternal Brother, Father, Father-in-law, Grandfather, Great-grandfather, companion in service, fellow believer, fellow Hungarian, may we turn for greater understanding to the word of God, the source of his and our faith, and listen to the voice of the Prophet Isaiah: “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of God will stand forever.” (Continued on page 5) On November 2, 1968, Mr. Joseph Vasas, retired Honorary Supreme Secretary of the William Penn Fraternal Association died in Orlando, Florida. Mr. Vasas became associated with the Hungarian American Fraternal Life from the day, at age 19, when he came to Bridgeport, Connecticut, from Hernádvécse, Abauj megye, Hungary. He often told of the story that the first Sunday he was in this country, he went to St. Stephen’s Church in Bridgeport and after mass went down to the basement where the then Szt. László Society was holding its monthly meeting. One of the men asked him: “Son, can you write?” when the reply was in the affirmative, the man said, “Sit down and write into this book the amounts I will call out,” and with that began a career in Hungarian fraternal life which was to end with his retirement as Supreme Secretary of the Rákóczi Aid Association, July 1, 1955. In the intervening 54 years he not only served the Szt. László Society but in 1917 was elected Supreme Secretary of the Rákóczi and served in that capacity until his retirement. The William Penn Board of Directors then honored him by designating him Honorary Supreme Secretary in recognition of the long and trusted service rendered to the Association. Mr. Vasas was really a self-made man. Having received only the usual elementary school education in Hungary, he attended night schools in America to broaden his knowledge and to learn the English language so that he could properly execute his office as Secretary rr\ william n O (Q fiQ iOlfe Official Publication of the William Penn Fraternal Association Editor-In-Chief ...................................................... ELMER, CHARLES Associate Editor .................................... ALBERT J. STELKOVICS Editorial Board: JOHN SABO JULIUS S. SOMOGYI Editor’s Office: 429 FORBES AVENUE PITTSBURGH PA. 15219 Area Code 412 »281-8950 Office of Publication: PARKER PHOTO OFFSET PRINTING CO., INC. 163 Albany Street New Brunswick, N. J. 08961 Published monthly except for combined Issues In June-July and August-September Postmaster: If undelivered, please send Form 3579 to: WILLIAM PENN FRATERNAL ASSOCIATION 429 Forbes Ave„ Pittsburgh, Pa. 15219 Second clam postage paid at New Brunswick, N. J. JOSEPH VASAS 1882—1968 3
