William Penn Life, 1972 (7. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1972-07-01 / 3. szám
BRANCH 51, PASSAIC, DINNER-DANCEISTVÁN SZEMES Some men work like beavers, some like drone bees and some don’t work. Quite by accident, I met a man a while ago who reminded me of some good things past. Somebody suggested that there might be an interesting story in the U-Building tool crib. In their prime, several of the men shared different degrees of athletic fame. Being no stranger to that excitement, I jumped at the chance to swap some exaggerated stories about my own athletic prowess. Instead I found a story that began in 1924 with the first American experience of a 12-year-old Hungarian immigrant... A skinny, harshly clothed son of a blacksmith found life irt America veTy difficult. Five years older than anybody in the second grade, István Szemes struggled with a second grade reader. English was very difficult. “I overcame that handicap,” Szemes recalled in a low coarse tone, “but it wasn’t easy.” In four years he sped through six grades, mastered the language and finished at the top oi his eighth grade class. He could have gone to high school. His teachers said he was very bright. “In those days it was better that I went to work,” he recalled. “Jobs were scarce. A man appreciated whatever he could get. The Depression didn’t make it any easier.” Szemes is a toolmaker. A craftsman by reputation. When he flipped open his tool box to get an old press clipping dating around the time of the Tunney-Dempsey fight, I couldn’t help noticing his personal tools . . . well worn, oiled, stored with a kind of neat precision. Words of the old days didn’t flip out of his mouth, they rolled out from the bottom of his chest. “Back then,” he reminisced, “we didn’t have as many diversions as people have today. We played a lot of football and baseball...” From the old movies I’ve seen, football is a polite description.. I think brawling on an open field is a better way to put it. A few years back, I would have said On April 15, 1972, Branch 51, Passaic, N. J. held a Dinner-Dance in the American Hungarian Citizens Club of Garfield, New Jersey. The affair was exceptionally well arranged for and all who participated spent an enjoyable evening. Steve Szemes belonged in a museum or in a history book. Most people use every bit of vacation and sick leave they have. People don’t get excited about their jobs any more. But Steve feels that a man should use only what he needs when he needs it. “Don’t get me wrong,” he cautions. “I don’t mean to say that a man must live to work. No sir. A man must work to live... and enjoy his leisure when he has it. But I think men feel better when they’re being useful.” Someone told me that a toolmaker was nothing more than a slow machinist. He doesn’t agree. “A toolmaker may work slower at times,” he admitted. “But he has a more difficult job. I have to do whatever it takes to get the job done. My job involves knowing how to use many different machines, sometimes working with closer tolerances, and many times coming up with a tool when you’re given nothing more than a vague idea of what it should do. A toolmaker must be more creative... more inventive. Because he has to make a tool from start to finish.” As a young fellow, new to industry, I used to believe that the smarter you were the less work you did. In those days “oldtimers” delighted in putting “smart alecks” like me in their place. One oldtimer took a particular interest in whittling me down to size. Although I resisted most of what he tried to impress on me in his own firm way, I learned one thing: a man is what he wants to be, and if it’s worthwhile, it’s just that much harder to get. Steve Szemes reminded me of that old friend. Steve Szemes is more than a toolmaker. We are very proud of our Branch Manager of Branch 76, Philadelphia, Pa. and congratulate him for his wonderful acheivments as a precise toolmaker and a hard working member of William Penn. There was a short program. Mr. Arthur Barillo, President, extended greetings and words of welcome. He then introduced Director Michael Hegedűs, to serve as Toastmaster. Mr. Hegedűs requested Mrs. Andrew R. Balogh, Bridgeport, Connecticut to say grace. After a delicious Dinner, Toastmaster Hegedűs highlighted the history of the cooperation of New Jersey Branches each year sponsoring a social event for the benefit of the Scholarship Foundation. He then introduced National Secretary Albert J. Stelkovics, as the only speaker of the evening. He spoke briefly on the history of the Association and more lengthly on the plans for the future. Those who could be present received their plaques from National Secretary Stelkovics, who made the presentation in the name of the Board of Directors. The Toastmaster introduced the following: Director and Mrs. Frank Bero, Bridgeport, Conn., Director and Mrs. Joseph Toma, New York, N.Y., Director and Mrs. Frank Radvany, Trenton. N. J., Director and Mrs. Zoltán Emri, Roebling, N. J., Director and Mrs., Michael Hegedűs, New Brunswick, N. J., Mr. László Kereszti, Chairman, Auditing Committee, Auditing Committee Member and Mrs. Michael Hrabar, Perth Amboy, N. J., Field Manager East and Mrs. Andrew R. Balogh, Bridgeport, Conn., Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Szemes, Philadelphia, Pa., Mr. Charles Fabian, President Branch 48, New York, N. Y., Mr. Joseph Arvay, President Branch 19, New Brunswick, N.J., Mrs. Lillian K. Thomas, Vice-President, Branch 19, New Brunswick, N. J., Mr. Bela Emri, President Branch 22, Roebling, N. J. and Mrs. Emri. Branch 51, Officers for the year 1972 are: Mr. Arthur Barillo, President. Mr. Alex Lakatos, Vice President, Mr. Ernest Mozer, Sr., Recording Secretary, Mr. Frank Zimmermann, Treasurer. Auditing Committee members: Mr. Kalman Toth, Mrs. Helen Lakatos, Mr. Joseph Baumgartner. Meetings are held at 7:30 P.M» the third Monday of each month in the District Office, 217 Dayton Ave., Clifton, N. J. Ernest Mozer, Secretary 50-YEAR MEMBERS — L. to R.: George Csanaky, Mrs. Joseph Pusztai, Mrs. Joseph Szilagyi, Branch 51, Passaic, N.J., President Arthur Barillo, Imre Pal and Andrew Kuszko. 9
