William Penn Life, 1996 (31. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1996-12-01 / 12. szám

December 1996, William Penn Life, Page 3 Member combines love for photography and city Branch 89 member Alex Patho, a native of Hungary, expresses his love for his new home through his photography. (Photo by Alex Patho, Jr.) By Grace Rishell From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette PITTSBURGH — When Mayor Tom Murphy wants to look at the Pittsburgh skyline, he doesn’t have to leave his office. All he need do is glance at the wall, where there’s a panoramic photograph of the city he gov­erns. The picture was taken by Alexander Patho, a Hungarian­­born photographer who long dreamed of coming to America and now makes his home in Glenshaw, Pa. Patho, 56, is a member of William Penn Association Branch 89 Homestead, Pa., who specializes in photographs of Pittsburgh. He said panoramic views of the Point—the spot where the Allegheny and Monon­­gahela Rivers meet and form the Ohio River—are his most pop­ular pictures. "Everybody who wants to see Pittsburgh wants to see the Point,” Patho said. But he has pictures of other parts of the city, including a number of North Park and the North Shore area. One photo recently on display at an area frame shop shows an overview of Three Rivers Stadium on a snowy afternoon. A glimpse of the sta­dium’s interior allows us to see Steelers fans rooting for the home team. Patho said it’s possible during a short period at sunset to capture different photographic effects every minute. The sky’s changing colors, which are reflected by the buildings of downtown, are the reason. "I love the city. The city is beautiful,” Patho said. When he came to the area in 1981, it was experienc ing an eco­nomic downturn and Patho found it difficult to make a living. For much of his life, his goal had been to get to America. Patho was a successful photographer in Hungary. His work appeared in many one-man shows and in photography books. In 1969 and 1979, he was awarded the grand prize by the Hungarian Society of National Photo Artists. But, he said, he and his family didn’t like living under the restrictions of a com­munist government. His great-grandfather made the trip across the ocean to live in America about 100 years ago. His grandparents eventually de­cided to emigrate, too. They purchased tickets on a ship, but World War I broke out, putting an end to their hopes of leaving Eastern Europe. Patho planned for the day he could come to America. Some­one once said to him, "It is the old dream of your young life” because of the associations it had with his family history. Patho was permitted to travel outside of Hungary every three years. During those trips, he shot photos of Italy, Spain, Germany and Switzerland. He finally was able to emigrate to Germany, where he and his family lived for eight months. Then a cousin who resides in the Pittsburgh area was willing to sponsor the family, so Patho, his wife, two children and mother­­in-law came to America. Jobs were scarce and Patho’s English wasn’t good. It took him until 1984 to find a steady job working in a photo lab. He’s now employed as a color printer. He uses weekends and off-time to take his artistic pictures of the city. "Photography is my life,” he said. His photos hang in numerous living rooms, as well as the execu­tive offices of several firms. They have been purchased by corpora­tions as gifts for associates all over the world, according to Patho’s resume. His wife, Margaret, is a quality­­control supervisor for the imag­ing and printing firm where he is employed. Their son, Alex, is a photographer and filmmaker. Their daughter, Yvette, graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in business and economics. All three are also members of WPA Branch 89. Patho said he isn’t homesick for Hungary, but he plans to visit his brother, an actor in Budapest, and a sister, who is office director for the nation’s Supreme Court. Dates scheduled for 1997 WPA tours to Hungary NORTH BRUNSWICK, NJ - Right now, most of you are too busy preparing for the upcoming holidays to think about your vacation plans for next year. But, come Jan. 2, most of you will probably be ready to get away. When you’re ready to plan your vacation, think about join­ing one of the WPA’s tours to Hungary. Frank Chrinko and the folks at Fugazy International Travel will be happy to help you make all the arrangements neces­sary for one of the most exciting and memorable vacations you’ll ever enjoy. In 1997, the WPA will sponsor two tours: the first is scheduled for June 12 to 26; the second, from Sept. 4 to 18. Both offer the same itinerary, which will be an­nounced soon. Participants in past WPA tours have called our tours among the best organized they were ever on. Many recommend the trip to fellow WPA members. If the hustle and bustle of the holidays have you dreaming of getting away, then get away with us to the Land of the Magyars. For more information about our 1997 tours, call Frank Chrinko toll-free at 1-800-828-4488. Museum hosts Festival of Trees NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — The eighth annual Festival of Trees, presenting the traditions of 12 ethnic cultures, is on display from now until Jan. 26 at the Hungarian Heritage Center Muse­um of the American Hungarian Foundation. The Festival of Trees includes the presentation of colonial American traditions, Victorian decorations, the Menorah and the traditions of Greece, Ukraine, Sweden, Denmark, Scotland, Ire­land, Italy, Belarus, Hispanic- Latio, Hungary and turn-of-the­­century America. Community groups and organizations were invited to decorate each tree. The museum is located at 300 Somerset St., New Brunswick. Hours are Tuesday through Sat­urday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Guided tours are avail­able. For more information, call (908) 846-5777. Holiday Baskets Continued from Page 1 program by also contributing to similar projects sponsored by other charitable organizations in their communities. Still other branches have adop­ted the idea of the Holiday Basket program as a year-long project, collecting canned goods as "ad­mission” to branch activities, then giving the food to the needy. We commend those members and branched who have joined us in this worthwhile program and have given hope to those in need. Welcome To Our Fraternal Family ZACHARY T. BENEKE Branch 8 Johnstown, PA CEANNAJO INGRAM Branch 28 Youngstown, OH MICHAEL M. CONGENI, JR. Branch 14 Cleveland, OH JOHN A. HUTCHENS Branch 296 Springdale, PA RUSSELL KELL Branch 48 New York, NY SARAH KELL Branch 48 New York, NY

Next

/
  • Layout
  • Zoom
  • Rotation
Thumbnails
Contents