William Penn Life, 2001 (36. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

2001-03-01 / 3. szám

Penn Life for all of the details.

Branch members celebrating birthdays during March include Gary Patrick Vámos, Maria Sagi, Marge Bugielski, Sally Herrera and John Nagy. We hope this year will be a safe, healthy and happy year for all of you. (Editor's note: Branch 34 members extend special birthday wishes to Andy McNelis. Everyone's glad to hear you're feeling better.)

Happy anniversary wishes to a very special couple, National Director Mike Kara and his wife Zita. May you both enjoy many more happy years together.

The Rev. Paul Bolvary, former pastor of St. Ann's Church in Hazelwood, and friend of the WPA and Branch 34,died Feb. 7 in Pecs, Hungary. He was 76. (See “In Memóriám," on Page 20.)

If you have any news to share, please contact Andy McNelis at (412) 421-6031. For information about WPA insurance and annuity plans, call Branch Coordinator Maria Bistey at (412) 431-6035.

Branch 76

Philadelphia, PA

By Rob Tokár

It was really great to see everyone who came to the Branch 76 Christmas party / year end meeting. Getting to see so many of our fellow WPA members was a great holiday gift.

Unfortunately, there is some very sad news. In the last three months, we lost four members, each of whom served our branch as officers at one time or another.

First, George Kemer, 68, passed

Sharing a moment at Branch 76’s Christmas party this past December are branch officers (l-r) James Pokorny (auditor), Jack Tokár (president) and Stephen Pokorny (vice president).

away, following a long illness. He was a father, grandfather and an auditor at the Magyar Otthon. He is survived by his wife Pat.

The second loss was very unexpected: Anita (Mezei) Young mother of three, only 42 years young. She was the daughter of Joe Mezei, a popular Hungarian violinist, and Aranka Mezei.

And, very recently, we lost our former coordinator, Stephen Szemes. Steve was a longtime member (more than 60 years in the WPA), organizer and supporter of the Hungarian culture. Sadly, his wife, Elsie, also an active member and former officer of our branch, survived him only very briefly. They are survived by son Stephen and his grandsons.

Mr. Szemes will be remembered as a dedicated Hungarian who came to the United States as a teenager and helped to found the Philadelphia Dalarda. The Dalarda was the

I articles end photogra for the* April issue of the William Perm ere due in our

b/ March 23,

predecessor of the Magyar Otthon. It helped keep alive the Hungarian culture for future generations.

The families of the deceased--the Kemer, Mezei, Young and Szemes famiUes—will be in our prayers. Their loved ones, now in Heaven with God, will be long remembered in the Philadelphia Hungarian community.

God be with you, dear friends. Isten veletek draga barataim. On a happier note, we would like to congratulate Myra and Otto Mezei on the birth of their daughter, Rebecca. We also would like to welcome, Attila Mezei, who recently joined the WPA.

Branch 800 Altoona, PA

By Vincent Frank

Happy St. Patrick's Day on March 17. It's an Irish holiday honoring the missionary credited with converting the Irish to Christianity. In America, St. Patrick's Day is, basically, a time to wear green and party. Did you know the first American celebration of St. Patrick's Day was held in Boston in 1737? As the saying goes, on this day everybody is Irish.

What brings good luck on St. Patrick's Day? Finding a four-leaf clover; wearing green and kissing the Blarney Stone. Have a joyous day.

During our February meeting, our branch approved a donation to St. Dismas Parish located inside the state prison in Huntingdon, Pa. The Catholic chaplain there has always welcomed the financial help which allows him to meet the spiritual needs of the inmates.

We also agreed to hold our annual com boil / wiener roast this summer. The date will be announced soon.

The branch officers wish happiness to all branch members celebrating birthdays and/or anniversaries

18

William fenn Ufr. March 2001