William Penn Life, 2006 (41. évfolyam, 2-12. szám)
2006-10-01 / 10. szám
Branching Out with Endre Csornán Experience Profiles, Part 2 A look at more of the people who make our Hungarian Heritage Experience a truly wonderful experience We will be publishingprofiles of someofthemembers who attended the Hungarian Heritage Experience at Penn Scenic View this August. We hope you will enjoy reading about their lives as much as we enjoyed their presence and participation. Bela Vinczi Experience student Bela Vinczi's parents and older brother were born in Hungary. His father was born in Kolosvár and his mother in Somlójenö, Vesprém. His family came to the United States in 1920 and settled in McAdoo, Pa. His father worked as a tailor while his mother, a wonderful cook and baker, tended their home. Bela graduated from McAdoo High School in 1952. After graduation, he moved to Ohio with his older sister and her husband, finding work at Diamond Alkali as a machinist. He served in the U.S. Army from 1958 to 1959. In December of 1959, he married Ellie (profiled below). Together, they raised two sons and a daughter, and now have six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Bela attended Kent State University and began teaching vocational machine shop in Lorain, Ohio, in 1962. He later worked for General Motors in Elyira, Ohio. After the GM facility closed in 1989, Bela returned to teaching and worked as a scientific apparatus maker at Oberlin College. His favorite past times include his family, traveling, fishing, photography and solving crossword puzzles. He is a member of a photography club and a retired teachers organization. "The Hungarian camp has been a great experience," Bela said, "for it has connected me with my Hungarian heritage. It is good to review the language I heard spoken in my home as I grew up." Bela also said he enjoyed meeting many fellow Hungarians at the Experience and learning about the "language, food, customs and history of the land of our ancestors." Ellie Vinczi Ellie Vinczi is affectionately referred to by fellow Experience students as "Mrs. Bela." Her mother's parents were born in Hungary, but did not meet each other until after both had moved to New Jersey. After getting married, Ellie's grandparents moved to Crescent, Ohio, where they lived on a farm while her grandfather worked in the mines. Ellie's grandfather died while her mother was young. "When I was a little girl, I went to my 'nagymama's' for a vacation," Ellie said. "She sent me to Hungarian summer school for a week. Oh, how I wish I would have kept my notebook of lessons." Ellie grew up in Painesville, Ohio, and graduated from both Riverside High School and Kent State University. Ellie enjoys traveling, people and her family. "The grandchildren add a special sparkle to our lives," she said. She belongs to the American Association of University Women, bible study, Daughters of the American Revolution, an investment club, a photography club and a retired teachers organization. She also enjoys playing dominos, cards and Scrabble. She attended the Experience at Bela's suggestion. "My understanding of the [Hungarian] language was poor," Ellie said. "My mom and aunt always spoke in Hungarian when they didn't want us to know what they were talking about." She also said she enjoyed the camp and "the wonderful Hungarians we have met from all over the country....The directors and the teachers have been outstanding. "If you are curious about Hungary and the language, plan to join us at camp next August." [wpl| William Penn Life, October 2006 7 Bela and Ellie Vinczi
