William Penn Life, 2008 (43. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2008-07-01 / 7. szám
In Memóriám Gay B. Banes, Longtime General Counsel and Former National President The Association was saddened by the recent death of Gay B. Banes, former national president and longtime general counsel to the WPA. Mr. Banes, 91, died June 4,2008, at Consulate Health Care of North Strabane, Pa. He was born Geza Bela Banyacsky on July 27,1916, in McKeesport, Pa., the son of the late Joseph and Mary Disegi Banyacsky. An attorney for more than 60 years, Mr. Banes began his professional career in science. He graduated from Ohio Northern University in 1938 with a bachelor's degree in chemistry and earned his teacher's certifications in Ohio and Pennsylvania. After working six years as a chemist for Vanadium Corporation, Mr. Banes earned his Juris Doctorate degree from Duquesne University Law School in Pittsburgh in 1944. In 1947 he became a Pennsylvania Department of Justice representative in the Department of Public Assistance. After leaving formal state service in 1952, he remained active in state legal affairs, serving as a delegate to the Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention from 1967 to 1968 at which he served as co-chairman of the Structure of Local Government Committee and subcommittees. Mr. Banes entered private law practice in 1952, but even before then he was eagerly involved in numerous worthwhile endeavors. In 1949 he became solicitor for the Port Vue (Pa.) School District. In 1951, he was elected to the Board of Directors of the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association. And, during this time he campaigned to become justice of the peace in Port Vue Borough. As with all challenges Mr. Banes chose to face, these three he parlayed into success. He was elected justice of the peace for not one but two terms, serving from 1953 to 1965. He completed his term as director on the Verhovay board and became the Association's general counsel, a position he maintained after the merger that formed the William Penn Association and would continue to hold for more than 30 years. In 1984 he was elected as the WPA's vice president of planning, and then elected national president in 1986. Meanwhile, he continued to serve as solicitor for the Port Vue School District through its two mergers until his election as national president. He also served as solicitor for 11 other school districts, municipalities and governmental authorities. Mrs. Banes also served as chairman of the Board of Viewers of Allegheny County (Pa.) from 1973 to 1992 and in 1987 formed Flexcell International, a biotechnology company, with his son Albert. He was the chairman of the Legislative Committee of the Pennsylvania Fraternal Congress and a member of the ad hoc committee of the National Fraternal Congress of America for the Model Fraternal Code in Pennsylvania. Despite his full and active professional life, Mr. Banes expended equal, if not greater, energy on his personal life. He held much pride in his Hungarian heritage and held several positions in which he showed his concern for Hungarian people everywhere. He was an organizer and secretary of the Hungarian Freedom Fund and was president of the Pittsburgh branch of the American Hungarian Relief Fund at the end of World War II. He later served as chairman of the Hungarian Room Committee at the University of Pittsburgh. He was a member of the Port Vue Volunteer Fire Company, the Elks Club of McKeesport, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, the Vizsla Club of America, the Audubon Society and numerous professional and civic organizations. He was a longtime member of the Free Hungarian Reformed Church, then later Central Presbyterian Church in McKeesport. He was preceded in death by his first wife, the former Helene Francis Waskowitz, and by his second wife, the former Hilda Joseph; two brothers, József and Albert; and a sister, Margaret. In addition to his son Albert, he is survived by his two other children, Sandra Nimmer of Ligonier, Pa., and Barbara Botkin of McMurray, Pa.; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Services for Mr. Banes were held June 7 at Beinhauers funeral home in McMurray with the Rev. Darrell Knopp officiating. Interment was private. May he rest in peace. We ask you to pray for the eternal rest of Mr. Banes and all our recently departed members listed here: MAY 2008 0001 BRIDGEPORT, CT A. Doretta Beaulieu 0008 JOHNSTOWN, PA James S. Camut Mary Mayancsik Josephine E. Pisano Francis A. Yahner Theresa Yobbagy 0013 TRENTON, NJ Stephen Barnacz 0014 CLEVELAND, OH John J. Herbst Vera Levi Margaret Lubinsky 0015 CHICAGO, IL Frank Hodits Fred King Julia D. Pajkos 0016 PERTH AMBOY, NJ Anna Zawistowski 0018 LINCOLN PARK, Ml Rebecca M. Brenner Albert M. Horvath Helen Kish John C. Pastor Margaret O. Paul John Urban 0019 NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ Carol Ann Bodnar Hermine S. Keglovitz Grace C. Massone Continued on Page 20 William Penn Life, July 2008 19
