William Penn Life, 2011 (46. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2011-05-01 / 5. szám
The main offices of the Rákóczi Sick Beneft Society in Bridgeport, Conn., circa 1938. Visible in the background is the front of Rákóczi Hall, which could seat 1,500 people and hosted many banquets, dances, social events and boxing matches. Together, the two buildings served as a focal point for the Bridgeport’s large Hungarian American community. A brief history of William Penn Association Part Four: The Rákóczi Aid Association of Bridgeport, CT Branching Out with Endre Csornán by Endre Csornán The seed for the humble beginning of the Rákóczi Aid Association was planted in the last part of the 19th century, April 10,1888. Originally called the Rákóczi Sick Benefit Society, its 18 charter members are worthy of mention. They are as follows: John Hevesi Sr., John Hevesi Jr., Michael Hevesi, John Kenyhercz, Riniaszecsi Stephen Molnár, Joseph Hugya, Andrew Macsankó, Stephen Toth, Joseph Varga, Michael Stefan, Michael Gyurcsak, John Makos, Stephen Bialko, George Macsankó, John Katona, Andrew Rozsa, Joseph Kursnics and Andrew Papp. These members chose the following National Officers to guide the fledgling society through its early days: President John Hevesi Sr., Treasurer John Katona, Secretary Stephen Molnár and Recording Secretary John Kenyhercz. Initially, the Rákóczi experienced very slow growth. By 1908, the 10-year-old society had only eight branches, all of which were located in Connecticut. In 1915, at the first large convention of the society, a board of directors was elected and established the society's headquarters at Bridgeport, Conn. It was really at this time that the Rákóczi Sick Benefit Society began its operations as a large scale Hungarian fraternal insurance organization and faced equally large problems. Besides the complications of the First World War, America was stricken by an influenza epidemic and many Rákóczi members (112) died in a short time. Other members were on sick leave receiving benefits. The years that followed the war were prosperous for the society; but, the Great Depression resulted in a sudden and drastic fall in the money and investment market. After the rain, however, comes the rainbow. Economic conditions began to improve under the New Deal policies of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. At the society's 1935 convention, the name was changed from Rákóczi Sick Benefit Society to the Rákóczi Aid Association. Under the leadership of Joseph Vasas and Steven Varga, the Rákóczi Aid Association continued to prosper. By the early 1950's, it had become one of the two largest Hungarian fraternal benefit societies in America. In 1955, after two years of study and negotiations, the Rákóczi and the nation's other major Hungarian fraternal society—the Verhovay Aid Association—agreed to a merger. The newly-created William Penn Fraternal Association began a completely new chapter in the history of Hungarian fraternal organizations and fraternal life in North America. A special election for the new leadership took place on February 21,1956, at which time the following great leaders were placed in office from the Rákóczi Aid Association: Albert J. Stelkovics, Julius K. Somogyi, John L. Lovász and Louis R. Varga. Next month: The beginning of a new era. D 1 Members of the Rákóczi’s 50th Anniversary Jubilee Committee included: (front l-r) National Treasurer Steven Kundráth, National President Steven Varga, National Secretary Joseph Vasas, (back, l-r) National Auditor Charles Varga, Board of Appeals member László Lakatos, Bertalan Bodnár and Board of Appeals member Joseph Mackay. William Penn Life 0 May 2011 0 5
