William Penn Life, 2014 (49. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2014-06-01 / 6. szám
Tibor s Take My brother Andrew says qoodbye to an old friend.... there to help in times of need, to celebrate in times of joy, or to offer a sympathetic shoulder to cry upon in times of sorrow. He is like a U.S. Marine, always faithful. He is like the Rock of Gibraltar, solid and certain. It is not until that person is unexpectedly sidelined with his own serious health issue that we sit up and notice. Often times, that hard worker continues to perform without complaint even though he should be slowing down or doing less. One such person is an American-Hungarian gentleman that I have had the honor of knowing my entire life. Although we are not related by blood, I consider him an uncle of sorts. Strong, intelligent and dedicated to anything American-Hungarian, he is a lifelong member of William Penn Association. I have written about this fellow in previous Takes. He is a kindred spirit and a true steward of our Hungarian heritage. Although Sonny has been sidetracked a bit from a medical standpoint, I am confident that he will be back volunteering sooner rather than later. Speedy recovery, Sonny! ****************************************************************** A few days back while relaxing a bit, I decided to surf through the myriad of cable television programs featuring automobiles. I stumbled across an interesting production called "Texas Car Wars." It featured the usual scenario of acquiring and fixing up dilapidated vehicles in a short period of time. Thrown in for good measure was a bit of controversy and doubt that the job at hand could be done for a profit. Little is actually shown of just how things are done, but that is how these types of programs are set up. Just as I was about to switch channels, one of the mechanics was shown in a close-up shot dismantling a door mechanism. Low and behold, on his right arm there was a large tattoo featuring the coat of arms of Hungary and below it the name "Andrea." Although the skin art was accented with other suggestive depictions, the true centerpiece of this individual's ink display was the universallyrecognized cross, crown, three mountains and red/white stripes. The total time the tattoo was shown was perhaps five seconds, and I became interested in knowing why and how a 30-something guy named Marty living in the Lone Star State decided to spend hundreds of dollars decorating his body in such a manner. Did anyone else see this little detail? **************************************************************** In recent months, I have lamented on the liquidation of the premier American-Hungarian organization in the Mahoning Valley—the Youngstown American-Hungarian Club. The last stuffed cabbage fundraiser took place in early May. The equipment, fixtures and memorabilia were sold, and the building has changed hands. As churches closed or were repurposed, the last true vestige of American-Hungarian spirit was contained within the confines of this club. The Magyar Club continued as the only true gathering place for like-minded persons of Hungarian spirit. Made up of a long line of innovators and ethnic pioneers, this club of dedicated volunteers established Hungarian Heritage Day and countless affairs that included the making of hurka, kolbász, stuffed cabbage, dobos törte and chicken páprikas to name a few. Known throughout the area as "The Hungarian Club," the location, grounds and membership served as the goodwill ambassadors of Magyar-American hospitality, culture and good fellowship. It was common knowledge that if you wanted to eat great Hungarian food or experience a bit of life reminiscent of the old world, the Hungarian Club on Donald Avenue was the place to go. Now, another pillar of our proud heritage has been reduced to being yet another sentimental memory. The familiar names of club leaders and members such as Santha, Nemeth, Gran, Tollas, Tobias, Soos, Kripchak and dozens of others will always be close to my heart and soul. ****************************************************************** As with every Tibor's Take, I extend to you this closing: / Éljen a Magyar! Tibor II (Translation notes: (1) father.) Tibor Check Jr. is a member of Branch 28 Youngstown, Ohio, and a student at the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. He serves as a host of the “Souvenirs of Hungary” weekly radio show broadcast on WKTL-90.7 FM in Struthers, Ohio. Let's hear your take If you have any questions or comments about me or my column, please email me at: silverkingl937@ yahoo.com, or drop me a letter in care of the William Penn Association, 709 Brighton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15233. William Penn Life 0 June 2014 0 7
