Fraternity-Testvériség, 1993 (71. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1993-01-01 / 1. szám
FRATERNITY Page 9 HUNGARIAN REFORMED FEDERATION RETIREMENT DINNER It was an evening of sharing fond memories, a gathering of the Hungarian Reformed Federation family and friends, and a celebration of faithful service. Over 300 persons attended the retirement dinner on Saturday, December 5, 1992, in the auditorium of the HAAC in New Brunswick, N.J., honoring the Rev.Dr. Imre G. Bertalan, president; William B. Puskas, treasurer, and the Rt.Rev. Dezső Abraham, board vice president. The dinner was sponsored by the New Jersey Branches of the Federation and was hosted by Branch 302, but in attendance also were nationwide Federation delegations from Michigan, Ohio, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., and New York, as well as New Jersey. Since the dinner was held on the Eve of St. Nicholas (Mikulás Est) the tables were decorated with beautiful red and white poinsettias. The program began with the singing of the National Anthem and the Magyar Himnusz, led by the Men’s Choir (Férfi Kör) of the Garfield Citizen’s Club of Garfield, N.J. Miss Yolan Varga, a member of Branch 302 and a member of the Dinner Committee, welcomed the guests and served as master of ceremonies. The Rev. Emil Varga, Pastor Emeritus of the First Reformed Church of South River, N.J., gave the invocation. During the dinner, music was provided by the Steve Chubak Duo. The Garfield Men’s Choir, under the direction of György Mattyasovszky presented an enjoyable program of choral music, including selections of Christmas carols. Gábriellé Lendvay, an opera star from Philadelphia, sang a medley of Hungarian operetta favorites. A large delegation of the William Penn Association was present, including Joseph Arvay, chairman of its board of directors, and E.E. Vargo, president. Vargo made a presentation on behalf of William Penn to the retirees. George Dózsa, as chairman of the Dinner Committee, along with Matilda Dózsa, László and Anna Lipoczky, and Teri Pflum, a member of the Federation’s home office staff in Washington, D.C., presented the honorees with watches. The Rt.Rev. Dezső Abraham, who retired as vice president of the Board, a position he has held since 1976, was introduced by Priscilla Hunyady, a member of the Board of Directors. Rev. Abraham was pastor of the Hungarian Reformed Church in Roebling, N.J., in Perth Amboy, N.J. and in Allen Park, Michigan. He was a member of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches consisting of 256 member churches. As a member of the Alliance, he attended a week-long conference in Cuba in 1982. He also met with President Jimmy Carter in the White House in 1978 and with President Ronald Reagan in 1984. Bom and educated in Hungary, Rev. Abraham is a graduate of the Reformed Theological Seminary in Budapest. Thereafter, he received a scholarship from the Church of England to do post-graduate work at the University of Glasgow from 1946-47. In September 1947, he received a scholarship from Princeton Theological Seminary where he earned a Master of Theology degree. William B. Puskas, retiring as treasurer, was introduced by George Dózsa, vice president-secretary. Mr. Puskas served as treasurer of the Federation for eight years. He has been affiliated with the Federation for twenty-five years. Prior to his affiliation with the Federation, he was an insurance agent with the William Penn Association. He is a graduate of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Rev. Bertalan, retiring as president, a position he has held since 1981, was introduced by his son, the Rev. Imre A. Bertalan, pastor of the Hungarian Reformed Church in Toledo, Ohio. Prior to 1981, Rev. Bertalan served as pastor of Mr. Elmer E. Vargo, President of the William Penn Association honoring Mr. William B. Puskas, Rev.Dr. Imre Bertalan and Rt.Rev. Dezső Abraham at a memorable evening in New Brunswick, NJ, on December 5, 1992
