William Penn Life, 1986 (21. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)

1986-01-01 / 1. szám

By A. Allan Bártfay Branch 129 President

Despite the fact that Saturday afternoon, December 14, was—up to that point in the young 1985-86 winter season —the chilliest day with icy side streets and a bit of snow, Columbus’ William Penn Family Christmas Party was well attended. Over 120 members and friends—of all ages— turned out at the Seafarer’s Union Hall auditorium, 2800 South High Street in south Columbus. Santa Claus was the toast of the town in the Capital City and he gave a hearty “ho, ho, ho” greeting to the biggest group of children and adults to attend in a good many years. It reminded this reporter of the Szüreti Báls and other Hungarian events that I attended in my younger years growing up in Flint, Michigan. Those events used to attract a wide spectrum of persons—from tots to teens to seniors and many in between. It was good to see so many new faces of various ages of the Columbus William Penn family.

Our “forget the diet’’ Christmas Dinner featured authentic Hungarian Kolbász made by Budapest-born Otto Leonardo. Rose Varga headed up the cuisine committee. The menu included: kolbász, ham, Marge Boso’s escalloped potatoes, Piri Sibrik’s sauerkraut, fresh vegetables, specially baked bread, a variety of beverages, and Eleanor Bordy’s dios kekszi for dessert. All of the “regulars” pitched in to prepare for—what turned out to be—according to one observer, the best attended branch activity since the 1960s. The lucky door prize winners at the Christmas party were: Mary Bondy, Bill Bobanich, Mary Coleman, and Acey Blair. The youngest person in attendance was 10-months-old James Lewis who received a copy of the book, The Children of Hungary.

Photos of the party were taken by Johnny Dobos, whose late father András, back in the 1930s, won a free trip to Hungary from the Verhovay Association on the Queen Mary ocean liner. In addition to the singing of Christmas carols and the showing of a movie for the kids, our Columbus Christmas Party featured a “Star Search Talent Show” in which a number of branch members performed. This was our first attempt at a talent show in recent years and we look forward to a bigger and better

one next year. All in all, our Christmas Party was a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

At our December 11 meeting, four officers were reelected and two new officers joined the ranks. Re-elected were President AI Bártfay, Secretary Marge Boso, plus Auditors Charlie Boso and Frank Peterfy. Our new officers will be: Vice President Arpad Sibrik (a recently retired chemist) and Treasurer Velma Nadalin (who used to balance the books for General Motors Acceptance Corporation in Columbus). In future issues, we’ll briefly profile these two new 1986 officers.

Donations were made by Branch 129 to the William Penn Association Scholarship Foundation and also to two south Columbus churches: the St. Ladislaus Roman Catholic Church at 260 Reeb Avenue and the Hungarian Reformed Church at 365 Woodrow. St. Ladislaus was founded by Hungarians and served as a Hungarian church for many years. Gradually, it lost its essentially Hungarian character, becoming a “homogenized” American church. It was only in the mid-1970s that Masses in the Hungarian language were reinstituted on a regular monthly basis at St. Ladislaus, through the intervention of the legendary Hungarian Cardinal Joseph Mindszenty, during his visit to Ohio and the U.S.A. (As you may recall, Cardinal Mindszenty was convicted of treason by Hungarian communist authorities and was jailed until his release during the October, 1956 Hungarian Revolution.) The Hungarian Reformed Church, on the other hand, has maintained its Hungarian identity since its founding in 1907: It is the only Columbus church to continue to offer services in both Hungarian and English each Sunday. And, it iá the only Columbus Protestant church to offer weekly services in any foreign language.

New members of the branch demonstrated “beginner’s luck” at the December meeting when the door prizes were handed out. Winners were the new Career Agency Manager, Joe Barreiro, and Columbus’ first lady of Golf, Vi Peterfy. Two készpénz (cash) prizes will be awarded at each of our future monthly meetings. Someone has to win. It may as well be you. But, you can’t win at home. In Columbus, winners attend the William Penn meetings. Remember, if the weather is bad, attendance

may be down and that will give you an even better chance of winning. Our next meeting could be very profitable for you, in more ways than one.

Monthly meetings in the next few months will be held March 12, April 9, May 14, and June 11. Meetings are held at Leonardo’s, corner of Frebis and Parsons, at 8 P.M. on the second Wednesday of each month.

On a sad note, we mourn the death of one of our active members, Bob Ries,, after a lengthy illness. It was only last year that Bob and his wife, Arlene, enjoyed the 1984 Christmas party with us. We look forward to Arlene continuing her involvement with W.P. fraternal activities.

Looking back at 1985, the last six months have been especially busy ones. In July, two Columbus branch golfers (Frank and Vi Peterfy) each became the 1985 national golf champions of William Penn (Frank in the men’s division and Vi in the women’s) for their low net scores at the national tournament in Canton, Ohio. In August, the branch celebrated outdoors together with an old-fashioned William Penn Picnic for young, old, and those in between, in the village of Reese, just south of Columbus. In September, over 100 members and their friends enjoyed a delicious Hungarian csirke (chicken) dinner which was held in honor of members who had been with the Association for 50 or more years. The Columbus dinner attracted national leaders of the Association from Pittsburgh and Dayton. Also in September, a new William Penn office at 975 Parsons Avenue became fully functional when the new Agency Manager, Joe (Jóska) Barreiro officially moved to Columbus. The office brings William Penn service and sociability closer to its members in Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, and southern Ohio. In December, 1985, our Columbus activities were capped off with the largest and liveliest Family Christmas Party in many a year. Branch 129 has done much in 1985, but much remains to be done in 1986.

We’re “on a roll” into 1986. And, we want you with us. Your ideas and input are important. For food, fun, fellowship, refreshments, prizes, and surprises, join us for our monthly meetings on the second Wednesdays of the month. Mark your calendar. In Columbus, you belong at William Penn.

The Toast of the Town in Columbus was Santa Claus. Our Santa Claus—alias Joe (Jóska) Barreiro—was “tri-lingual" and knew that “Boldog Karácsony” and “Felice Navidad" both meant “Merry Christmas.” Santa is pictured with our 1986 Vice President Árpád Sibrik and Branch Coordinator Irene Voss. Santa’s favorite beverage is Hungarian viz (water).

Future leaders of the William Penn Association visited with Santa at the 1985 Columbus Christmas Party. Each young member in attendance received a five dollar bill and a box of Christmas candy.

This was a time “to shine” during our "Star Search” talent show. “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” was the title of the tune sung by the Mészáros Family Trio. It’s obvious the singers had as much fun with the song as the audience. Pictured left to right: 5-1/2 year old Margaret Ann Mészáros, 3-1/2 year old Jessica, and 3-1/2 year old Benjamin.

Christmas in Columbus featured another “Star Search" entry. A talented 10 year old, Laura Lawson, tap-danced to the tune of “Jingle Bell Rock.”

On the serious side, our talent show featured a male/female duet. “May There Be Peace” was the duet sung by Steve Rezes (who has been a member for over 50 years) and Debbie Komives Vechiarelli (a new adult member).

The 1985 official picture of the Columbus Branch 129 officers. Seated left to right: President AI Bártfay and Vice President David George. Standing: Auditor Frank Peterfy, Treasurer Irene Voss, Secretary Marge Boso, and Auditor Charlie Boso.

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