Cleveland hungarian heritage society Magyar történelmi társulat REVIEW R E V I E W t THE h e SECOND s e c o ONE n d HUNDRED 1 0 0 y e YEARS a r s Vol. XXIII XXIV No. 21 November July 2011 2010 Gatherings at the Museum.. Since our last Review arrived at your home address, many events have made the Museum an important part of our Hungarian-American cultural life here in Northeast, Ohio. We started the New Year with a visit by Katalin Csöbör, a representative in the Hungarian Parliament who was visiting the U.S. and Cleveland through a State Department sponsored program. Later, on a snowy Tuesday evening in early February, we welcomed a class from Case Western Reserve University. This class on entrepreneurship listened to presentations on Hungarian entrepreneurial activity in the early Cleveland immigrant community; they also spent time viewing the exhibits and sampling some Hungarian pastry. the Cleveland Hungarian heritage society SAVE THE DATE Saturday, October 15, 2011 for out fifteenth annual V i n t n e r D i n n e r Celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of the world famous Hungarian composer FERENC LISZT at Shaker Heights Country Club ********* For information call Mr. Elmer Meszaros at 440-247-5144 Our volunteers were treated to a festive Valentine s Day appreciation lunch. The group enjoyed comparing Hungarian and English colloquial phrases. Dr. John Nádas March saw a very well attended program featuring Dr. John Nádas. Members of the audience took notes, asked questions, and were actively engaged as they listened to his fascinating lecture on the Unconscious Mind. This was the 3rd in our lecture series on Hungarian Explorers and Adventurers. April was a very busy month. On the 12th the Museum hosted a roundtable discussion involving representatives from various Northeast Ohio Hungarian organizations, along with Ms. Zsuzsa Répás and Mr. Attila Kocsis, members of the Hungarian Government. The group had a thoughtful discussion about practical ways the Hungarian government and this Hungarian community living outside the borders of Hungary can work together to build better lines of communication, promote cultural cooperation and support educational opportunities. April 16th found a large audience sitting enthralled to the presentation of Dr. Piró Kramár. She told of her experiences of being a member of the first team of women who climbed the Himalayan mountain, Annapurna I. As we watched the professionally produced video of this adventure, and then listened to Dr. Kramár Dr. Piró Kramár explain how and why she became a mountain climber, we were reminded that the Hungarian explorers and adventurers who were presenters in this year s lecture series have enriched our collective lives when they shared with us these incredible human experiences and the results of their intellectual research. continued on page 3 Katalin Csöbör
Varga László President A clevelandi Magyar Történelmi Társulat nevében ismét szivélyesen üdvözlöm a kedves Olvasót. Mindenek előtt, köszönettel adózunk a bőkezü segitségért és sok támogatásért. Sok minden történt az elmúlt néhány hónap alatt. Fennálásunk 25 éves ünneplése után folytattuk munkánkat a következő jubileum felé. Sokan vettek részt a nem rég nagy sikerrel befejeződött előadás sorozatunkon magyar kutatók és kalandozók. A Karácsonyi gyermekműsor, úgy mint a kiállitások és az ajándék bolt, sok látogatót hoztak a Múzeumba. A leg frissebb fotó kiállitásunk Magyarország Látványosságai már várja a látogatókat és magába foglal egy irány mutatót az ez évi témára Liszt Ferenc születésének 200. évére. Igyekszünk ez évben is a magyar kultúra szolgálatában, megőrzésében és terjesztésében munkálkodni. Programjaink, kiállittásaink, könyvtárunk és ajándék boltunk mind várják az érdeklődőket és igyekeznek elérni minden nemzedéket. Minden támogatónkat hivunk, hogy vegyenek részt a Clevelandi Magyar Történelmi Társulat életében akár tagsággal vagy pár óra önkéntes szolgálattal a Múzeumban vagy adakozással. Az előkészületek már folyamatban vannak az idei borkóstoló vacsorára és örömmel értesültünk Washingtonból, hogy Magyarország nagykövetét vendégünként köszönthetjük ezen a vacsorán, remélve minél több olvasónkkal együtt. Dear friends and supporters! Kedves barátaink és támogatóink! On behalf of the Cleveland Hungarian Society I am happy and honored to extend this greeting and to express our gratitude for your continued generous support. Much has happened in the last few months since the conclusion of our 25 th anniversary celebration. Many of you participated in our successful lecture series Hungarian Adventurers and Explorers. The children s Christmas program, the rotating exhibits, our gift shop served as a reason for many to visit the Museum. The newest photo exhibit Visions of Hungary -- is now open for viewing. This exhibit also reminds visitors of our upcoming theme celebrating the 200 th anniversary of the birth of Franz Liszt. We continue to strive to preserve and to pass on to future generations our Hungarian heritage. Our programs, exhibits, library and gift shop reach out to all generations who are interested in their Hungarian roots. We are inviting all our readers and supporters to take part in the life of the Cleveland Hungarian Heritage Society by becoming a member; by offering a few hours of volunteer time in the Museum; or by making a donation. The preparations are well underway for the up-coming Vintner Dinner and we were happy to hear from Washington that the newly appointed Ambassador of Hungary will be here as our guest. We look forward to seeing many of you at this occasion. From our Guest Book. It is always gratifying to know how many visitors walk through our doors. Since our last Review, Hungarian consular officers, politicians, visitors from the Dominican Republic, the UK, Serbia, Oregon, Mexico and Canada have all honored us with a visit. Below are just a few of the kind words written into our guest-books. Nagy szeretettel hozom a Miskolci Egyetem üdvözleteit. Megható érzés itt lenni! Köszönöm ezt az érzést Önöknek. További erőt, kitartást kívánok minden magyarnak. Miskolc, Felsősolca Hálásan köszönöm nektek ezt az élményt, hogy megmutattátok ezt a szép nemzeti kincset olyan érzés volt, mintha én is itt nöttem volna fel, és nem Argentinában. Némethy Keserű Judit I have found this was an interesting and exciting exhibit. I have learned a good deal of facts that can be useful for future learning. Chris Ward Please keep it up for another 25 years at the very least! Julia Greenwood My father started the First Hungarian (Presbyterian) Church on Buckeye. Esther (Kish) Schron My husband and I are visiting from St. Louis and I found this wonderful museum on my walk. This is a treasure! Julia Back for another visit- everything looks great! John Jaksa I m a visual artist and it was like seeing eye candy - all of the rich detail my culture is Dominican and Puerto Rican, though I was born in Manhattan, NYC.Cleveland has rich ethnicities represented and I am glad I stumbled on one of them today. Damaris Abreu As a visitor from the AHEA meeting at JCU, I was delighted by my visit to this marvelous museum. Dr. Kathleen Kish, San Diego, CA. Ez a Magyar sziget, a Magyar Múzeum adjon még sokáig biztos menedéket a clevelandi és az amerikai magyarságnak, nyelvének és kulturájának. Óvják kincseiket, hogy generációk láthassák és legyenek büszkék öseikre.
Gatherings at the Museum... continued from page 1 On the 29th of April the Museum opened its new exhibit: Visions of Hungary-Photographs of George Búza, George Gati and Stephen Spinder. The gallery space reserved for special exhibits is filled with beautiful, compelling and very artistic photographs taken by these three talented artists. Mr. Gati and Mr. Spinder were present at the exhibit opening and presented their artistic approach to photography to the audience. Images of Budapest, Gödöllő, the Great Puszta, and much more, draw the viewer into the beauty that is found in Hungary. A side exhibit celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Franz Liszt was also opened that evening. Our last presentation in this year s lecture series was held on May 14th. Ms. Marge Kotnik shared her research into the life and times of Col. Mihály Kováts de Fabricy, a Hungarian cavalry officer who died a hero in the 1776 American War of Independnce. Thoroughly researched, Ms. Kotnik brought to life the accomplishments of this Hungarian soldier. It is part of the Cleveland Hungarian Heritage Society s mission to share our culture and history with the greater community. Through this last lecture series we were successful in doing just that. We produced a series featuring talks by current researchers, explorers and adventure-seekers. It is also our mission to be a center of Hungarian-American community activity. By welcoming so many groups and hosting community meetings throughout the year at the Museum, we continue to be the heartbeat of Hungarian culture in Northeast Ohio! George Gati Stephen Spinder 3
Endre Szentkiralyi, a local researcher, is trying to assemble a list of those Cleveland Hungarians who have served in the US armed forces from 1951 to the present day. If your name is on this list (or you are the next of kin or a close friend) and you have not yet been contacted, please call Endre at 440-786-9093 for military service details and a short biography to be included in eventual publication in a Hungarian military history journal. Also contact Endre if you notice any mistakes on the list, or if you feel any names are missing. Altmann Ede Asbóth Gusztáv Bajkai Lajos Balassa Imre Bálint János: USMC ifj. Bálint József Balogh István: USAF Balunek Adalbert dr. Balunek Béla Bányai Zoltán Bay Ádám Bedy Balázs Bedy Zsolt Beodray Ferenc Bethlenfalvy Gyula Bodnár Sándor ifj. Borgóy János Boromissza Csaba: USMC Boromissza István Bötös István: USAF Bötös Csaba Brenner György: USN Brenner László Brenner Tamás Búza György Csapó Ferenc Cserháti Ákos Csejtey Károly Csia Lili Csia Pál Csiba Zoltán Csibi William Csikós Gyula Csikós György Csikós Pál Csűrös Mária: uswac Czakó András Dezső Endre: USMC Dezső József: USMC Dienes Imre Dobsa Lajos: USMC id. Dolesch Gyula Dolesch László: USMC Dömötörffy Éva: USN Dömötörffy Tamás: USN Dörner István Falk Viktor Farkas Attila Faragó Károly:USAF Fazekas István Fazekas Richárd Fehér Ervin: USAF Fehér Ferenc: USMC Fissel Pál:USAF Fricke Aladár Gáspár István Goda Ferenc: USN Göllesz László:USMC Gombás James Imre: USN Gombás Steven: USMC Grassy József? Grassy Béla? ifj. Gulden György Gulden Kálmán:USAF Gyékényesi András Gyékényesi György: USAF Hada János:USMC Halácsy Attila:USN id. Halácsy Gyula:USN Hartmann Károly Havasy Imre id. Hokky István Hokky Péter id. Horváth Mihály Horváth Sándor Hunyadi János Huzau Kristóf:USMC ifj. Hargitai István:USN Incze Csaba Iványi Róbert Jánossy Ferenc:USAF Juhász János:USN Juhász Kálmán Kalmár Attila Kálnoky István Kézdi Péter: USMC Kiss Louis Kölcsey István Körmöci Tas: USMC Kőrössy János:USMC Kovács Károly Kővári János: USMC Kováts Béla dr. Kováts Péter:USAF id. Kozmon György dr. Krúdy Adorján Lázár András Leitgeb Sándor Lendvay János:USMC Magyar István Makovits Viktor:USMC Medgyessy Mihály:USAF Megay Béla Megyimóri János Mentler Kornél Mestrits Zoltán Mészáros Elemér Mezősi Mónika:USN Mihály István Milfay Titz Miklós?? Medgyessy Pál:USCG Mód János Mód József Mód Lajos Molnár Rezső Monostory György Moravec Lukó Attila Mózsi György Muhoray Kornél Nemes József: USAF Németh János: USMC Neuwirth László:USN Neuwirth Lóránd Olgyay György ifj. Patay Károly Péter Gyula: USA, USN Pintér Antal Poecze József Pogány András Pozmann Alex Prileszky István: USAF Puha József ifj. Rózsahegyi Pál:USMC Rátoni-Nagy Tamás:USMC Sári Zoltán Sárossy István:USMC Schmidt Bertalan Smetana György Somogyi Tamás Spisák István:USAF Stiasny Péter Stomfay-Stitz János Strada András Strada Róbert Szabolcs László Szabolcs Levente Szahlender Gyula Szahlender Tamás: USAF Szappanos István Szappanos Tamás:USAF Szelecsényi (Hun) Miklós Szentkirályi Zsolt Tábor András:USMC Tábor Mihály:USMC Tábor Tamás:USMC Tarnay Nicholas Ferenc: USN Temesváry Gerő Temesváry Tibor Terézhalmy Géza: USN Tóháti Zsolt Torontáli János Torontáli Károly Várdy Béla Várdy Sándor Viiberg Péter Vitéz William Yaczó Csaba Záhonyi Botond Zöldi Ferenc Zöldi Gábor Aki a listán szerepel, vagy annak özvegye vagy hozzátartozója, és még nem lett felkeresve, hívja Szentkirályi Endrét a 440-786-9093 telefonszámon, hogy katonai szolgálata részletei és rövid életrajza bekerüljön a kutatás eredményébe. 4
2010 Sustaining Fund Honor Roll We are pleased to list all the generous Hungarian Americans who responded to our 2010 Sustaining Fund Campaign appeal. They helped us reach our annual goal, and have demonstrated that they can be counted on even in difficult times. Pledge reminders for 2011 and solicitation letters will be sent in the coming months. Drs. Jeanette and Glenn Brown Theodore J. Horvath Edith and John Lauer Millennium Circle: $1,000 and above. Marcia and Zoltan Mestrits Andrea and Elmer Meszaros Dr. Istvan Toth Carolyn and Jim Balogh Otto Friedrich (in honor of Maria Strada Friedrich) Dr. Stephen F. Luczek, M.D Magdalene H. Meszaros Dr. Albert Ament Zsolt Domotorffy Goodrich Corporation Mr. and Mrs. George Huzau Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Jackovics Joe Kamenar (in honor of Mr.Frank Kamenar) Andrea and Andrew Lazar Founder s Circle-Alapitó: $500 and above. Mr. and Mrs. Attila Nemeth Eva Szabo Kori and Tom Smith Mary Louise and John Uray Northeast Ohio Chapter of the Fulbright Association Freedom Fighter s Circle-Szabadságharcos: $250 and above. Carol and Balazs Bedy Hedwig Devenyi Agnes and Laszlo Fulop John P. Gyekenyesi Eva Ivany Aniko Trombitas Kalnoki Dr. Franciska Kiraly (in honor of Maria Kossanyi and Kathy Kapossy) Ewald E. Kundtz, Jr. Rebecca Lasky (in honor of Helen Kerecz) Dr. John and Gabriella Nadas Mr. and Mrs. Peter Roethler Mr. and Mrs. Zoltan J. Szabo Judith Torma Csilla and Laszlo Varga Sandor Varga Mr. and Mrs. Allen Waddle Patriot s Circle-Hazafi: $125 and above. Julia P. Nolan John J. Palasics Klara Papp Esther Persanyi Susan E. and Steve E. Szappanos Zsuzsa and Karoly Szelpal Judy and Paul Szentkiralyi Lisa and Istvan Tamoga Clara Thurner Katalin Voros Rosemary Balazs William Bardossy Piroska Beodray Dr. Otto and Melinda Bernath Zoltan Bocsay Mr. and Mrs. Imre Bogardy Louis Borzy Betty J. Bower Mrs. Ibolya Daroczy Andrew Darula Andrea Doczy-Szaliba D.M.D. Maria Dolesch Anges Pek Dover Mr. and Mrs. Gyula Farkas Supporter-Támogató: other Mrs. Shirley Ann Ferenczy Marta Fordos Nancy and William Homoly Michael Horvath Clara Hunkar Csaba G. Incze Elizabeth and Bela Kovats Ilona Kozmon Sandor Leitgeb Mary Carol Lewis Paula and Emery Marcus Mary Jane Molnar Maria Mueller Dr. Endre V. Nagy Ildiko and Miklos Peller Dr. Martha Pereszlenyi-Pinter Eszti Pigniczki and Endre Szentkiralyi Mrs. Anna Pinter (in honor of Zoltan Pinter) Val and Tamas Ratoni-Nagy Anne M. Robinson Steve Safran Dorothy E. and Steven L. Sekeres Sheila and Julius Skerlan Laszlo Szakallas Marta Takacs Dr. and Mrs. Steven Turoczi Annamaria Vargaand Laszlo Huszar Agnes Viragh Dolores Vuyancih As we go to publish this issue of the Review, we are pleased that our 2011 Campaign has already received contributions from the following individuals: Agnes and Laszlo Fulop, Mr. and Mrs. Alex Kezdi, Ms. Ilona Thurner, Mary Louise and John Uray and John Veres 5
Kosztolányi and Reményi Conclusion James Pavlish This last entry in the series about the correspondence between Dezső Kosztolányi and József Reményi consists of the third and final part of the critical essay that Kosztolányi wrote about his friend Reményi in 1927. Kosztolányi is writing a review of Reményi s book set in the Cleveland Hungarian community of the early Twentieth Century, Emberek, Ne Sirjatok (People Don t Cry). It is a marvelous window into that disappeared world which Reményi knew so well. If the writing seems unduly pessimistic, one must consider that the life of the early immigrant community was not always enviable. An entire gallery of finely nuanced portraits is centered on a single portrait. It is a rich and impressive gallery, within which every individual picture comes to life. How vivid is the Wooten family s Scottish thrift and narrow-mindedness, or the cheerfulness of Frank Townsend, the streetcar conductor, or Bill Lang, the American character from whom the country s obsession with money could not erase his faith, or Ruth Watson, the faded spinster, or the pushy, chauvinistic head of the Hungarian organization. There is a wide array of immigrant types: Rozina, the Slovak maid, and Norbert Karácsonyi, the hard drinking dissipated writer, who for a few pennies would write shoddy journalistic pieces, and one time, ---in an agonizing confession---drunkenly stammers that it is all for naught. This hybrid life destroys everybody. There are streets here where only Hungarian is heard, but the language no longer has its flavor, its clarity and luster have worn away and eroded, the color fades from day to day, and, detached from its larger community, it has turned into something without taste or light. Every so often a lively turn of phrase appears like a ghost, but the words are now spent. There is a kind of poverty that emanates out from them. More and more often one can hear mongrel mixed forms of popular American phrases. Gold-toothed peasants, who entertain themselves with gramophones and listen to radios, talk of bootleggers, chance and schemes. They call each other mister, and, if they hold something to be of no value, they say it s not worth a penny. They now often begin their sentences with well. The writer paints the background settings with similar artistic instinct. These are grey settings which make the reader feel the sad beggarly reality. The production of János Vitéz in the Globe Theater or the revival sermon of the Anglican minister to the sweaty African-Americans turned into personal experiences for me. The critic can only point out certain things. I often feel that a four-volume novel which involves years of labor demands that a four-volume book of criticism should be written about it. I have to be content with giving this short account of it. I was in America, where with European eyes I looked up and down Brown Street, after which I went with the writer back across to Europe, where I saw myself, and ourselves, with American eyes. My final impression is that I have returned from an exciting trip around the world. This novel is in the best sense of the word a travelogue---a tour of the spirit charged with momentum. December 1, 1927 the Cleveland Hungarian Heritage Society invites you to join us on our annual BUS TOUR to rediscover Cleveland s historic landmarks and to enjoy the ride and camaraderie while taking in the sights you have known about, but never seen up close. Date : Saturday, August 27, 2011. Meet : at the Galleria s East 9th Street door at 9:30 a.m. Price : $45.00 per person. (Incl. luncheon and gratuities) Plan : Board bus and go to Terminal Tower to view Cleveland from the Observation deck. Next stop: Guided tour of Soldier s & Sailor s Monument on Public Square. Re-board bus and go to Chop House on W. St. Clair for lunch. Last stop: Lakeview Cemetery with guided tour of Wade Chapel and President Garfield s Monument Return to the Galleria approximately 4:30 p.m.. Suggested indoor parking at the Galleria underground garage. ($3.00) For more information call Marcia Mestrits at (440) 442-3413 6 For reservations, cut out and mail this portion of the page to : Mrs. Marcia Mestrits, 6689 Metro Park Drive; Mayfield Village, OH 44143 with a check payable to: CLEVELAND HUNGARIAN HERITAGE SOCIETY. Name: Adress: Phone: No of People: Amount enclosed: DON T WAIT - Sign up NOW! Deadline is Saturday Aug. 13 6
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CLEVELAND HUNGARIAN HERITAGE MUSEUM is located on the second level of the Galleria at Erieview, 1301 East 9th Street, Cleveland Cleveland Hungarian Heritage Society P.O. Box 24134 Cleveland, OH 44124 The Review is a publication of the Cleveland Hungarian Heritage Society and Museum. It is published periodically for members and patrons. Membership rates are $25 per person, $45 per couple (to senior citizens $20 single and $25 per retired couple) yearly. Organizational membership for libraries, schools and government agencies is $100 initial fee and $20 thereafter yearly. EDITOR AND PUBLISHER: Board of Directors All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reprinted or reproduced in any manner without prior permission. The Cleveland Hungarian Heritage Society is 25 years old and its Hungarian Museum has become the Heartbeat of Hungrian Culture in Northeast Ohio! When planning your estate, please consider making the Cleveland Hungarian Society a beneficiary in your will, IRA account or life insurance policy. Become a Member - Please consider becoming a member of the Cleveland Hungarian Heritage Society. For information regarding membership, please contact Ms. Judith Torma at 1121 Fresno Drive, Westlake, Ohio 44145 (telephone at 440-333-4390). Your annual membership helps support our efforts to preserve our Hungarian heritage and culture here in Northeast Ohio. We sponsor many programs, including educational programs; we support the arts ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED Save the Date 2 0 0 t h A n n i v e r s a r y C e l e b r a t i o n of the birth of Ferenc Liszt V I N T N E R D I N N E R Saturday, October 15, 2011 Save the Date New Museum Summer Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday-11a.m. to 3p.m. After hours and Mondays and Saturdays by appointment. Please call 216-381-0995 or 440-247-5144. Dates to keep in mind. July 24, Sunday Hungarian Cultural Center of Northeastern Ohio picnic July 29, Friday Hungarian Heritage Night at the Lake County Captain s Ballpark August 10, Wednesday Hungarian Cultural Garden Golf Outing and Dinner August 21, Sunday Hungarian Cultural Center of Northeastern Ohio picnic August 27, Saturday Cleveland Hungarian Heritage Museum sponsored Bus Tour September 4, Sunday Cleveland Hungarian Scout Day September 11, Sunday Hungarian Cultural Center of Northeastern Ohio picnic October 8, Saturday -- First in the Cleveland Hungarian Heritage Society s 2011-2012 Lecture Series October 15, Saturday Cleveland Hungarian Heritage Society and Museum Benefit Vintner Dinner November-TBA Liszt Commerative Concert November 12, Saturday Second in the Cleveland Hungarian Heritage Society s 2011-2012 Lecture Series November 25-27 Friday thru Sunday -- Hungarian Association sponsored Annual Hungarian Congress December 10, Saturday -- Children s Program at the Hungarian Heritage Museum