Joseph J SZALAY

14 JUL 1926 - 28 JUL 2009

• OCCUPATION: Prop. Szalay's Tailoring
  
• RELIGION: Christ the King
  
• BIRTH: 14 JUL 1926, Papoc, Hungary
• BURIAL: Cremation
• EVENT: Associations: Knights of Columbus
• DEATH: 28 JUL 2009, South Bend, IN

• MARRIAGE: 20 AUG 1955, Hungary

1.  Bela Z. ("Neicie") SZALAY
2.  Emeric Imre SZALAY
3.  Elizabeth SZALAY

INDEX

[N2104] July 14, 1926 - July 28, 2009
SOUTH BEND - Joseph J. Szalay, 83, passed away on Tuesday, July 28, 2009, at 8:15 p.m. in the Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, South Bend. Joseph was born on July 14, 1926, in Papoc, Hungary, to the late Viktor and Alojzia (Sziva) Szalay. He was also preceded in death by two brothers, Gyula and Steve, and by his sister, Maria. On August 20, 1955, he married Emma (Faber Kovacs) in Hungary, who survives along with their children, Elizabeth Szalay of Walkerton, Emeric "Imre" (Cheri) Szalay of Walkerton and Bela Z. ("Neicie") Szalay of Mishawaka; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; and by his brother, Imre Szalay of Tapolca, Hungary. Joseph came to the U.S. in 1959 from Switzerland. He was the owner of Szalay's European Custom Tailoring. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 553, Fr. Nieuland 4th Degree Assembly Knights of Columbus, Christ the King Catholic Church, Serra Club, Toastmasters International, and MADFATS-Tennis Club. He avidly played tennis up until June 12, 2009. Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, August 2, 2009, in ST. JOSEPH FUNERAL HOME, 824 S. Mayflower Road, South Bend, where a combined Knights of Columbus and a parish Rosary will be prayed at 3 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, August 3, 2009, in Christ the King Catholic Church, with visitation one hour prior in the church. Cremation will take place. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial contributions be made to Christ the King Catholic Church, 52473 S.R. 933, South Bend, IN 46637; or to the Nicky J. Foundation (Joseph's great-grandson) at any 1st Source Bank. For those who are unable to attend the funeral liturgy, condolences for the family may be made at www.sjfh.net. Published in South Bend Tribune on 7/30/2009

D'Arcy: South Bend's Szalay 'genuine hero'
Hungarian freedom fighter, tailor dead at 83.

By MADELINE BUCKLEY
Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND Longtime South Bend business owner Joseph Szalay called two countries home: the United States and Hungary, and talking with people about his experiences in communist-occupied Hungary was one of the great passions of his life, family and friends say. Szalay owner of Szalay's European Custom Tailoring until he closed the business in 1999 died Tuesday evening at age 83.

A familiar face in the community, Szalay often gave speeches about his time as a freedom fighter in Hungary, leading demonstrations against the Soviet occupation of Hungary in the 1950s. He eventually was forced to flee the country with his pregnant wife, and he settled in South Bend in 1959. "I've always believed that for some reason, God gave me a responsibility," Szalay told The Tribune in 2004. "God gave me a mission because hundreds of thousands of people died, and I survived. You know it's not accidental. In my life, I don't believe anything's accidental." And Szalay's son Emeric, 53, said people loved hearing about his father's experiences.

"When he spoke, people were just absolutely awed," Emeric Szalay said. "He was very energetic and passionate about his speaking. People still come up to me and say, 'I love the way your dad spoke. He was an amazing man.'" Having experienced life in a socialist state, Joseph Szalay appreciated democracy, always a main theme in many of his speeches. After escaping from the oppression in Hungary, Szalay and his wife Emma stayed in a refugee camp in Austria for a few weeks before venturing to Switzerland, where his first son, Emeric, was born.

"He always called me his 'international son,' " Emeric Szalay said. "I was conceived in Hungary, born in Switzerland and naturalized in the United States." The family then left Switzerland for America, and Szalay started working in South Bend as a tailor. "Dad came to this country in 1959 not knowing any of the language," his son said. "He went to the Gilbert's Men's Store, pantomimed his talent as a tailor and got a job." Later, Joseph Szalay opened his own tailor shop, located in downtown South Bend, and he immersed himself in the community, often recognized for his mustache, custom-made suit and bow-tie. "He was a 14th-generation tailor, he always wore a suit and a little bow-tie, and he was always very much a gentleman" said Joseph Sergio, a longtime friend of Szalay's. "He's really a hero to me in terms of what he did with his life." Sergio said Szalay was imprisoned and tortured for his participation in fighting the communist regime in Hungary, but he always had a positive outlook on life. "He lived through multiple types of socialist governments, and he was always touting how important it was to protect our constitutional rights," Sergio said. "He was just a very positive guy and would always promote the country and all the goodness that it stands for. "That was a big part of who he was." Szalay was an active Catholic and member of his parish church, Christ the King. Bishop John M. D'Arcy of the Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese said he met Szalay almost immediately when he came to the area about 20 years ago. "Joe was a genuine hero," he said. "He loved the Catholic faith and he was so proud to be a member of Knights of Columbus." D'Arcy said both Hungary and Catholicism were close to Szalay's heart, so he worked to bring Peter Erd©œ, cardinal of Hungary, from Budapest to the area in 2004. Szalay raised money to send back to Hungary with the cardinal. "Hungary had been behind the Iron Curtain, and there was no freedom for the Catholic religion," D'Arcy said. "The money was for building up the Catholic Church in Hungary." They traveled to Chicago and other cities to raise funds, but Szalay raised more money in South Bend than in any of the bigger cities, D'Arcy said. "That was Joe," he said. South Bend Mayor Stephen Luecke said Szalay will be missed in the community. "South Bend has lost a great person, a hands-on neighborhood and community leader, and one of our city's most passionate supporters and contributors for the greater good," Luecke said. "Joseph loved his adopted country and his community, and he was a colorful character who shared his exuberance for making our city and our world a better place."

Joseph Szalay's visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at St. Joseph Funeral Home, 824 S. Mayflower Road. The funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Christ the King Church.

Staff writer Madeline Buckley:
mbuckley@sbtinfo.com
(574) 235-6358