[Liz Vos]

We’d love to know a little about you and your connection to Hungarian things! Where did you grow up? Who in your family line had Hungarian heritage?

Topic

[Emery Huber]

Hi there!
I go by Emery but my authentic name is Imre. I am 1st generation American and for the first 2 1/2 decades lived in Northern New Jersey. Then Texas called and have been here for long period of time. More then 4 decades.
Both parents are from Hungary and they came to the USA in the late 1940’s. I had the privilege of having for outstanding grandparents who instilled the love of Hungary into my being! By the way my parents also kept the light of Hungary shining in my life. I had the opportunity to go to a Hungarian grammar school were all the teachers and Nuns were Hungarian. I also had by invitation to speak at a Hungarian Ophthalmology congressional meeting in 1996 which was truly an honor. It was interesting because my presentation started in Hungarian but I abruptly continued in English to appease the remaining audience. The Hungarians said please continue in our language but I asked for their forgiveness and continued in English and yes they were bilingual.
I will always remember my Hungarian roots. I am proud of all the famous Hungarians in the arts and sciences that made this world a better place. Yes,the color red white and green is my blood type, because my family gave me the transfusion of Hungarian love.

[Chaz Szabo]

I am Charles Szabo (Liz Vos’s oldest brother)and I also grew up in Youngstown, Ohio with an active Hungarian community. I am not a fluent speaker but I know how to play a lot of Hungarian music on piano and violin. 3 of my 4 grandparents were born in Hungary and all of my great-grandparents were born in Hungary.

[Rhonda M. Copher]

Sziastok! I’m Rhonda Maria Copher. My great-grandmother, Molnar Erzsebet, born in Szombathely, emigrated to America in 1913 with her older sister, Rozalia. Leaving their Hungarian parents and six siblings in search of new opportunities. In America, they lived in Pennsylvania and eventually moved to Cleveland, Ohio. Erzsebet is the ancestor who helped me become a Hungarian citizen in June 2025. In 2023, we lived in Budapest for a year and traveled and explored the cities west of Budapest. We plan to move back in the near future. I currently have family in Budapest and Budakeszi.

I’m looking forward to the expo.

• This reply was modified 4 days, 9 hours ago by Rhonda M. Copher.

[Jacqueline Campo]

LOOKING FOR SOME PEOPLE WHO LEFT AT SAME TIME

[Jacqueline Campo]

Hi
My name is Agnes
i CAME FROM SZEKSZARD LETFT IN 1956 WITH MY PARENTS .

[Marianna]

I am Marianna. My mother was full Hungarian, and was born in Toronto Canada, after my grandparents and my uncle emigrated from Hungary into Nova Scotia. My grandfather Joseph Nemeth came over in April of 1926 on the Andania ship into Halifax, Nova Scotia. My grandmother Anna Nemeth and my uncle who was about 2 years old, came in Feburary of 1927 on the Tuscania. I have been lucky enough to find that information. My grandma Anna died when I was about 13, but I remember so much of her stories of Hungary! My mother was married (the first time when she was 21) to a Hungarian Actor Alexander Naszody. The marriage did not last too long though. A few years later, she traveled to California with her friend Carol. A couple years later she met and married my dad and I was born and then my sister 3 years later. My mother spoke Hungarian with my uncle and grandparents, but she never taught us the language.
I am the only survivor now and I feel so very connected with the Hungarian culture. I want to learn more and travel there! I was privileged to meet Laszlo Les Josa when he was alive via Facebook instant messenger. He helped me so much with the language and finding more records in Hungary. I will be forever grateful to him. He helped me locate a distant cousin on my grandfather’s side who lives in Tolna. We communicated back and forth a few years ago. I was able to translate his emails through Google Translate, and he has an english speaking son who translated my letters for him.
I am on several Hungarian sites through Facebook, which, now that I am retired, I want to spend more time on and on family history as well. So many resources!
Thank you so much for this Expo!! I am ready to dig in and to travel there!!
Hugs to all!
Marianna

[Ildiko Stennis]

My Name is Ildiko Szoboszlay Stennis, and my parents and two siblings escaped during the 56 revolution, spent a few years in Switzerland and finally immigrated to the United States. I am hoping to improve my Hungarian and travel there next summer.

[Jeff Kovacs]

I am Jeff Kovacs. My grandmother (paternal) was born in Hungary in the 1890’s (present day northern Serbia) and immigrated to the US just before WWI. My father’s paternal grandfather and his wife (paternal great grandmother) were both born in northeast Hungary (presently Kosice, Slovakia area) and immigrated to the US in the 1880’s. They all met and settled in Connecticut. I had always been interested in my Hungarian heritage having learned respect for the culture and history from my father, but unfortunately, with a busy work life I did not have time to pursue this in depth until I retired. So, now I have time, although my Hungarian-side relatives are no longer with me except in spirit. I learned to speak basic Hungarian, and I have completed the requirements for Hungarian citizenship through the simplified naturalization process. The only thing I am currently waiting is an appointment with the Hungarian consulate to take my oath. After that, I will consider living part-time in Hungary. Looking forward to the Expo to delve further into this fascinating culture!

[Dan Swan]

Hi, my name is Dan. I live in the U.S. (Chicago, IL). I very much would like to visit Hungary someday, and I’m trying to learn as much as I can in the meantime. I’d like to learn more about the regions of Central and Eastern Europe, in general, but especially about Hungary (I apologize- I’m not sure which of those Hungary is technically a part of). Thanks for reading! Please feel free to drop me a line 🙂

[Vickie Tschantz]

I am Vickie Tschantz from Tennessee. My grandparents were Hungarian. Viktor (Gyoza) Benis came from Borzavar, Hungary. He arrived in the port of New York on January 31, 1907 on vessel “Slavonia” at the age of 19. His name was later changed to Benish. He traveled alone. My Grandmother was from Vas Hossyalo, Hungary and she arrived in New York in 1912 on the vessel “S.S. Saxonia” at the age of 15. She also traveled alone to the United States to help an Aunt with her children but never was able to return to Hungary and therefore never saw her family again. Viktor Benis and Magellan Kersa were married in Ohio in 1914. Both obtained Citizenship. They had five children , my Mother was one of them. I’m looking forward to learning more about my family so I can pass it on to my nieces and nephew.

[Zsófia Gebel Simó]

Sziasztok! Hello everyone!

My name is Zsófia Gebel Simó and I am living in Székelysárd, a small village in Transylvania. My whole family is from Transylvania, my home town is Marosvásárhely. I have lived several years in several other countries, including Hungary, Germany and The Netherlands. My husband is Italian and we lived together in The Netherlands for 5 years.

In 2021 we decided to move back to my homeland, Transylvania, where my family is, where my roots are. I was missing my Hungarian mother tongue, our traditions and spending time together with my family.

Since 2023 January, motivated by my husband (who, in the meantime learned almost perfect and fluent Hungarian), I started to teach Hungarian language and culture online. I love to talk about these topics to everyone, and I am passionate about spreading the word about how beautiful the Hungarian language is, and how rich the Hungarian culture is. My dream is to inspire many people to dare to learn our uniquely beautiful and descriptive Hungarian mother tongue! ❤️🤍💚

Since spring 2025 I launched the one and only Online Hungarian Campus™, with online language and culture group courses and a motivated, and supportive community, learning Hungarian together. Having students from so many different countries, warms my heart and gives me the reinforcement that there are eager people out there who would love to learn the Hungarian language and get to know more about the culture.

I am truly grateful to Liz for inviting me to participate as a presenter in the Hungarian Heritage Expo. 🙏🏻 This is a fantastic event, serving all of us who want to reconnect with our roots, with our language, cultural heritage, and all-in-all, with fellow Hungarian hearts.

I feel blessed being here and looking forward meeting many of you tonight, in the kick-off live call. 🤗

[Zsófia Gebel Simó]

Sziasztok! Hello everyone!

My name is Zsófia Gebel Simó and I am living in Székelysárd, a small village in Transylvania. My whole family is from Transylvania, my home town is Marosvásárhely. I have lived several years in several other countries, including Hungary, Germany and The Netherlands. My husband is Italian and we lived together in The Netherlands for 5 years.

In 2021 we decided to move back to my homeland, Transylvania, where my family is, where my roots are. I was missing my Hungarian mother tongue, our traditions and spending time together with my family.

Since 2023 January, motivated by my husband (who, in the meantime learned almost perfect and fluent Hungarian), I started to teach Hungarian language and culture online. I love to talk about these topics to everyone, and I am passionate about spreading the word about how beautiful the Hungarian language is, and how rich the Hungarian culture is. My dream is to inspire many people to dare to learn our uniquely beautiful and descriptive Hungarian mother tongue! ❤️🤍💚

Since spring 2025 I launched the one and only Online Hungarian Campus™, with online language and culture group courses and a motivated, and supportive community, learning Hungarian together. Having students from so many different countries, warms my heart and gives me the reinforcement that there are eager people out there who would love to learn the Hungarian language and get to know more about the culture.

I am truly grateful to Liz for inviting me to participate as a presenter in the Hungarian Heritage Expo. 🙏🏻 This is a fantastic event, serving all of us who want to reconnect with our roots, with our language, cultural heritage, and all-in-all, with fellow Hungarian hearts.

I feel blessed being here and looking forward meeting many of you tonight, in the kick-off live call. 🤗

[Veroniva Horvath]

Hi, This is Rosemary and Veronica Horvath. We grew up on Buckeye Road in Cleveland, Ohio. We attended St. Margaret of Hungary Parish and School on E. 116th Street. We moved out of the neighborhood in 1977. We still make Hungarian food, but not as much as we used to.

[Susan Fix]

My name is Susan Fix and I live in Toms River, NJ. This is my first Expo, and I’m looking forward to all of the presentations! All four of my grandparents (and my father) were born in Hungary. My maternal grandparents (from Dunamocs and Oszko, Vas) immigrated individually as young adults and met here in Asbury Park, NJ. My paternal grandparents were ethnic Germans, born and raised in Ajkarendek, Veszprem, Hungary. They lived there until my father and grandfather were drafted into the German and Hungarian armies respectively, and my grandmother and my father’s little sister were forced to leave their home in 1945. After living as refugees and soldiers, the family was reunited, settled in Germany, and immigrated to NJ in the early 1950s.
My parents spoke Hungarian when they didn’t want my brothers and me to understand their conversations — unfortunately, at the time, we weren’t very interested in learning the language, which I regret now. We attended Hungarian (and German) commumity gatherings (picnics), and we were used to hearing either Hungarian or German spoken. In 2015, my son and I visited my mother’s cousins and their families in Budapest and Dunamocs (Moca).

[Monica Crawford]

I am Monica Crawford. I am Hungarian, my maiden name is Kaman. My parents were from Hungary, Sopron and Ivan. They left Hungary back in 1956 during the II World War.. I speak and can write Hungarian still, I grew up being a Hungarian dancer at a Hungarian Hall in Delhi, Ontario, Canada.. I also still cook and bake a lot of Hungarian foods..I also belong to a Hungarian Hall were I live in Brantford, Ontario, Canada..I have always loved my heritage and am very glad my parents passed it down to me.. I also still have relatives in Hungary, which I have been to many years ago

[Author]

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