[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

[Juliann Bruneio]

My dad and mom

[Dorothy Norland]

I am Dorothy Sabo Norland and I live in St.Louis, MO
My grandfather-Charles Szabo- was born in Nosylop
My grandmother-Ethel Rose Gonde- was born in Csobaj
My great grandmother- Susannna Varadi- was born in Tokaj

[Steven Bondor]

Hello, Sorry about this late introduction. My name is Steven Bondor. I was born and grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. I am a first generation of Hungarian parents. My parents both born in Hungary migrated to the U.S. in 1954. They both settled in Cleveland separately and met each other in Cleveland. I did grow up speaking Hungarian and self taught to read and write Hungarian. I was involved with the Hungarian community in Cleveland, Ohio. After University I went the Indiana University to student formal Hungarian and had an opportunity to study Hungarian language and culture at the University of Debrecen in the summer language program. I still maintain my Hungarian heritage and language. I went to Budapest in 2025 with my older brother and my younger brother, we had a great time, as a matter of fact I was the main interpreter and translator for my brother, both which don’t really speak or have difficulties with the language. I am presently retired, but always learning. My main interest besides Hungarian language and culture is Biblical and Theological Studies including some Apologetics. I do listen to Hungarian biblical teachings and sermons. I hope to go back to visit Hungary, however, I am awaiting for news regarding my dual citizenship that I applied for this early summer. This is my second Hungarian expo and looking forward to this 2025 Hungarian expo.

[Barbara Schauble]

My name is Barbara S. My maternal grandmother came to America from Ung Megye in 1905. My maternal grandfather came to America from Zemplen Megye in 1903. They lived in New Jersey for a few years before spending the rest of their lives in Bridgeport, CT. My paternal grandparents are also Hungarian. My paternal grandfather was born in Austria and his wife was born in Bridgeport, CT. I grew up within a large Hungarian community in Bridgeport, CT where there were festivals celebrating Hungarian culture nearly every year. Hungarian summer school was also popular. I grew up listening to Hungarian conversations and learned the language at an early age. I visited Hungary in 1993.

[Eve Wirth]

Szia everyone! My name is Eve (Szabó) Wirth. A big thank you to Liz for providing this cultural connection resource! It’s been very enjoyable and interesting reading everyones stories! Both of my parents left Hungary in 1956, during the Hungarian Revolution. My father was born in Pécs and was raised later in Szeged. My mother was born in Hódmezővásárhely and was later in Budapest. I was born in the US and Hungarian was my first language, although it is admittedly a bit rusty now. As a child, we traveled to Hungary every summer to visit our relatives. My husband and I have taken our sons as well. My son even went with his HS waterpolo team, to scrimmage with Hungarian teams. My mother was an incredible chef and baker, so I learned to cook and bake all things Hungarian! It is my honor to present to you a book talk about my mother’s cookbook, “Elegant Hungarian Tortes and Homestyle Desserts for the American Baker”. Her passion project and dream was to share these incredible heirloom recipes, for Americans to enjoy. In my mother’s words, “Through this book, I hope to be a conduit of culinary history, presenting personal, treasured Hungarian recipes—many of them never before published—to modern pastry chefs and home bakers. Over the years, I have painstakingly translated, tested, streamlined, and retested these recipes to better suit today’s busy American lifestyle. But the spirit and taste of these recipes remain true to their original source.” Most of the recipes are naturally gluten free, as they are made with nut flours! I’ll be walking you though the fascinating details of how this cookbook came to be published: about incredible, resilient women who overcame hardships and persevered. You’ll learn how these recipes survived World War II in Europe; how she left Hungary during the 1956 Revolution and emigrated to America; and ultimately, how the recipes came into her possession, and inspired her to write this book. I truly hope you join the presentation called “Tea with Tortes”, and incidentally, Liz has the book available for purchase too! I only wish I could pass out torte samples! Szia, Evi

[Brad Racz]

Sziasztok. I am Brad Racz. I grew up in rural Saskatchewan, Canada in area that has both a large Hungarian and Ukranian presence. 3 of my 4 grandparents were born in Hungary and all of my great-grandparents were born in Hungary. One was born in Nagykallo and one was born in Pölöskefő.
My parebts could both speak Hungarian. Me not so much but I am trying to learn. I have been to Hungary a few times now and really enjoy it there.

[MONICA LIPPMEIER]

Hello, my name is Monica Lippmeier. My maiden name is Molnar. Both my mother and father are Hungarian. They both came over through Camp Kilmer in 1956-57 during the revolution. They both came from a small village in Hungary called Se. Outside of Szombathely. They settled in the Cincinnati area.
A lot of Hungarian was spoken in the household, therefore we can understand most but can’t speak very well. We still have family in Hungary. We visited in 2017 and our kids visited in 2025. We try to speak to them a few times a year either by phone or FaceTime.
We have a Hungarian food truck so we love to cook and enjoy our Hungarian food. We are very proud of our heritage and embrace it as much as we possibly can. We love connecting with other Hungarians in our area.

[Elizabeth McCauley]

Szia! My name is Betsy McCauley and this will be my 2nd Hungarian Expo. I loved it last year and look forward to this year’s. I currently live in Venetia, PA, south of Pittsburgh.
My maternal grandfather was raised in Hungary in the town of Hajdudorog, north of Debrecen. He was born in the U.S. but taken back to Hungary when he was just a baby and didn’t return to the U.S. until he was 18 yrs old. He settled in Aliquippa, PA where he worked in the steel mills. My maternal grandmother was born in the U.S. but both her parents came over from Hungary, one from the village of Keked and one from Karacsond.
Off and on I have been studying the Hungarian language but languages are not my forte. I also took part in the Hungarian Living’s Let’s Cook Hungarian Challange a few years ago.

[Lori Rogers-Stokes]

Lori vagyok and my mother’s family are from Rudabanyácska in far-eastern Hungary. I grew up in Nebraska, and had to work to recover the Hungarian identity my mother left behind. I started learning the language about 15 years ago, and my daughter Juli has taken it much further–she became a Hungarian citizen last November! and she’s pretty fluent. My mother’s family name is Sós, and we have Kukóly, Jurkó, and Czirbusz relatives as well. If DNA tests are to be believed, I have 12% Magyar DNA! Happy to be here with you all.

PS: My favorite magyar foods are probably poppyseed kolácsi and bableves.

• This reply was modified 1 week, 5 days ago by Lori Rogers-Stokes.

[Dee Fuggiasco]

I’m Dee. I live in Lincoln California. My grandparents are both sides immigrated back in 1910 and 1912 to Milwaukee Wisconsiwhere I grew up
. My grandfather came from Sopron Hungary and my grandmother Arad Romania I have no brothers, sisters or cousins living here so I’m the last remaining in the US. I was for enough to meet my cousin last May When we were hungry with Liz and Andrea. This is my one and only relative that I’m aware of at the moment and it took me a long time just to get to that point. Luckily, I’m still in touch with my Hungarian cousin on email and Facebook.

[Kelly Edwards]

Hello!
I am Kelly, from the UK. My great-grandparents on my father’s side were Hungarian. I believe my great-grandmother was born in a place called Fehérgyarmat. They moved to the UK to escape the war (they were Jewish) and changed their name. Unfortunately I never really asked my grandfather about his heritage while he was alive. I hope to learn more about them, and my heritage. I don’t yet speak any Hungarian, but intend to learn, and visit Hungary 🙂

[Mary Orban]

Hi, my name is Mary Orban. I live in Falls Church, VA. My paternal grandparents came from Hungary (pre-WWI). My grandfather was born in Potahaza (a small village near Szatmar) which is now in Romania. He came to the US in 1907, first working in Pennsylvania and then in Dayton, OH. I still have relatives in Potahaza as well as in Nagybanya (Baia Mare, Romania). My grandmother was born in Zdany, a small village close to Kassa (Kosice, Slovakia). My grandmother came to the US as a child in 1899. She grew up in Johnstown, PA. I still have relatives in Zdany as well as Kassa. I first visited all my relatives in 1996 and have been back at least 10 since then. I will be visiting them again next year.

I have studied a little Hungarian. I know a lot of words, but I’m not good at making full sentences. Fortunately, all my younger cousins speak English, and I use my broken Hungarian and an on-line translator to speak with my older relatives. It’s not perfect, but it works.

This is my first time participating in the Expo. I’m looking forward to learning more about the Hungarian culture.

[Amy Rogers]

Szia everyone! My name is Amy Rogers, and I currently live in Salt Lake City, Utah. My great-grandparents were born in Hungary and emigrated to the US in the early 1900s. In 2021, I started doing a family research project, where I learned about the possibility of simplified naturalization. With the help of researchers at Helpers Hungary, an amazing team of teachers at Hungarian Language Solutions, and a week at Debrecen Summer School, I’m happy to say I passed my citizenship interview last year and became a proud citizen in June! I’ve been to Hungary three times and my husband and I are hoping to move there sometime in the next few years. Looking forward to diving deeper into the culture during this expo — thanks so much to everyone who’s organizing and participating!

• This reply was modified 1 week, 6 days ago by Amy Rogers.

[Péter Szaffkó]

Hello, everyone! My name is Péter Szaffkó living in Debrecen. I have the honour to speak about Debrecen Summer School which many of you might have heard about. Although I have managed the school only since 2009, I have lots of connections with Hungarians living in North America. I taught Hungarian language and culture at Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, between 1981-83 and at the University of Toronto in 2008/09. I met many Hungarian-Americans and Hungarian-Canadians in New York, New Brunswick, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Chicago, San Francisco, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal and I will never forget these wonderful experiences.

[Rachael Danyi]

Hello. My name is Rachael Danyi. My great grandparents lived in Hungary, unsure of the town. My grandfather was first generation born in the states. I’ve visited Hungary 3 times in my life. We also have extended family there. I am looking forward to ‘meeting’ everyone! #Introduction

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