Obituary of Joseph Balogh

The circle of eternal life added another link when Joseph Felix Balogh at 95 left this earthly realm on   November 17, 2017 at the Connecticut Hospice in Branford, Connecticut.

As the only child of Jozsef Balogh and Katalin Falkus Balogh, Joseph was born on April 27, 1922 in Bridgeport, CT. At the age of ten, he and his family emigrated back to Hungary. His studies to become a sculptor were interrupted when he was drafted into the Hungarian army during WWII. He was captured by the Germans and placed in a prisoner of war camp until he escaped. During his adult life in Hungary, Joseph was a photojournalist for a scientific magazine, a professor of journalism, and the Adult Education Commissioner who created literacy programs for thousands of rural Hungarians. During the Communist Regime, he defected to London, England; he regained his American citizenship through a lengthy several year process and returned to the U.S. in 1967.

In America he worked as a graphic artist for his own business JFB ART. For many decades Joseph was very involved in the Hungarian community as the president of the Hungarian Pannonia Club, a very active member of the Hungarian committee with the Halsey International Scholarship Program at the University of Bridgeport, and the leader of the American Hungarian Heritage Association. For six years on the radio station WICC, Joseph presented a segment entitled “The Hungarian Mosaic” which contained information and knowledge about Hungary’s history, language, food, music, culture, and traditions, and for seventeen years, he published the newsletter The Magyar News, an eight to ten page monthly newsletter that was mailed to subscribers  in thirty-two states. In 2013, he self-published his autobiography entitled American Joe. Whenever a Hungarian immigrant encountered a problem, he or she immediately called Balogh, Jozsef who was always willing and able to solve the problem. Joseph’s deep concern for the immigrant placed him on the Board of Directors for the International Institute of CT in Bridgeport

.
 Joseph was predeceased by his first wife Larissza Foldi Balogh in Hungary and his twenty-four year old son Justin Joseph Margitay-Balogh in America. Left to cherish his memory is his beloved wife of 43 years Claudia Margitay-Balogh and his daughter Katalin and son-in-law Howard Taylor of Cornwall, England. Much gratitude is given to Joseph’s dear friend Jozsef Miklos for his support, help, and care throughout Joseph’s hospital and rehabilitation stays.

Friends may call on Monday, November 20, 2017 from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. in the Lesko & Polke Funeral Home, 1209 Post Road in Fairfield. Joseph’s Celebration of Life Service will be held on Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at 11 a.m. in the United Church of Christ, 2200 North Avenue, Bridgeport, with interment at Mountain Grove Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Justin Joseph Margitay-Balogh Scholarship, in care of the Pannonia American Hungarian Club, P.O. Box 1601, Fairfield, CT 06825 or Magyar News Online, 242 Kings Highway Cut Off, Fairfield, CT 06824. For travel directions or to sign his guest register, please visit www.LeskoPolkeFuneralHome.com
 

His complete obituary with service information is forthcoming. To order flowers online, travel directions, or to sign his guest register, please visit www.LeskoPolkeFuneralHome.com.