Balogh, Sandor EAST GREENBUSH

— Sandor Balogh passed away on Monday, August 28, 2023. He died at home peacefully from complications of tongue cancer.

He was born on April 25, 1931, in Kiskomarom, Hungary to the late Sandor and Julianna (Dénes) Balogh. He was predeceased by his son, Peter. Sandor lived in East Greenbush for most of his time in America. He wintered in North Port, Fla. for about 24 years.

While in seminary school in Hungary, he was the editor of his school’s newspaper and he was arrested for inciting against the communist government. He was sentenced to six years of hard labor in a coal mine. He served three years, working off two years for meeting production quotas, and he got one year amnesty after the death of Joseph Stalin.

Upon his release, he was prohibited from returning to the seminary, so he got a job working in the local shipyard. It was here that his sister introduced him to Sara Baranyai, and their first date was to an international motorcycle race in her hometown of Tihany on Lake Balaton in Hungary.

They were married on September 5, 1956, in the Benedictine Abby in Tihany. In 2022, they returned with about 30 family members to celebrate their 66th wedding anniversary.

After the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 began, Sandor continued to voice displeasure with the communist government. He was elected to the Tihany village revolutionary council, and he was almost arrested again. It was at this point that he told his new bride that they had to flee their homeland. One day, while at work, the opportunity to escape presented itself and they left with the clothes on their backs - no bags, no money except what was in their pockets, no papers; no goodbyes.

After traveling for over one month, including a 10-day Atlantic crossing on the U.S.S. El-tinge, a World War II Army Troop Transport Ship, they arrived in New York City on New Year’s Day 1957. Mayor Robert Wagner welcomed the over 1,100 Hungarian refugees with a traditional New York City parade.

After a short stint at Camp Kilmer, a refugee center in New Jersey, they were each given $2.50 to begin their life in America. The Albany Catholic Charities sponsored four busloads of refugees, and they began their lives in Schenectady.

Sandor earned his B.A. from Siena College and then got his M.A. from N.Y.U. He held several jobs prior to starting his career at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. He taught the Social Sciences from 1965-1992. Sandor finished his dissertation on East/west conflict and the Hungarian Revolution and received his doctorate in 1986.

He was involved in many other national and local organizations, such as the National Federation of American Hungarians, Capital District Festival of Nations, Local Election Boards, and troop leader for Cub Scouts, to name a few.

Always the educator, he authored several books. His first foray into publishing happened by accident in 1972. After hearing that Chester Arthur was buried in Menands, just a few miles from his home, he came home and told Sara that he wanted to visit all that he wanted to visit all the President’s burial sites and write a book about his findings, and she said, “Sure, I too am interested.” At this time, they had seven children from ages 2-14. For three summers, they loaded the trailer with the kids and family pets as they traveled over 8,000 miles. Unfortunately, this book never came to fruition.

One of the highlights of his post-retirement career was solving Einstein’s final dilemma: “Understanding the fourth dimension will give us a better understanding of the physical universe, but where is the fourth dimension?” His research answered the question and led to the publication of, “Solving Einstein’s Space/ Field Question: A New World View Basics.”

The titles of his books show the variety of his passions. His interest in tidal power led to The Science and Context of Climatism: Can we protect ourselves against overheating or solar cooling? Expanding on the theory that many of the world’s problems stem from Satan’s involvement in global issues, he wrote The Century from Pope Leo’s Vision to the Second Coming: Pope Leo XIII’S Vision: Satan Debates God.

In his book Autonomy and The New World Order, he discusses majority ethnic groups being treated as minority groups and fighting for their rights.

While visiting Europe in 1988, while his wife was in Hungary he was at a Hungarian hostel in Rome. A nun approached him while he was eating breakfast and informed him that she had an extra ticket for a special audience with Pope John Paul II. He accepted the ticket and was able to shake hands and talk with the pontiff.

In 1988, Bruce Springsteen performed around the world on his “Human Rights Now!” tour. To bring awareness of Amnesty International’s work, Springsteen asked for the text of the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” to be read in the language of the host nation. For the concert in Budapest, Sandor’s voice was heard in front of almost 80,000 Hungarians. He was not allowed in, but his voice was.

Many times, he applied for permission to return to his homeland of Hungary, but he was continually denied. Finally, after the fall of communism, his visa was approved. In March 1989 he made the first of over 30 visits back to Hungary.

Sandor was honored with a personal invitation to attend the dedication of Ronald Reagan’s Presidential Library. He gladly accepted and was in attendance with five U.S. Presidents and six First Ladies. He also received five Christmas cards from President Reagan. He was also invited to Korea by Reverend Moon and to Australia by the Hungarian Cultural Festival of Adelaide.

He is survived by Sara, his lovely bride of 67 years; and his children, Alex (Maria), Suzanne (Kirk) Pogge, Marianne (Bill) Macey, Thomas (Linda), Stephan, and George (Janice). He was Nagypapa to Jaimie (Nate), Sean, Joseph, Joshua (Megan), Erika (Joe), Jeffrey (Alex), Kari, Sara, Kevin, Alexander, Anthony, Rachael, Thomas, Carter, Andrea, Zachary, Adam, Eric and Nate. He was a great-grandfather to Sloan, Tenly Jaymes, and Savannah Jo. He is also survived by his late son Peter’s widow, Jennifer (Jim) Volz. In his native Hungary, he is survived by his sister, Jolan and nephew, Péter. Sandor and nephew, Péter. Sandor was lucky enough to have a “bonus” family which includes, Kateri (Nick, Kerri and Ellie Mae), Kira (Damian), and Krysta (Ray). His family would like to extend a special thanks to his personal care assistant of the last few months, Susan.

If a book was going to be written about Sandor’s life, it might be called “$5 and a Dream.” The dream has come true - he accomplished a lot in his lifetime.

Friends and family are invited to call on Thursday, August 31, from 4-7 p.m. at the Wm. J. Rockefeller Funeral Home, Inc., 165 Columbia Tpke., Rensselaer. There will be a funeral Mass held the following day, September 1, at 10 a.m. in the Church of St. Mary at Clinton Heights, 163 Columbia Turnpike. Interment will follow in the New Rural Cemetery in East Greenbush.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Sandor and Peter’s honor to The American Cancer Society.