FAZEKAS, Ferenc Bela (Frank)

The Verde Independent, Cottonwood, AZ August 04, 2006 Ferenc Bela Fazekas, also known as Frank, died July 30, 2006. He was born in Budapest, Hungary, on Nov. 14, 1931. His childhood was cut short when he became a soldier at a very young age. Shrapnel from gun fire was left in his leg since he was about 15 years old. Ferenc fought in World War II and was a soldier in the Hungarian Army during the Hungarian Revolution. His son George Gabor Fazekas was born in a prison camp in 1956. Ferenc and his wife Valeria escaped from that prison camp with their son during the Hungarian Revolution. They went to Sweden, where their second son Laszlo Fazekas was born in 1958. While in Sweden, Ferenc earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. In the late 1960s, the Fazekas family arrived in the United States. Most of their suitcases - carrying only a few personal items - were lost in transit, so when Frank and his family arrived they had only one suitcase, which contain some books. They stayed with family in Southern California when they first go to America. Ferenc studied hard, learned to speak English and furthered his studies in mechanical engineering. Ferenc was a proficient mechanical engineer and even taught engineering for some time. Many unique and ingenious ideas came from Ferenc in an effort to help modernize America. For example, while working under a government contract, he was responsible for designing a mechanical robot that defused bombs - a welcome design that helped to save lives. Ference and Valeria moved to Cottonwood in the mid-1990s. His son George died in 1994, and Valeria died in 1997. Frank married Deane Hargrave, of Clarkdale, in 2002. Frank was a lover of good classical music, Frank Sinatra and the rumba. He was a devout Catholic and a general soul. In the last few years of his life, Frank donated time to the community. He and Deane helped deliver "meals on wheels" as long as he was able before he became ill. Other survivors include his son Laszlo Fazekas (Robin), of Camp Verde; stepdaughters Deanna Martara, of Sahuarita, Robynn Kleck, of Flagstaff, and Nancy Monroy, of Jamul, Calif.; sister Marta, of Budapest, Hungary; and four grandchildren. There will be a memorial service for Ferenc at St. Cecilia's Catholic Church in Clarkdale on Aug. 19 at 10 a.m.