|  11/15/2005
- AHF President Emeritus, Entrepreneur,
Freedom Activist, and 1959 US "Citizen of the Year," George
K. Haydu, passed away after long illness. The death of this great
humanitarian and leader is a major loss for the Hungarian-American community
and to all his many friends.
With the Soviet crackdown on the ill-fated Hungarian Revolution, George
Haydu was commissioned by the Governor of New Jersey in October 1956 as
the civilian Commander of the Hungarian Refugee installation at Camp Kilmer,
NJ. George Haydu and Ambassador Bang Jensen, a diplomat accredited to
the United Nations from Belgium, received death treats from the Hungarian
Secret Police if they went ahead with testimonies about the atrocities
of the Soviets and Hungarian Stalinist Communists in Hungary. Both refused
to comply. Ambassador Jensen was shot to death in New York's Central Park,
but Haydu continued to lead anti-Kadar demonstrations in New York City
in response to the execution of Prime Minister Imre Nagy, General Paul
Maleter and others. Haydu was eventually shot in the leg at the October
1957 "Loyalty Parade" in New York City. An affidavit reads:
 "The
1957 Loyalty Parade in October was led by Mr. Haydu as the "Marshal"
down Fifth Avenue, NY City. FBI insisted that he must wear bullet proof
clothing. My husband an I helped him dress. Approximately 1/2 million
people lined the parade. Shot was fired from the crowd at Mr. Haydu. -
the bullet hit right above the knee - special clothing helped - and prevented
serious injury. Someone threw a bottle with gasoline and hit him on the
right hand and it did give him a nasty burn. He never stopped and keep
leading the parade" - witness and Haydu's secretary, Ms. Ann Hegedus.
George was a little boy when he joined with his brother Zoltan and family
as they emigrated to the USA. Zoltan writes, "The purchase of a 40-acre
tract of land on Mt. Bethel Rd. south of the Kirch farm marked the beginning
of one of the largest manufacturing plants ever located in Warren Township,
NJ. For nearly two decades Haydu Brothers Laboratories was Warren's biggest
single employer. Haydu Brothers was originally founded in Newark in 1936
as Excel Products Co. by George and Zoltan Haydu and their father, John."
During WWII, Haydu Brothers innovative war materials and served the victory
of the Allies over Nazi Germany. Some of Haydu's components were part
of the early radar employed against the Germans during the Battle of Britain.
"Capitalizing on their success, the Haydus built a 2,000-ft. air
strip next to their plant in August 1946 to facilitate the shipment of
parts to their customers using company-owned airplanes. Where air strips
were not available, Haydu's pilots dropped their deliveries by parachute.
Haydu's air strip was Warren's first and only airfield." George was
never shy to explain to the White House that Hungary sent the declaration
of war against the USA under the gunpoint of German Power, and not voluntarily.
By 1946 the Haydu plant occupied 100,000 sq. ft. and employed 500.
After the injustice of the Trianon Treaty,
George continued work in liberating his homeland which became a "Captive
Nation" in the hands of the Soviets. In 1957 he became President
of the American Hungarian Federation (AHF).
 George
Haydu's leadership and humanitarian spirit helped to establish several
Institutions in Hungary. Among them were: The Samuel Tessedik Birth Center
in Godollo, for abandoned Wives and other women; The Learning Disabled
Children's School in Budapest; The Children's Leukemia Research Institute
in the University of Debrecen; the Pazmany Peter Catholic University;
and the Gaspar Karoly University of the Reformed Church. He worked with
the Federation and community leaders to send tractors to Transylvania to support small Hungarian
farms losing land to Rumanian conglomerates.
In 1960 Haydu's mother was seriously ill in Hungary. Because he exposed
himself with his anti-Kadar activities, his friends warned him not to
return to see his mother. In spite of the warning, he entered into Hungary.
After seeing his mother he went to the US Embassy, to meet with Joseph
Cardinal Mindszenty, who received refuge in the American Embassy, in Budapest.
Mindszenty in this occasion gave to George his cherished Cross. His last
will passed the cross to his close friend Alfonz Lengyel who plans send
it to the Museum in Hungary after his death.
His memoirs entitled "The Humanitarian: The George K. Haydu Story,"
were recently published. His humanitarianism brought the Dalai Lama to
nominate him for the Nobel
Peace Prize. May God give blessing and comfort for his soul! Special
thanks for the contribution of his "brother" Dr. Alfonz Lengyel,
RPA.
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