Ferenc Tibor Szalay

Ferenc Tibor Szalay, a beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully after an extended illness on January 12, 2025, surrounded by family at Springhouse Estates in Lower Gwynedd, Pennsylvania. He was 90 years old.

Born on July 2, 1934, in Sopron, Hungary, Ferenc was raised in the city of Papa, Hungary by his father, Ferenc Szalay, and mother, Elizabeth Brinner, who passed away when he was just nine years old. Following her death, he was raised by his father and stepmother. Ferenc lived through the tumultuous years of World War II and later pursued veterinary medicine in Budapest. He participated in protests against the Soviet occupation of Hungary, which ultimately led to the Hungarian Revolution in 1956. During his senior year of veterinary school, he fled Budapest, becoming a refugee in the United States, arriving at Fort Dix in New Jersey under President Eisenhower's humanitarian plan.

After his arrival, Ferenc served in the United States Army and received an honorable discharge. His journey continued in New York City, where he met and fell in love with Margaret Fernandez, a partnership that would flourish for 58 years after their marriage on August 27, 1966. In 1968, Ferenc decided to finally complete his veterinary degree. He visited several universities from the United States to Europe, and ultimately decided to attend the prestigious Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich Germany, where they honored his prior studies in Budapest. Ference finally obtained his Doctor's degree in Veterinary Medicine, 17 years after he left Hungary. 

In 1974, Ferenc and Margaret returned to the United States where they eventually bought a home near Phoenixville in Chester County, Pennsylvania; and lived there raising a family and making memories for 42 years.

For 35 years, Ferenc dedicated his professional life as a supervisory veterinarian for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, specializing in food animal safety inspection. In that role, he was part of group that worked to modernize safety inspection processes and worked with a group on improving the humane treatment of animals.

Together with Margaret, Ferenc raised two sons, Shandor and Endre Szalay. He was a dedicated father who instilled values of decency and kindness in his children. He was a devout Catholic and was a long-time active parishioner at St. Anne Parish in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. He treasured his role as a grandfather to four grandchildren: Ava, Leila, Amelia, and Oskar. He had unconditional love for his family, and his legacy will continue through them.

Ferenc's personality shone through his great sense of humor, infectious smile, and profound love for his family. He shared rich stories about his life in Hungary over family dinners, painting vivid pictures of his childhood experiences during the war and the cultural ties that remained close to his heart. Simple pleasures were dear to him; he found joy in watching soccer, playing Hungarian cards and other games with his sons, dancing with Margaret, going for long walks, listening to jazz music, enjoying art with Margaret at the Philadelphia Art Museum, and eating Hungarian foods, such as Hungarian crepes, chicken paprikash, and a scrumptious seven layer Hungarian tort cake (painstakingly made by his loving wife Margaret).

Ferenc is survived by his loving family – his wife, Margaret; his sons, Shandor and Endre; daughters-in-law, Carie and Lea; and grandchildren, Ava, Leila, Amelia, and Oskar. He is preceded in death by his father, Ferenc Szalay; mother, Elizabeth Brinner; and brother, Tibor Szalay.

Ferenc will be remembered as a one-of-a-kind individual who delighted his family with stories of his past and generously shared the traditions of his home country. Those who knew him carry forward the lessons he offered: love, loyalty, and tradition. 

Visitation will be held at St. Genevieve Church in Flourtown, Pennsylvania, on January 18, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM, followed by a Mass at 10:00 AM.

Donations to the American Red Cross or Doctors Without Borders are in encouraged in lieu of flowers.