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Grave of long-lost ancestor found in S. Strabane
Staff writer
A family of five flew from Budapest to Paris to Pittsburgh with a mission in mind: Find their long-lost ancestor's grave. Within about two hours of inquiring at the Washington County law library Friday, tears welled in the eyes of family members as they stood beside the headstone of János B. (John) Sándor.
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"He couldn't know," Maria Sándor said of her father-in-law, Gyula Sándor, 78, as her son, Barnabas, took photographs. "It's one hour, and we find the grave." She removed her glasses and wiped away a tear, shaking her head in disbelief.
For 46 years, Gyula Sándor, the grandson of János Bodi Sándor, has had a letter dated 1963, sent from his grandfather from Meadow Lands. Quickly translating from the Hungarian, Maria Sándor said János was apologizing to his wife for his wrongs, never sending for her or their two children since arriving in the United States in 1907 at age 23.
"My father-in-law told me his grandmother never smiled," Maria Sándor said.
During the Cold War years, Gyula Sándor was able to gather only bits and pieces of his family history. But with the fall of the Iron Curtain and the arrival of the Internet, Gyula's grandson, Barnabas, 18, was able to fill some blanks while tracking down records related to his immigrant ancestor.
János B. Sándor was born in Vizslas, Hungary, in 1884 and sailed from Antwerp, Belgium, on a ship named the Cambroman. He arrived in New York City on March 25, 1907, and had Pittsburgh in mind as his destination.
He filed draft registration cards in 1917-18 and 1942, describing himself as 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing 170 pounds with brown eyes and black hair. His complexion, according to the records, was sallow, apparently because he worked underground, mining coal for Pittsburgh Coal Co. in Midland. He had no telephone but had as a mailing address a post office box in Meadow Lands. His emergency contact was listed as Mary Vorum of Meadow Lands.
Barnabas Sándor, his sister, Liza, 12, grandfather and parents Gabor and Maria Sándor arrived at the courthouse Friday morning with the name of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church, Meadow Lands, which does not have its own cemetery. At the courthouse law library, assistant librarian Pat Stavovy sprang into action, using her knowledge of local people, public records and places.
Through the register of wills office, Stavovy ferreted out a record that referred to Edward Abel Funeral Home in Washington. Stavovy called Dale D'Angelo, Abel's successor, who revealed János Sándor's burial place, Immaculate Conception Church Cemetery.
D'Angelo also put Stavovy in touch with cemetery caretaker Ed Senay, who pinpointed the location of the grave. Armed with a GPS system, the Sándor family drove there immediately and photographed the marker listing Sándor's birth date, April 6, 1884, and date of death, May 27, 1968.
The Sándor grave is well cared for, apparently by members of the Vorum family, bearing the same petunias and striped marigolds as that of Karoly Vorum, 1877-1934, and Mary Vorum, 1885-1949. Karoly, Barnabas pointed out, is a Hungarian name. Another grave, that of Charlie Vorum, bears his photograph and the dates 1906 to 1927. The name rang a bell with the Sándors, apparently from other pieces of János Sándor's correspondence.
Sándor's obituary in the Observer-Reporter said he was dead on arrival at Washington Hospital after suffering a heart attack. He retired from mining coal in 1950 and made his home for 50 years with the Charles Vorum family. At Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church, he was a member of the Holy Name Society.
A member of the Vorum family who still lives in the area could not be reached Friday afternoon.
Gabor and Maria Sándors are McDonald's restaurant franchisees in Budapest. As Barnabas Sándor gathered information, Gabor Sándor made the decision to travel to the United States to fulfill the wishes of his father, Gyula, who was a director of economic research.
After a second trip to the cemetery to place flowers and a flag, the Sándors were off to visit the Hungarian Nationality Room at the University of Pittsburgh.
Mission accomplished, Barnabas said, "It's a very good feeling, and interesting."
