Dr. Steven Vardy

Dr. Steven Bela Vardy, Duquesne University Professor Emeritus and McAnulty Distinguished Professor of History passed away Monday, July 23, 2018, in Budapest, Hungary. Dr. Vardy received his doctoral degree from Indiana University and taught at Duquesne from 1964 to 2014. As one of Duquesne's most prolific faculty members, Dr. Vardy wrote and edited more than 22 books, 175 scholarly articles, 87 book reviews, 83 encyclopedia entries, 60 essays and 350 newspaper articles. He was one of the world's leading experts in Hungarian history and presented more than 100 conference papers in Europe and the United States. He received numerous awards for his scholarly achievements, including Hungary's Berzsenyi Prize, Hungary's Officers' Cross of the Order of Merit, Arpad Academy's Gold Medal, Canada's Pro Libertate Diploma and Pro Patria in Externus Diploma, along with Duquesne University's Excellence in Scholarship Award. Dr. Vardy was elected to the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the Hungarian Writer's Federation; he received two honorary doctorates from Hungarian universities and had two festschrifts written in his honor. Dr. Vardy served on a number of editorial boards and held administrative positions on numerous external academic associations and committees-some of which he founded. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Dr. Agnes Huszar Vardy, who co-wrote and co-edited some of his scholarly work; as well as his three children, Nicholas, Zoltan and Laura; and four grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held for Dr. Vardy Monday, Aug. 27, 2018, at St. Stephen's Basilica in Budapest, followed by a reception. A memorial Mass will also be held in the Duquesne University chapel at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Dr. Vardy may be made to the "Drs. Steven Bela Vardy & Agnes Huszar Vardy International Research and Study Grant" at Duquesne University. Checks should be made payable to "Duquesne University" with the "Vardy Fund" written in the memo line and mailed to Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Ave., 406 Administration Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15282.