GAZA KATONA

KATONA
GAZA ANDREW
Passed away quietly in his home on July 2, 2012 at the age of 95. He was a resident at Cedar Manor Assisted Living in Chesapeake, VA. With his passing, we have lost a true gentleman, a patriotic American and a proud Magyar. Per his wishes, there will not be a viewing or memorial service. His cremated remains and those of his wife Yolan, who predeceased him in March, will be interred at a future date in Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made either to the Hungarian Reformed Church of Homestead, 517 Brierly Lane, Munhall, PA 15120 or to the Boy Scouts of America Washington District National Council, 9190 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814. Born in 1917 in Munhall, Pennsylvania, Gaza was the eldest of three children of Andrew and Mary Nagy Katona, Hungarian immigrants. After graduating in 1938 from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education, he became a high school teacher before joining U.S. Steel in Homestead, PA. In 1940, he married Helen Medve who passed away in 1949, together they had three sons. In 1951, he married Yolan Susan Walochik and in 1955 they had a daughter. Gaza had enlisted in the Navy Supply Corps in 1945 and was promoted to lieutenant (j.g.) and continued in the Naval Reserves through 1953. During this time he earned a Masters degree in Business Education and began a government career in 1952 with the Central Intelligence Agency where he spent four and one-half years in the American Legation in Budapest, Hungary as Assistant Attaché. In 1958, he was awarded the Intelligence Medal of Merit for his unselfish and outstanding dedication and devotion to duty. Following his separation from civil service in 1962, he spent two years as a political analyst and translator and the next 26 years self-employed as a sales representative and educational consultant. Throughout his life, he devoted much of his time supporting many organizations as a dedicated volunteer. Gaza was a proud member of the Boy Scouts of America for 78 uninterrupted years and continued his volunteer service long into his retirement. He was an Eagle Scout and received the Silver Beaver Award for outstanding service to boyhood. For many years he was an active officer in the Washington Chapter of the American-Hungarian Federation, and was also a member of the Hungarian Freedom Fighters and the Vizsla Club of America. He was a youth advisor and an Elder at Bethel United Church of Christ and an active member of the Gideon's. The family thanks the wonderful staff at Cedar Manor for providing comfort and friendship during Gaza and Yolan's final years and also Chesapeake Regional Home Care Services for their ongoing support during their final days. Gaza is survived by his daughter, Susan DeRosa of Acworth, GA; sons, Timothy of Chesapeake, VA and Richard of Berkeley Springs, WV; sisters-in-law, Ruth Toth of Munhall, PA and Patricia Walochik of Lilburn, GA. He was preceded in death by his brother, Ernest; and sister, Alice Rigo. His son David passed away in 2008. He was blessed with nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. "Istenhozzád, Géza bácsi!"
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