Katalin Piros

Katalin Kati Ertsey Piros - SAVANNAH - Katalin Piros died peacefully after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease on May 31st 2012. Kati, as she was best known, was born on March 5th, 1931 in Nagyvarad, Hungary, which afterward became part of Romania. When she was 11 years old, she went to visit her Aunt in Eger, Hungary. Due to political changes in the region, the border between Hungary and Romania was closed and she was unable to return to live with her mother and siblings. She spent her formative years living with her Aunt Mamika, and Uncle Dodi, as well as several cousins. Mamika was a professional photographer whose work from that period has been a source of fascination for Kati's family and friends. She met Lajos, her husband, as a result of a fencing competition that was being held in his home town of Miskol, where they married and lived with their son, George, until the Hungarian Revolution broke out in 1956. Kati, her husband, son and mother escaped to Austria , running across a field on a moonless night in November. During the confusion of border crossings, Kati became separated from her mother once again. While in a Red Cross camp, weeks later, her husband said he spotted someone who reminded him of her mother. Miraculously, the woman on the other side of the crowded camp was indeed her mother and the family was reunited. The family boarded a US Navy troop carrier, which was pressed into service to bring Hungarian political refugees to the United States. They left Bremerhaven, Germany, in January 1957 and crossed the North Atlantic in rough winter seas. Sponsored by the First Presbyterian Church, the family settled in Woodbridge, Connecticut, where Lajos eventually worked as a CPA and Kati worked in a Neuropharmacology research lab at Yale University. As a young woman, Kati was an excellent fencer, having made the Hungarian Olympic Fencing Team but was unable to compete due to pregnancy. She continued with her love for fencing in the United States, first teaching at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Connecticut and then once a week at the Yale Drama School. After the end of each academic year, she would entertain the Drama students at her home with various Hungarian specialties which she prepared for days in advance. She did research and taught at Yale for 39 years and had the pleasure of working with colleagues from all over the world, many of whom stayed in touch with her over the years. She and her husband had season tickets to the Metropolitan Opera for over 30 years and spent many happy evenings in New York, enjoying one of their favorite pastimes. Saturdays were reserved for pool parties when members of the Hungarian community would gather at the Piros home for lively conversation, good food and wine. She was a gracious hostess and entertained with style and panache. Kati and her husband retired in 1996 and moved to The Landings. In her later years, she was cared for lovingly by Sandra Satterfield, whose kindness and strength will never be forgotten. The family also wishes to thank the staff of Spanish Oaks, her residence for the last 4 years. Kati joins those who predeceased her: Lajos, her mother, aunt and siblings. Kati will always be remembered for her intelligence, warmth, joie de vivre, beauty, elegance and style. She is survived by her devoted children, Dr. George Piros and his wife, Susan, and Dr. Judy Piros, all of Savannah. There will be a memorial service on Saturday, June 30th at 1:30 pm at the First Presbyterian Church on Washington Avenue. In Lieu of flowers, the family asks that remembrances be made to the Humane Society of Greater Savannah, 7215 Sallie Mood Drive, or to the Alzheimer's Association, 201 Television Circle. Please sign our guest book on line at www.foxandweeks.com Savannah Morning News June 28 , 2012 Please sign our Obituary Guest Book at savannahnow.com/obituaries.