Joseph PUSKAS

1920 - 2016

PUSKAS,
Joseph
(Age 96)

Joseph was born in
Budapest, Hungary
September 3, 1920.

At an early age, it was obvious Joseph had an excellent mind and disciplined study habits.
Excelling in academics, athletics and music, he graduated top of his class from University of Hungary Superior Industrial School with electrical engineering degree. Inducted into the Hungarian army Joseph quickly rose to rank of major. While stationed in Kiev, Ukraine, Joseph met a beautiful, charming medical student, Ludmilla Tolembovski, an intellectual equal with whom he fell in love and shared a great love of music and art. They married in March of 1944. Their daughter Veronica was born in January of 1945 during the Siege of Budapest. That winter many people died because of daily bombing, famine and cold. Veronica did not survive. In the spring of 1945 Budapest was occupied by Russian army. Joseph was arrested but escaped when enraged Hungarians battled the troops emptying the prisons. Joseph and Ludmilla fled Budapest in the middle of the night escaping with only clothes on their backs running, walking from Hungary through Austria, Slovenia to Italy. With help from friendly strangers they reached Rome where the abbot of a monestary gave them sanctuary and ultimately financed travel to Lisbon and freighter to Rio de Janiero. Joseph worked for an auto repair company quickly rising to manager. After 12 years in Rio, Joseph and Ludmilla boarded a freighter to New York then onward to Rochester where Joseph became a chief engineer with General Electric, a position he held for many years later moving to Denver and retiring in Spokane. Joseph was a consummate host at dinner parties, loved their dogs and an active member of Bruce Ferden Chapter of Spokane Symphony Associates.
Memorial service is at 3 pm November 20, 2016, Rockwood Health Center, 2903 East 25th (1st Parking Lot) Gallery Room.