The Thiringer de Nagyszombat Family Chronicles (Updated) As remembered by Lászlo (Leslie) Thiringer and Tamás (Thomas) Thiringer Crest of the Thiringer de Nagyszombat Family - i - - ii - - iii - CONTENTS PREFACE .............................................................................................................................. viii PART I – THE THIRINGER FAMILY IN EUROPE.............................................................. 1 Chapter 1. Family History through the End of WW I (16th Century to 1918) ...................... 2 The Family’s Early History .............................................................................................. 2 Leslie’s Childhood and Youth .......................................................................................... 4 Fighting in World War I ................................................................................................... 7 Chapter 2. Life During the Turbulent Post-WW I Years (1918-1923) ............................... 11 Resistance, Prison and Escape During Communism ...................................................... 11 Activities in the Hungarian National Army .................................................................... 16 The West-Hungarian Uprising ........................................................................................ 20 Academy Life in Keszthely ............................................................................................ 23 Chapter 3. Peace, War and Farewell to Hungary (1923-1944) ........................................... 25 Leslie’s Career and Hungary’s Entry into World War II ................................................ 25 Experiences with the Germans During WW II ............................................................... 26 The Soviet Invasion of Hungary ..................................................................................... 28 Early Childhood of Tom ................................................................................................. 32 Farewell to Hungary ....................................................................................................... 34 Chapter 4. Six Years as Refugees in Germany (1944-1950) ............................................... 38 The Final Months of World War II ................................................................................. 38 Leslie in French POW Camp, Families Alone................................................................ 42 Cottage Industry in Reichenbach .................................................................................... 47 Leslie’s Return and Illness .............................................................................................. 49 Tom’s School Years in Passau ........................................................................................ 53 Preparation for Emigration ............................................................................................. 57 Leaving Germany for the U.S.A. .................................................................................... 59 PART II – THE THIRINGER FAMILY IN THE NEW WORLD ........................................ 75 Chapter 5. The New Immigrants in the U.S.A. (1951) ........................................................ 76 Arrival to New York and Denver .................................................................................... 76 The Mount Vernon Country Club Period ....................................................................... 78 Leslie and Magda Move to California ............................................................................ 80 Chapter 6. Tom’s Years in the Air Force (1951-1955) ....................................................... 82 Enlistment in the U.S. Air force (USAF) ........................................................................ 82 Three Years in England .................................................................................................. 84 Return to the U.S. and Discharge .................................................................................... 88 Chapter 7. The California Years (1955-1964) ..................................................................... 91 Attending Stanford University ........................................................................................ 91 Marriage and Life on the San Francisco Peninsula ........................................................ 93 - iv - NASA Job Offer in Washington D.C. ............................................................................ 94 Chapter 8. The Washington Years (1964-1993) ................................................................ 95 The Move to Washington................................................................................................ 95 Peter’s Birth and Tati’s Passing ...................................................................................... 96 Career Summary, First Visit to Hungary ........................................................................ 97 Anyu’s Death and Mami’s Decline............................................................................... 100 Three Weddings and My Retirement ............................................................................ 104 Chapter 9. The Washington Years – Continued (1993-2001) ........................................... 105 Mami's Last Years ........................................................................................................ 105 Apu's Deteriorating Health ........................................................................................... 106 The Florida Condominium Purchase ............................................................................ 110 Apu's Final Weeks and Passing .................................................................................... 111 Apu’s Burial, Our Last Travels in the 20th Century ...................................................... 116 Chapter 10. Arrival of the First Four Grandchildren (1995-1998) ...................................... 119 Melissa Marie Thiringer ............................................................................................... 119 Leslie Capri Bonorden .................................................................................................. 121 Stephen Joseph Thiringer .............................................................................................. 124 Natalie Camille Bonorden............................................................................................. 126 Chapter 11. The Florida Years (2001-2003) ....................................................................... 129 The Move to Sarasota ................................................................................................... 129 Kara Nicole Bonorden .................................................................................................. 131 William Joseph Thiringer ............................................................................................. 132 First European Trip in the New Millennium ................................................................. 134 EPILOGUE .......................................................................................................................... 136 - v - PHOTOS Vilmos in 1864 ........................................................................................................................ 62 Gizella and Vilmos in 1891 .................................................................................................... 62 Magda in 1917 ........................................................................................................................ 62 Vilmos in 1902 ........................................................................................................................ 62 Magda at Age 18, 1922 ........................................................................................................... 63 Leslie in 1920 .......................................................................................................................... 63 Vilmos and Gizella in 1921 .................................................................................................... 63 Magda with Tom, 1931 ........................................................................................................... 64 Horváth Children, Béla, Magda, Árpád, 1909 ........................................................................ 64 Tom in 1932 ............................................................................................................................ 64 Tom with His Doves in 1942 .................................................................................................. 65 Leslie as a P.O.W in France, 1946 .......................................................................................... 65 Leslie in 1938 .......................................................................................................................... 65 Leslie in 1948 .......................................................................................................................... 65 Hotel Hirsch in Reichenbach, Germany ................................................................................. 66 Magda and Tom in 1946 ......................................................................................................... 66 Magda, Leslie, and Tom in 1947 ...........................................................................................