[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 20 (Thursday, February 4, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E148]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       IN TRIBUTE TO BILL SEREGI

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 4, 1999

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, it is my sad responsibility to advise our 
colleagues of the recent passing of an outstanding American, a 
remarkable individual, and a tremendous philanthropist.
  Bill Seregi was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1903. Although as a 
youth he aspired to a career in engineering, he found this avenue 
closed to him by the blatant anti-Semitism which permeated that part of 
Europe at that time. Instead, Bill went into the jewelry trade at a 
young age, and soon was considered a master of that trade in his home 
nation.
  In 1928, he married the lovely Lily and thus began a marriage which 
lasted seventy years. The union between Bill and Lily is an inspiration 
to all of us.
  By 1939, Bill and Lily were considered leading citizens of Budapest. 
That year, World War II struck Europe like a dreaded thunderstorm, and 
no life was left untouched. As devout Jews, Bill and Lily found 
themselves targeted by the oncoming Nazi hordes. Bill was sentenced to 
a concentration camp. Torn from his family, Bill was forced to toil at 
slave labor in the Nazi labor camps. It was only his hope of reuniting 
with his family which kept Bill alive during the horrible years of the 
Holocaust.
  After the defeat of Nazi Germany, Bill was reunited with Lily and 
they brought together the survivors of their family. Bill and Lily 
spent the post-war years trying to rebuild their shattered lives. But 
the respite was short-lived. Hungary was soon taken over by Soviet 
dictators and, in many ways, life was no better than under Nazi 
domination. In 1951, Bill and Lily emigrated to the United States to 
start a new life, for themselves and their family.
  Once he had emigrated to the U.S., Bill found the peace and freedom 
which he so vainly sought all of his life. No freedom did he cherish 
more than his right to worship according to his own beliefs and the 
beliefs of his faith. Bill learned very soon after arriving in America 
about Bnai Zion, the brotherhood organization of people desiring a 
homeland for Jews in Palestine. Bill soon threw most of his energies 
into the many philanthropic works of Bnai Zion. He became President of 
one of the local chapters of Bnai Zion, the Theodore Herzl Lodge.
  Bill Seregi devoted a great part of his life to the B'nai Zion 
Foundation, as well as to various fund raising efforts for the State of 
Israel. Bill earned a name for himself throughout the greater New York 
region, and became highly respected as a superb spokesperson. He was 
active in the America Israel Friendship League, which cemented a good 
relationship between our nations. Bill also established a ``Gift of 
Giving Scholarship'' award presented to students of New York City high 
schools.
  In presenting the scholarship to the worthy students, Bill Seregi 
summed up his philosophy of life to them:
  ``a. Help those in need
  b. Fight against intolerance
  c. Study more than you want to
  d. Be grateful to those who teach you; and
  e. Knowledge is your fortune.''
  A few years ago, Bill Seregi was the recipient of the Dr. Harris J. 
Levine Award, the highest honor possible from the Bnai Zion 
organization. At that time, Norman G. Levine, the son of the 
philanthropist for whom the award was named, stated: ``There could not 
possibly be any better candidate or anyone more dedicated to the same 
principles as my father than Bill.''
  Bill left us on Dec. 16th, 1998, at his golden age of 95. He leaves 
behind his widow Lily, to whom he had been married for more than 70 
years. He also leaves his children, Ann and Larry, his grandchildren 
Ellie and Lewis, and many loving nieces and nephews and their families.
  By fleeing the tyranny of Communism in 1951, Bill Seregi demonstrated 
that it is never too late for any individual to seek freedom, liberty 
and justice for themselves and their families. By continuing his career 
as a master of the art of jewelry as well as his advocation of Zionist 
and philanthropic causes, Bill underscores the old adage that if you 
want something done, ask a busy person. No one will ever fully know the 
suffering Bill and Lily experienced under both Nazism and Communism, 
and no one will ever know how many lives they touched and how many 
people were positively impacted by their decision to help others rather 
than curse their own misfortune.
  Mr. Speaker, our condolences are extended to the many loved ones Bill 
leaves behind, and the countless individuals who were inspired by this 
outstanding human being.

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