KISKI LUMINARY
BRIGITTA JOHANNA SZILAGYI (1938 - 2019)
When we consider our favorite subject in high school, or our best academic experience, no one remembers their favorite textbook. It is the teacher we remember. It is the teacher that makes the difference. The knowledge the teacher brings of his or her subject along with the driving desire to share this information can shape the life of a student forever. Excellent teaching is an art. It takes years of dedicated practice, fine-tuning, and growth through error by the practitioner to achieve excellence. Hours of preparation mixed with some boldness, pedagogical talent, knowledge, and dedication come together to produce an outstanding teacher. At Kiski we have enjoyed the blessings of many superb teachers over the years. This section of the Bulletin is dedicated to honoring excellent Kiski teachers, our Luminaries. In this space, we remember teachers who shared their brilliance and enlightened generations of Kiski Boys. Mrs. Szilagyi was a beloved member of the Kiski community for 50 years. Knowing what his mother meant to his Kiski brothers, her son, Steven T. Szilagyi ’88, deferred the honor of writing her luminary passage to the Kiski Boys from the past half century. Editing these heartfelt expressions down was an impossible task. Thank you to all that submitted your reflections, even if they could not be contained here. Here are a handful of their messages to Steve and his father, Tamas: GREG ZEIGLER ’64 Brigitta was all warmth, smiles and loveliness. I had many aunts growing up at Kiski but she was one of the sweetest. I don’t remember a harsh word—ever. And for a little kid from Saltsburg, I was getting to know and admire a couple from another country. Brigitta took the “foreign" out of "foreigner" and replaced it with it comfortable, familiar. I learned a lot from her. A wonderful woman. CARL KALNOW ’68 Your mother was a beautiful lady who was always kind in the dorm (Clark), at the dinner table, and in the 30
library where she was most helpful. Kiski would not be the same without her loyalty! I was privileged to know her!! ED MARKS ’68 I spent two years at Kiski. I was a long way from home and pretty homesick and your parents, especially your mom, helped me deal with that in my first couple of months. WOODY DANFORTH ’72 I have tears of joy and sorrow when I think of our Brigitta. We were all fortunate to have been so included as a part of her world and the Kiski world as it existed within her. I was fortunate to have been in MacColl Hall when Steven was born. Brigitta would tactfully approach the "pingpong" room and politely suggest that Tamas get his *&$ in the apartment and go to bed! I have always honored the dynamics of their relationship and always will, as a parent and spouse. "Faith, Humility and Tolerance". Thank you, Brigitta...Thank you, Tamas... and Thank you, Joe Millar. Kiski was a better place with the unconditional commitment of our Brigitta. ROBERT “BUCKY” BUCKINGHAM ’78 She was the perfect counterpoint to your dad, at least to us from the outside. He was always the gruff and tough one, while she was the kinder, gentler soul, and they were great together. SANDY PIDGEON ’78 She was "Aunt Bridget" to all of us faculty brats. Your father, who will always be my "Uncle Tamas," was one of my favorite teachers. He was definitely the very passionate, boisterous, gregarious, but very informative teacher from whom I learned the dangers of communism. In beautiful contrast, as we all marry our opposites, your mother was the perfect partner to him. She exuded absolute grace, kindness, patience, and caring for every
