In Memoriam:: Ede “Eddie” Hamar
IN MEMORIAM
Ede “Eddie” Hamar
(August 7, 1936 – December 11, 2008)
Ede Hamar 72, died Dec.11, 2008 in a local care home in The Dalles,
Oregon. He was a longtime resident of Scholls, Oregon before moving to
The Dalles in September of 2008. Ede was born in Presburg,
Czechoslovakia on Aug.7, 1936, shortly after he was born he and his
family were forcefully expelled from Czechoslovakia whereupon they
eventually moved to Budapest, Hungary.
In 1956 when Ede was in his 2nd year of college in Budapest, Hungary; he and other students held a peaceful demonstration to try and end the communist take over that was happening in his country. This was the beginning of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 lasting from October 23rd until November 10th. On Nov 5, the day after the Soviet tanks rolled back into Budapest, Ede was among several young people in a building that was fired upon by tanks, he was injured and lost his right hand and was blinded by the explosion. A German magazine published a photo of him on top a Soviet tank holding a Hungarian flag; he then became wanted by the Soviets.
He and others fled to Yugoslavia where they were put into guarded camps, after fleeing the camp he made his way to a refugee camp in Nuremburg, Germany in Jan. 1957. In early 1958 a Life magazine reporter interviewed him and after that article was published he received many invitations to America.
Ede arrived in Portland on Aug. 13, 1958 where he began his life as a state employee for Oregon Commission for the Blind (Industries for the blind) and an advocate for the disabled. He spent his free time with his wife Hazel, traveling the Northwest in search of prime fishing areas. He volunteered with Jr. Rodeo and Boy Scouts in the Sherwood area. He collected knives and Native American art. He had a passion for the Native American culture. He loved tending to his small farm and all of its variety of animals.
He retired from the Commission in the mid- 90s, he was well known and respected by several Governors who helped him in his advocacy for the disabled. He spoke seven languages and used this ability anytime he could. He always spoke from the heart. Retirement however did not slow him down; he began distributing food and supplies to the needy in and around the Portland area several days a week. After suffering a stroke that impaired his ability to talk in 2005, Ede still continued doing his humanitarian work the best he could.
Ede was a member of the Hungarian Communion of Friends and loved the friendships he maintained after all these years. He loved music and always had a toe tapping if not up and dancing to it.
Ede could always be found with a Grandchild in his arms or nearby ready to be picked up. He loved people and believed there were no strangers, just friends you haven't yet met.
He is survived by his wife of 49 yrs, Hazel, son Teddy, OR., Step-Daughter Judi Smith CA. and his dear friend Eldon Crow and family of Scholls, OR.
He is also survived by his brothers and sisters in Hungary, Lászlo, Mariska, Julie and Anna; numerous nieces and nephews in Budaörs, Hungary, two of which are named after him.
His Grandchildren; Tom & Madeline Smith, Tracy & Mike Fryer, CA., Kelly & husband Larry Starr, AK., Joe & Brandie Guillen,Vernonia, Jennifer (Rose) & husband Ian Wellar, Jamal Mastin, Misty Mastin, The Dalles. Steven Mastin, AZ., Blondell Mastin, WA, and Curtis and Michael Hamar, OR.
Great-grandchildren; Tristan Gruper, AK, Toni & husband Paul Bower, Australia, Kenny Huth, OR., Katrina Smith, AK., Robert Rose, Cheyenne Sherard, Tyson Wellar, Autumn & Isaiah Mastin, Qwilleran & Lochlan Mastin, The Dalles. Joey, Cloe & Emma Guillen,Vernonia. Krysta & Vincent Fryer, CA.
Great-great-grandchildren; Matthew & Emma, Australia, Rocky Gruper AK.
He was preceded in death by his loving mother and father, step-daughter Susan (Keyser) Mastin, and his Brother Hajós János.
His family would like to thank Heart of Hospice, Dr. Laura McWilliams and all of the wonderful staff at Carolyn's Care, The Dalles.
Memorial Contributions may be made to The ARC of Mid-Columbia or Wasco-Sherman Special Olympics.
A celebration of life & remembrance will be held on Jan 17th, 2009 in The Dalles, Oregon at The Riverenza Court 401 East 10th St. from 1 to 5 pm. All friends are invited to attend. For more info please contact Ian_Jenn@hotmail.com
Two articles about Ede's arrival in Portland from August 22, 1958:
Young Freedom Fighter To Live in Scappoose
By Gerry Pratt
Staff Writer, The Oregonian
August 22, 1958
There was nothing special about the bespectacled little man to suggest the revolutionary, the Freedom Fighter. Nothing, except the right hand.
He lost it, he explained, in the streets of Budapest under fire of the Russian guns. And those times seemed far away for Ede Hamar at the Portland International airport on Thursday night.
He was meeting his new family, Mr. and Mrs. V. W. Keyser, Rt. 1, Box 215, Scappoose, who have taken him into their home.
Hamar wasn’t the man they wanted at first, explained Mrs. Keyser, whose husband is a plasterer and small scale farmer.
“The man we hoped to help we saw in Life magazine. So we wrote to the photographer.”
Choice Made
“When we heard the man we wanted to help had gone back to Hungary, the photographer had told of us Hamar. We had no sons, so we wanted him.” She explained.
But since they began the machinery to bring the one-time Freedom Fighter from Europe to their family home, the Keyser family has added two other sons – foster children. “And now we have Hamar.” said Mrs. Keyser proudly of the 22 year-old Hungarian. “Our children are now every nationality in the country.” She added jokingly. Mrs. Keyser is German-American, her husband Dutch-Irish-American.
Hamar, speaking through an interpreter, spoke of his escape from Hungary reluctantly Friday, stating that he crossed the border January 31, 1957, into Yugoslavia. Behind him still in Hungary, are his mother, two brothers and two sisters.
Outsiders MissingThough he spoke only briefly of his fight, you got the picture it was urgent for the 120-pound youth to leave his homeland. He was a spokesman for the freedom Fighters in negotiations with the British ambassador, he said, and here his face flushed.
“I heard with my own ears the British ambassador tell us there would be British troops to meet us at the border.” he said. There was no outside help and he said the Hungarians had counted on help.
Hamar’s prescription for righting the wrong of Hungary’s revolution sounded simple even in his Hungarian words. Translated, he had said: “Make the Russian soldiers leave Hungary.”
He smoked cigarettes and answered other questions while his new family waited to take him home. But most of answers were in the form of a smile or a shake of his head. Only once, when asked if he ever expected to see the day when Hungary would be free, did he speak like the Freedom Fighter.
“I’m certain of it,” he snapped.
‘New Life’ Started
Scappoose Couple ‘Adopts’ Refugee
By Walter Mattila
Oregon Journal Staff Writer
August 22, 1958
A 22 year-old Hungarian who lost his right hand
fighting Russians has been given an artificial limb in America and has been
welcomed to a home in Scappoose after wandering from one refugee camp to
another in Europe.
He is Ede Hamar (pronounced Eddie Hammer), whose loyalty to his native Hungary is eloquently vouched for by the stump where his hand once was.
The slender, tousled-haired and scholarly looking young man is happy to start a new life because of a strange series of circumstances.
HIS NEW foster parents are Mr. and Mrs. V. W. Keyser, route 1, Box 215, Scappoose, saw a photograph of a young Hungarian freedom fighter (not Hamar) in Life magazine almost two years ago. They wanted to give him a home. They wrote to the photographer, Lisa Larson, but found that the Hungarian had gone back, to his native country. Miss Larson told them about Hamar.
“She had seen him,” Mrs. Keyser said. “She said he was a nice fellow and seemed worth helping.”
Through the Catholic relief services in New York, the Keysers contacted Hamar and set in motion the plan to bring him to their home as a foster son.
Another person who was moved by the Hungarian’s plight was an editor of an Aiken, S. C., newspaper. He collected $185 which made it possible for Hamar to get an artificial arm which he is learning to use.
The Keysers, their two daughters, the eldest 16 and their two foster sons, both younger where on hand at the Portland International airport with local representatives of the Catholic Relief Services and Hungarian friends, to welcome Hamar after his long flight from Europe.
AS SOON as he is able to work the Catholic resettlement division of Portland will seek employment for him.
Asked how he was wounded, Ede replied, “I was hit while I was shooting out of a window.”
After being hit, the young Hungarian had his hand amputated at a Budapest hospital before the revolt was crushed. He succeeded in crossing the border into Yugoslavia on Jan. 30, 1957.