Tibor Reksz

1924 - 1979

Tibor was born on 19^th September 1924 in Sombor (now in Yugoslavia) the second child of Izidor Rex and Margit Gänsler.

He married I J (her name is protected as she is still living) on the 5^th January 1966 in Boston MA.

In the USA he was an auto dealer and he died on 8^th July 1979 in Boston. Advice has been received that he died of cancer.

During the war he, along with his brother Joe, was in the resistance and ended up in the Russian army.

After the war, he worked in the Hungarian Defence Ministry and along with his brother, he too was arrested in the "Rajk Affair" one of the show trials under the then Communist Regime. He was sentenced and gaoled. He was released in 1953. and migrated to the USA.

I have no idea when he changed the spelling of his surname which originally was Rex.

Jozsef Rex - Tibor's Brother wrote a Eulogy for him which has finally been sent for information. It is reproduced exactly as written by Joe for the information of future generations. 

Tibor REKSZ

September 19, 1924 - July 8, 1979

It won’t be easy for me; on the other hand it was never easy to eulogize a brother. But if Bobby could speak about Jack and Teddy about Bobby - I, Tibor’s brother, will say what has to be said about him. Nobody is here  who knows him better than me and his widow.

Tibor was born in 1924 in a part of Yugoslavia which until the end of World War 1 was part of Hungary. The territory as well as the whole country was on the warpaths of different powers throughout history. It might sound an overstatement but historical events overwhelmingly influenced Tibor’s whole life. Also the lives of the other millions in that part of Europe.

His early childhood and then boyhood wasn’t an easy one; the depression was in full swing also in Yugoslavia where we lived then. The hardships were made more bearable and tolerable by the close knit family ties and the love towards him by the parents. Other close relatives and good friends of whom he always had plenty.

The learning, a solid education was a family motto, and Tibor followed it good. He always liked the hard physical work too. Already as a young boy Tibor was blessed with a big, healthy body. Physical work made him strong. And by nature he was a fighter. Perhaps the combination of all these factors led him toward a not easy sport: boxing. He was hardly 16 when he became the amateur junior heavy-weight boxing champion of Yugoslavia.

The outbreak of the war, that's the Nazis attack on Yugoslavia, interrupted his studies and his promising career as a fighter. That historic event, the history itself put the weapon in his hand. He fought almost four years in different capacities for freedom and for the other fellow men.

At the end of the war Tibor decided with the family to make his home in Budapest, Hungary. Did I say family? Well our father was murdered by the Nazis and our mother came out from a Nazi concentration camp barely alive.

Hardly 21 years old, Tibor was given by the new Hungarian democratic regime very responsible positions in government. At the same time, he pursued his studies towards a law degree. Few years of happiness followed. Not many, just a few  . . .

In 1948 the skies over Hungary began to darken; Moscow's henchmen began taking over completely, prosecuting or eliminating even their potential enemies. Tibor was arrested in 1950 by the communist secret police and put into a horrible concentration camp. He was put into it with some 1800 others and after three and a half years only some 600 survived; he weighed 210 lbs at this arrest - he came home with 105. The loving care of our mother, relatives and friends helped him rebuild the tormented body. The spirit - the spirit he never lost. All the time he was a proud fighter, admired by his fellow inmates.

After the Hungarian Revolution in 1956 was crushed by the Soviet tanks, the family decided to leave Hungary and go to the West. Few years thereafter Tibor saw the Statue of Liberty in the New York harbour. Then mother joined him in New York and finally I came with my wife. The family together again, under the Stars and Stripes. That was our mother's wish already in the early 1930's.

Tibor did not have any illusions about the hardships of a new beginning in a new country. He knew that the USA did not wait for him. But he was free and in the land of the free. He began as a simple laborer, however his knowledge, general education and rich experience brought him soon the deserved promotions. Finally he went into the business for himself and succeeded in the midst of New York City asphalt jungle.

Luckily some 14 years ago he met an old sweetheart of his. Luckily it did not take too long and the two hearts became one through matrimony. Tibor sold his business in New York and moved to the Greater Boston area and soon became lovingly committed to this beautiful and historic city and state.

Tibor and Ilona had a happy and successful 13 and a half years together. His fighting spirit and experience helped Ilona rebuild, further develop and expand their business. They were healthy and smoothly sailing in love and strong togetherness until this spring when the lightning struck from  the clear sky.

I will not be hesitant to name the enemy: it was cancer. Tibor did not collapse, that wasn't his nature. As a good fighting soldier he obeyed the physician's orders, rules and regulations. His body was attacked, but his mind, his spirit could not be conquered easily. Until the last week. Three and on-half months the battle lasted the formidable and painful battle. That was the only battle he ever lost.

Tibor was an exemplarily good. loving and caring son. After 1945 our mother lived with Tibor until her death. I don't have the words to describe his self sacrificing ways and means of taking care of our mother. In my life I never saw anyone else doing so. Everyone admired both Tibor and Ilona for the loving care and devotion they lavished on our mother in her last years.

TIbor was Ilona's unselfishly devoted husband, friend and business associate. It was not a marriage from the evening 'till morning; they were together literally day and night in harmony mutual respect and understanding.

Tibor was more than a brother to me; in peace and in war, and peace and revolution he was my fighting companion and the best friend I ever had.

I think all his friends and relatives present and not present here, liked and respected him. To his friends he was loyal and helpful if needed.

Tibor was approaching 55. Not just because of the age, but he left us much, much prematurely. It won't be easy without him. We all, present and not present wish you my dear brother may you rest in peace.

Amen