The document summarizes the story of the Kara family who immigrated to the United States from Hungary in 1956. The family, including Sandor Kara (Papapaj), Lorant Istvan Ronai (Lorantbatya), and Adrienne Erserbet Ronai (Mamamaj), were forced to flee Hungary due to their involvement in the 1956 Hungarian Revolution against communist rule. They walked to Austria and then flew to the US, settling in Boston. Though they faced hardship leaving their home and family, they worked hard as chefs and restauranteurs and were eventually able to retire comfortably. The interview provides details about the family's journey and life after immigrating to the US.

1. The Kara Story
By: Christiana Roszik

2. Where did the Family originate from?
• Budapest, Hungary . They loved
their homeland and never
wanted to leave but they
couldnʼt live under communist
rule.

3. Why did they leave?
• Papapaj and
Lorantbatya had to
leave or face certain
death in the labor
camps in Siberia, both
were Freedom Fighters
in the 1956 Hungarian
Revolution. The
students in Hungary did
not want to live under
communist rule
Project By Todd Sowa

4. How did they get here?
• Papapaj and Lorantbatya left
Budapest, Hungary in the end
of October 1956. They walked
for three days to Austria, where
Catholic Charities flew them to
Bangor ME. Mamamaj walked
to Austria by herself and then
flew to France and stayed there
for three years. Local Catholic
Charities sponsored her and
gave her a place to live and
really supported her. Made
many friends. They all
corresponded with their
families. Mamamaj stayed in
France and then came to
America when she heard from
her brother that he was all set
up with a job, an apartment, and
it was ok to come.

5. How old were they?
• Sandor Kara- 15
Lorant Istvan Ronai- 17
Adrienne Erserbet Ronai- 14

6. What did they Bring with them?
• My Papapaj left with a bundle of Pogatcha
(Hungarian Biscuits), and thats all they
could take because they had to leave so
quickly they only took what they could
carry.

7. What did they have to leave behind?
• Well in the midst of everything going on
the most important thing that they left
behind were there parents. Sandor had a
big family of 13 brothers and sisters. And
but only 6 survived. Mamamaj and Papapaj
always kept in touch with their families
through letters and talking on the
telephone.
•

8. What did they do when they got here?
• So when they came to America
with the support of many
Roman Catholic Churches and
Hungarian societies they came
to Boston, Massachusetts.
Mrs. Ban former owner of the
Cafe Budapest, in Boston,
Massachusetts employed
Sandor and Lorant as cooks.
Which became the start of their
life long carer as chefs! When
my Uncle sent for my mother
she came to America once my
Papapaj and Lorantbatya were
all settled she came and lived
with them in Boston. She later
got employed and fell in love
with my father and got married
and then they had my sister,
Adrienne.
Bangor, Maine

9. When was the whole family back together again.
• The day that
they were all
reunited was
the year of
1959 and they
were all living
together.
Boston Town Hall

10. What happened to their parents?
• Sandors parents lived till the
age of 69 and died of natural
causes. But Sandor always
brought his family out to
America. When they were
thirty they started to bring
family to visit. They brought
their entire immediate family
out along with cousins and
friends to visit in america
throughout their life time. My
Mama always brought us
back to Hungary to visit every
3-4 years and we would stay
the whole summer. My
siblings and I are fluent in
1956 Hungarian Revolution Memorial

11. What did they do with their continued life in America?
• Mamamaj and Papapaj bought
income property when they were
20 and 21 years old, worked to
fix up the property, owned and
operated various restaurants the
last and most successful was
Sampsons in Hopkington ma,
with the sale of Sampson’s,
Mamamaj and Papapaj retired at
the age of 44 and 45 years old .
In their retirement they lived to
manage their income property,
donated his time catering for all
different events when asked,
made rosaries and help all of us,
Adrienne, Attila, Bernadette, and Erika Kara
their children with their houses.

12. Family

13. Interview
• The Interview was held at 25 Prospect Street in
Clinton, Massachusetts.
• On Sunday September 18th, 2011.
• Technology used... Mac Book Pro!
• I chose my Aunt Bernadette because sadly my
Papapaj, Mamamaj, and Lorantbatya passed
away and she is the next generation in line to
tell their story.

14. Interviewer and Interviewee