Saturday, October 1, 2016

Eulogy for My Father

I've been asked to share the eulogy I wrote for my father's eulogy by family and friends who were not able to attend his funeral...I have decided to share it here as an epilogue of sorts and as final closure to his story. To everyone who has read this biography, I thank you from the bottom of my heart....

On April 14th, 1929 a little boy was born in Budapest, Hungary. A little boy known as Laszlo Kamillo Makay of Mako and of Gelej de genere Csanad Duke and Prince of Transylvania. A little prince who would grow up in the great palaces and castles of Hungary, dining in his homes as a child with historical figures like General Douglas MacArthur and Prince Edward of England. Who would grow to help his father save seven Jewish families from the Nazis, as well as help the United States defeat plans for a military base by the Soviet Army. A little boy who would eventually endure torture at the hands of the KGB and help his own sister escape Hungary to a life of freedom in the US.

My dad. The prince. A hero in his own right…after escaping Hungary he had one vision in mind. His California dream. He turned down the opportunity to live in Lord Rothemere’s manor in England and a chance to live near his sister in Boston because he wanted to be close to the beach…the warm weather….the palm trees…you know…all of the things we love so much about our city. ;) He came here with nothing but that dream…not a penny to his name…not a lick of English in his vocabulary. Nothing but faith. And he made his life here. He met a Cuban lady on the beach in Santa Monica who would become his wife of 43 years….and then…he had me. I know I came as a surprise and quite late in life…as I think he had come to the conclusion that he’d be an eternal bachelor and never have children….but God had a different plan. And thankfully so! I quite enjoy being alive…thank you Apa! ;)

And even though having kids was not in his original plan, he fell into the role like a dream. I was his little princess….and later I was to understand that I wasn’t just his little princess like all little girls are to their daddies…my father had bestowed upon me his lineage….he had gifted me by birthright the titles of Duchess and Princess….and regaled me with stories and pictures of our family heritage. All of which were fascinating to me no matter how often it was repeated. I imagined dancing in grand ball gowns with my daddy…twirling around to the likes of Liszt and Mozart….but we lived humbly, always…but most importantly …my dad lived by the credo of always being kind and humble despite his roots. He taught me by example. Never raising his hand or voice…forever patient and loving. Just as you all know him to be. And he was funny…and so smart. Sharp as a tack until his last day on earth. Imagine working full time at the age of 87! He should’ve been laying on a beach somewhere in retirement bliss…but he wanted to feel useful…..and he loved everyone that he worked with….they were like an extended family to him (and I want to thank you all so much for loving him as much as you did….his Mercury Media family…God bless all of you).

He was also something of a rascal and I don’t know if that’s a side many of you were aware of….but over the years we had our inside jokes and he’d make me laugh to the point of tears. He loved me and I loved him more than I can put into words….He was, after all, the first man to ever hold my heart. I think if he could’ve handed me the moon on a platter he would have. I actually know he would have. But since that’s an impossibility, he did the next best thing….he’d sneak out and buy me cheeseburgers and fries anytime I was hungry or didn’t like what my mom had made for dinner! =) He’d say he was going for a walk and head to Jack In The Box and smuggle me the goods with a wink and a high five. That was my dad.

My bond with this incredible man ran so deep that even before I was old enough to think of marriage I vowed to never change my last name when I someday did….I knew that the Makay name would someday die with him and I wanted to keep it alive… and that is what has been done…and now there’s a new generation of Makays….his legacy lives on.

My father truly touched everyone he ever came into contact with….the words I hear most often are “noble”, “kind”, “humble”, “warm”, “generous”, “thoughtful”, “gentleman”….and they are all spot on. He was all of that….and so much more. I was not ready to say good-bye to this extraordinary man….I don’t think I could’ve ever been…..but I know he’s always going to be here with me…with all of us…that he is surrounded by the loved ones that passed before him….that he left this earth as much of a beautiful and honorable Prince as he entered it and that someday we’ll be reunited again. Nagyon szeretlek, Apa…. nyugodjék békében herceg (I love you daddy....rest in peace dear prince).

I want to thank all of you for coming to send my father off….allowing him to go home to his heavenly Father. I know that all of you loved him dearly and he loved you all as well. Thank you.