Julius Szalay

Julius Szalay, age 74, passed away with his family by his side on Saturday, February 23, 2013 at the VA Hospital in West Haven. Born in Budapest, Hungary on February 26, 1938 he was the son of the late Imre and Carolina Szalay. Julius grew up in war-torn Eastern Europe during World War 2, and became a freedom fighter during the Hungarian Revolution in 1956.

After escaping the communist dictatorship he came to the U.S. and met his wife, Valerie. In 1961 he was drafted into the U.S. Army where he served until his honorable discharge in 1967. A tool and die maker by trade, he retired from Blase Manufacturing to battle his diagnosed cancer for many years.

A devoted father and husband, he enjoyed swimming, soccer and volleyball and working on building his stone wall. In the 1970s when youth soccer was introduced to our area he became an AYSO coach--he is credited for letting girls play on his team when other towns would not.

He will be sadly missed by his daughter Susanne Smelzer (Quentin), his step daughter Aniko Ferince (Istvan), sons, Julius Szalay Jr. (Lorna) and Stephen Szalay. Grandchildren; Julianna, Gyula, Travis, Ryan and Brian, brothers, Ference and Imre, sister Ilona and several nieces and nephews. Julius was predeceased by his dear wife Valeria, grandchildren, Adam and Christian Smelzer, and sister Mariska. A Memorial Service will be held Tuesday, March 5, 2013, at the Monroe Congregational Church, 34 Church Street, Monroe, CT at 12:00pm. A Memorial Wake will be Monday, March 4 from 4pm-8pm at the Spadaccino and Leo P. Gallagher & Son Community Funeral Home, 315 Monroe Turnpike, Monroe. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.spadaccinofuneralhome.com