Dennis J. Vecsey

Dennis Joseph Vecsey, 91, of Tampa, died peacefully on May 8, 2022. Born on August 29, 1930 in Budapest Hungary to parents Edith bazédi és körpényesi Kontz and József Vecsey. Dennis was raised in Hungary and Germany surrounded by a close knit military family. He had a happy early childhood in Budapest going to school, playing soccer, spending time with friends/family/Grandparents, visiting relatives in Germany and spending wonderful summers in Budatétény, Hungary. His early elementary education was typical, attended a Catholic middle school, then came Military Cadet School in Nagyvárad, Hungary in 1944. This had typical high school subjects along with military subjects; marksmanship, horsemanship, etc. During WWII and after through summer of 1948, life was very hard but his parents tried to continue education whenever possible. Finally in 1949, in Kempton, near their German relatives, Dennis continued his education in earnest at the local Oberrealschule, passing the final Abitur exam, and earning a scholarship from the World University Service, a United Nations sponsored organization.

He came to the United States with his parents in November 1951 by the ship General M.L. Hershey and settled in New Brunswick, NJ. Dennis had plans to attend Princeton University as part of the Scholarship program, but this was put on hold as he was drafted into the United States Army.

In February 1952 Dennis joined an Infantry Platoon, in Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Regimental Combat Team in the Korean War. He was assigned as Medical Aidman due to his knowledge of Latin. He served at Aid Stations and at front lines. Before going home December 1953, he achieved the level of Senior Medical Tech at the Regimental Collecting Station, running the ward for ill and injured soldiers. After active service, he joined the Army Reserves, 78th Lightning Division, 2nd Battalion, 311th Regiment, and attended Princeton University.

Dennis' career work with Johnson & Johnson Research in North Brunswick, NJ, started in December 1955 as a Research Technician in the Surgical Adhesives Research Dept. After several promotions and changes of positions he was offered a key position in J&J's new organization, Critikon, leading their new Technical Information Services Dept. which served as a reference library to Critikon's Research Scientists. Dennis and his family moved to Tampa, FL in July 1980 and he retired from J&J in January 1991.

After returning from Korea, and after starting with J&J and taking care of his parents, Dennis met his future wife Carol Elaine Cregar who was attending Douglass College in New Brunswick, NJ. They were married on January 26, 1957. His lifelong friend, Mike Absher was best man. Together Dennis and Carol raised a family of 5 children in Somerset, NJ. Carol took care of the children and Dennis worked, sometimes taking part time work in addition to J&J and the Army to support them. During this time he continued his education at Rutgers University taking night classes. He was a lifelong learner and felt his strongest subjects were the Hungarian Language, literature, music and history. He worked very hard to learn English as well and is considered by his family to have the best English vocabulary of anyone.

He was also known for his ability to act as translator for German speaking peoples, allowing those speaking various dialects to communicate. As someone who excelled in the Hungarian language and was also an excellent leader, for a time while raising his young family, he was asked to serve as the Principal of a school created to help young Hungarian immigrant children to read and write in Hungarian. They could speak their native language, but had not been able to learn in their country due to hardships.

From an early age, Dennis was exposed to opera and classical music and had a lifelong love of music. Favorites were Classical Bach, Mozart, Big Bands and Dixieland Jazz. For a time while building his family, he participated in a musical organization called the Philomusica. They sang classical pieces such as a Mozart Mass and Cantatas by Bach in local churches.

Concurrent with his job at J&J, Dennis remained in the active Reserves in the U.S. Army, and had many promotions. His last assignment was Command Sergeant Major of the Training Brigade within the 78th Lightning Division. He retired from the U.S. Army 8/29/1990.

After retirement, he and Carol kept busy, visiting family and friends in other states, traveling to Hungary and Germany, going on cruises with friends, participating in 13 Elder Hostel programs throughout the country, teaching basic computer skills at the University of South Florida. He enjoyed learning computer flight simulator and other computer programs. He loved to sit and talk to his grandchildren.

During his long life, Dennis enjoyed traveling, reading, cooking, baking bread, drinking wine, playing with his cats, listening to music, and watching his big family grow. Known as Papa to his children, and Opa to his Grandchildren, Dennis was a man content with his life and thankful for his many blessings.

Dennis is predeceased by his Parents, sister Marianne Gyengö, son Gregory, niece Nora Gyengö Barba and great granddaughter, Andie Vecsey. He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Carol Elaine Cregar Vecsey, 4 children Andrew (Tami), Nicholas (Darlene), Catherine (Jim), and Suzanne (Bill), 14 Grandchildren, 12 Great Grandchildren, 1 Great Grandchild, Nieces Mary Ellen Lopez, Patricia (Scott) Bland and Susan Maglaras, Nephews Peter (Betsey) Gyengö, and Thomas Gyengö, along with Cousins Eva Bertl v Kontz, Andras von Kontz and Sandor von Kontz.

Interment planned, Friday July 1, 2022, 10:00am at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL.