Ferenc "Frank" Traknyak
...Hungarian Freedom Fighter; 83
TEWKSBURY - Ferenc "Frank" Traknyak, age 83, who served to liberate Hungary from Germany and later from communism, died Friday morning at Saints Medical Center, following a brief illness. He was the husband of Teresa (Basto) Traknyak, with whom he had celebrated a 48th wedding anniversary this past April 10th.
He was born in Hungary, April 16, 1925, a the son of Lazlo and Teresa (Merizky) Trakynak. He graduated from high school, and went on to technical trade school. During WWII he served in the Hungarian Army. He became a prisoner of war, and miraculously escaped the Nazi war camp. Later, during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, he served as a Freedom Fighter against the repression of Communism, and was forced into exile in the Dominican Republic, and later Columbia, where he met his wife. They emigrated to the U.S. in 1964, settled in New Jersey and later moved to Stoneham, Mass. He worked as a machinist for Northeast Machine in Malden for over 30 years. They relocated to the Eagles Landing community in Tewksbury 9 years ago.
He was a communicant of St. William's Church, and a frequent visitor to the Tewksbury Senior Center.
Besides his wife, he is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Katalin "Kathy" and George Dooling of Wakefield, a son and daughter-in-law, Frank and Ana (Feliz) Traknyak of Katy, TX; five grandchildren, Patrick Dooling of Medford, Joseph Dooling of San Diego, Natasha, Gabriel, and Daniel Traknyak all of TX, and many nieces and nephews.
He was also brother of the late Brigita and Nellie Traknyak, and Hugi Kovaks.
His Funeral Mass was celebrated Monday, March 2, in St. William's Church, Tewksbury. Burial was in Tewksbury Cemetery. Memorials to Saints Medical Center, Development Office, 1 Hospital Dr., Lowell, MA 01852 or the Tewksbury Food Pantry, 999 Whipple Rd., Tewksbury, MA 01876 will be appreciated.