Frank Szomy, Jr., Phd

Frank Szomy, Jr., doting husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, March 23, 2021. He was surrounded by family he adored and the memories of 92 years well-lived.

Born on April 25, 1928, in New York City, New York, Frank was the son of the late Frank Szomy, Sr. and Suzanna Varga Szomy. In his youth, he studied violin at Turtle Bay Music School in New York City and applied his musical talents to form a band with his sister. While all of the musicians were overseas during World War II, Frank and Elizabeth delighted in playing music on the Hudson River Day Liner. When he came of age, Frank was proud to serve his country in the Japanese Occupation during the War. Subsequent to his stretch in the military, Frank attended the University of Miami, where he received his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering. He later became a graduate assistant at Georgia Tech where he earned a Master’s Degree in Industrial Engineering. Frank’s thesis was utilized in ‘A Study of the Optimum Capacity of a Fluid Milk Processing Plant,’ and published in 1958. He was honored to receive his Doctorate Degree of Public Administration from Nova Southeastern University.

Frank had a distinguished career in engineering during his working years. He was employed with IBM, who contracted with NASA during the 1960s, where he notably worked on the Saturn 5 mission. Frank later worked for Florida Atlantic University as the Director of Planning and then started a lengthy and successful career with the Florida Department of Education. He translated the entire works of Hungary’s most famous poet, Sándor Petőfi, from the Hungarian language to English. The translated text is now available all over the world.

A generous man who loved all people, he would do anything for anyone. Frank literally once gave his jacket to a stranger on the street in Hungary! He also enjoyed socializing and making friends with the North Macon Chapter of the Kiwanis Club, where he served as past President. Frank was a man of many gifts, such as, painting, sketching, and constructing identical model airplanes from scratch.

Left to cherish memories of Frank are his loving wife of 65 years, Margaret Szomy; daughters, Dr. Margaret Hartwig and Ilona Warren (Mark); granddaughters, Eva Matthews (Adam), Ilona Hays (Hinson), Emma Warren and Ella Warren; great-grandson, Russell Frank Hays; sister, Elizabeth Darvas; and several nieces and nephews, all of whom he considered to be his own daughters and sons.

A memorial service celebrating Frank’s life will take place at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, March 26, 2021, in the chapel of McCullough Funeral Home, with Reverend Andy Cook officiating.

For friends unable to attend at this time, the service will be streamed live via the McCullough Funeral Home Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mcculloughfuneralhome/live/.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial donations be given in memory of Frank to the Humane Society of Houston County, Inc., P.O. Box 9588, Warner Robins, GA 31095.

Learn about the measures McCullough Funeral Home is taking to ensure the health and safety of our guests at mcculloughfh.com. There you can also sign an Online Registry for the family. McCullough Funeral Home and Crematory has the privilege of being entrusted with these arrangements.

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