Jozsef Varga Obituary (1942 - 2024) - East Brunswick, New Jersey

Jozsef Varga passed away unexpectedly after a long battle with cancer on February 28th, 2024, at the age of 82 at RWJBarnabas Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Jozsef was born on January 20th, 1942, in Luna De Sus (Magyarlona), Romania, to Jozsef and Katalin Varga. He completed his intermediate studies at Brassai Samuel high-school in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. He had an innate curiosity and joy for life as a young man, loved to sing and was a member of a youth choir where they sang Hungarian songs, he played multiple instruments. Jozsef immigrated to the United States of America in October of 1969 in pursuit of a new life of freedom, opportunity and prosperity. America quickly became his new home as he joined the local Hungarian community in New Brunswick, New Jersey where many became his lifelong friends. Soon thereafter he met and married Maria Magdolna Szentmihalyi and they started a family. Their only daughter, Maria Agnes was born in 1974. Jozsef and Maria got divorced in 1979. Shortly after the divorce and after surviving a severe car accident in which he lost one of his dear friends and almost lost his own life, Jozsef had the desire to learn and improve his life even more, so he commenced his studies at Middlesex County College. He successfully completed his Associate in Applied Science degree in the field of Mechanical Engineering Technology in 1988, at the age of 46. Jozsef built his professional experience at SPEX Industries for 20 years in the field of spectometer production. After that, he spent the next 18 years at Engelhard, later known as BASF in research and raw material resolution. He was recognized for his great contribution in the discovery and development of the Distributed Matrix Structures (DMS) Platform for advanced FCC catalysts & additives. Jozsef was known for his precision and diligent work ethics. He had an appreciation for quality in all facets of life, he put his heart into all of his projects. He loved and cherished his family and friends and had a heart for community and helping others in many meaningful ways. He enjoyed cooking and eating good food, and celebrating life by hosting barbeque parties at his home throughout the years. He had a great talent for painting and wood carving, which was his hobby for many years and gave him great joy. In 1992, Jozsef married Anna Vaida, to whom he was married for 29 years before they divorced. They had no children together. Jozsef was an active member and officer of the Hungarian American Athletic Club in New Brunswick, New Jersey for many years where he enjoyed volunteering for the benefit of the Hungarian community. He took great pride in building the legacy of the Club and preserving Hungarian culture for the next generations. Jozsef is survived by his daughter Maria Agnes Varga, granddaughter Alexis Kiara Amaya, older sister Erzsebet Albert, younger sister Anna Jakab, nephew Stefan Albert and family, niece Aniko Almasi and family, niece Lidia Jakab Csonka and family and nephew Barnabas Jakab. He will be greatly missed by all. Memorial service will be held in English and Hungarian at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, March 9th, 2024 at the Hungarian Reformed Church, 175 Somerset Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 followed by a reception in the church's parlor. Jozsef's final resting place will be in his birth village, Luna de Sus (Magyarlona), Romania. In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions may be made in his memory: (tbc)