Death of Dr Pongo

[Mauler]

I'm sad to pass on the news that Laszlo "Lutzy" Pongo has passed away. He was my first fencing teacher, and during his stay in the United States he has touched so many people who has helped making a difference in American Fencing. Please pass on the following info to anyone and everyone who had the privilege of knowing this fine fencer, coach and a friend.

There is a memorial service on Saturday Septeber 10 at 1pm-2pm. Church of St. Stephen of Hungary, East 82nd St between 1st and York in NYC.


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LONG ISLAND SWORDSMEN

Dr. Laszlo Pongo

Dr Pongo was the Maestro of the Long Island Swordsmen. He served as Head Coach of the Stevens Technical Institute Summer Fencing Program. He was recently awarded the Coach of the Year award from the United States Fencing Coaches Association. He was the Salzburg Club Foil coach at the Austrian National Championships in 1950. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Amateur Fencers League of America (AFLA) from 1960 to 1972. He was the distinguished and highly respected International President of Jury in the Federation Internationale d’Escrime.

His coaching and competitive successes are impeccable and unrivaled: National Sabre Champion, Hungary (1948): US National Sabre Champion (1961, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1970): North Atlantic Sabre Champion (1966, 1968): Member, US Team-World Championships (1958): Member, US Team-Warsaw, Poland (1961): Member, US Team-Hungarian Cup, Budapest, Hungary (1946): Member, US Team-World Championships, Paris (1965).
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[fencerontheline]

My condolances.

I didn't know him, but you've spoken so well of him.

It's a great loss.

[IanSerotkin]

In Pongo's honor...

"You must hold foil like cup of coffee!"

[Mauler]

In Pongo's honor...

" S I T D O W N ! ! ! ! "

[ra2000a]

hey was my first coach. wow, i'm really upset by this news. he was a great man

[ReverseLunge]

In Pongo's honor...

"If you were the last woman and I was the last man on earth, I bet we could do it in public."

[apongo]

Thank you for sharing your memories about Dr. Laszlo Pongo. My father passed away in Hungary and we held a memorial service in New York City on September 10, 2005. Everything you say about him is spot-on and he would be delighted and amused. He was definitely one of the more colorful characters in the fencing world and I have been lucky to hear several fencing stories that have cracked me up in the past few weeks. If you want to share more or ask any questions, feel free to contact me.