Ivan I. Kristoffy

Ivan Istvan Kristoffy, 88, of Concord, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully under the care of hospice on February 23, 2021 while living at The Reserve in East Longmeadow, MA.  Ivan was born on July 5, 1932 in Debrecen, Hungary to the proud parents of Ferenc Kristoffy and Izabella Bacso.  Ivan lived and studied in Hungary until November, 1956 when he escaped to Austria after the Hungarian revolution which began on October 23, 1956.  A few weeks later, Ivan was transferred to Hannover, Germany where he finished his master’s degree in mechanical engineering and met the love of his life Ursula (Naegel) Kristoffy whom he married on August 20, 1960.  Ivan and Ursula immigrated to the United States in 1961 and began their new life in Connecticut where they became US citizens and had two sons, Andrew and Peter.  After a few years they moved to Ohio and finally to Concord, Massachusetts in 1975 where they settled and happily spent their remaining years.  They were married and in love for 57 years until the passing of Ursula in July, 2017.

Ivan was passionate of his Hungarian heritage.  His house was decorated with Hungarian folklore, he taught Ursula to speak Hungarian, he had many Hungarian friends whom he cherished and he was president of the Hungarian Society of Massachusetts for 10 years.  To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Hungarian revolution of 1956, Ivan formed a committee to create a statue which still stands at Liberty Square in Boston, MA.  Ivan was especially proud to be a US citizen and never forgot why he immigrated to America.  In his autobiography to his family, he wrote as his last paragraph: Freedom can be taken away.  I want always for my children and grandchildren to appreciate freedom in the United States of America and like me, to never miss an election.

Ivan’s greatest joy in life came from his family.  He considered his 2 sons and 6 grandchildren his greatest achievement.  Ivan was predeceased by his wife, Ursula, in 2017 and his son, Andy, in 2020, sadly, both to cancer.  He leaves behind his son Peter, wife Ann-Marie and 3 children, Kiera, Nicholas and Emma of Longmeadow, MA, Andy’s wife Andrea Brand and 3 children, Alex, Robin and Liam of St. Agnes, England, and two brothers Steven (in Canada) and Ferenc (in Hungary)

Ivan will be laid to rest during a private ceremony at The Knoll Gate, Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord, MA beside his loving wife, Ursula.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the First Parish Transylvania Partnership Community to which Ivan and Ursula devoted so much of their time and energy, mainly supporting student scholarships.  Please visit www.firstparish.org/tp

New England Funeral & Cremation Center, LLC, 25 Mill Street, Springfield, MA has been entrusted with the arrangements. For expressions of sympathy please visit www.nefcc.net

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