Person Sheet
NameStephen Vajda Sr. 
Birth MemoWilliam Vajda and Shirly Ann Vajda believes date is July 20, 1898 which is also listed in the Social Security Death Index, but August 17, 1898 is listed on his birth certificate and on his 1942 Application for Social Secuirty Account Number
Military MemoServed in US Army in France during WWI.
Employment1922, Orangeburg, Rockland, New York, USA26
Employ MemoList "blacksmith" on New York Marriage License.
EmploymentFibre Conduit Company, Orangeburg, Rockland, New York, USA21
Employ MemoWorked for Fibre Conduit Company of Orangeburg, later known as Orangeburg Pipe Company.
Employ MemoCarpenter for Railroad reported on 1930 Census.
ResidenceApr 1, 1942, 18 Hickory St., Dumont, Bergen, New Jersey, USA22
Death MemoWilliam Vajda wrote that he died April 6, 1987.
See Notes
See Notes
Burial MemoBuried next to his wife, Anna Justina Yurina.
Buried Section R3, Grave 184B; Div 3EC
Buried Section R3, Grave 184B; Div 3EC
OccupationPipe Factory Laborer, Blacksmith, Carpenter
FlagsMilitary
FatherStephen Vajda (1865-1948)
MotherAnna Somolanyi (1868-1913)
Spouses
Birth MemoWilliam R. Vajda wrote she was born "just north of Prague" on April 4, 1900.
Szottina has been incorporated into modern day Senica, Slovakia.
Szottina has been incorporated into modern day Senica, Slovakia.
Residence1907, 122 Vittencz, Nyitra, Kingdom of Hungary, Austria-Hungary32
Reside MemoLived with her grandfathe Josef before immigrating to the USA. His address was 122 Vittencz.
Immi MemoSailed on the S.S. Rhein from Bremen, Germany. Arrived at Ellis Island, New York, where her name is inscibed on a wall of immigrant names. She traveled without any family members, meeting her parents that had immigrated earlier. She had $5 with her.
Employ MemoListed "servant" as occupation on 1920 US Census. Also worked as a cook and maid. Listed as "maid" to Cornell family on 1915 NY Census. Listed as "housemaid" on 1922 marriage license.
Burial MemoBuried next to her husband, Stephen Joseph Vajda Sr.
Buried Section R3, Grave 184B; Div 3EC
Buried Section R3, Grave 184B; Div 3EC
OccupationMaid
EducationAttended school only through sixth grade.
FatherJosef Jurina (1873-1921)
MotherUstina Kumick (1877-1963)
ChildrenStephen Joseph (1923-2002)
Edward Andrew (1927-1989)
Notes for Stephen Vajda Sr.
Used the surname "White" frequently due to anti-immigrant pressure.21,34
Played semi-professional baseball, probably for the Fibre Conduit Company of Orangeburg. Once pitched against Hall-of-Fame pitcher Leon Cadore at "Bell Anns" (an aspirin factory that had sports complex with Stephen's team's home field). Cadore is famous for pitching 26 consecutive innings in an extra-inning game in the majors–then a record. He went on to start and get a relief appearance in the 1920 World Series for the Brooklyn Robins, who later became the Brooklyn Dodgers. Cadore started game four against Hall-of-Famer Stan Coveleski. The Robins lost to the Cleveland Indians in seven games.8,19,21,35,34
“During the winter of 1987, Grandpa was 89, and spent most of his time alone at his house in New Milford, NJ. My Dad was 64, and still taking small jobs with Uncle Bill. Dad tried to go over to Grandpa's every day during lunch, to visit and check on him. He started to notice an odor, and he knew it was familiar, but he just couldn't identify it. It was a sickish, sweet smell, and it got stronger over the weeks. Grandpa was always wrapped in a blanket, too. One day Dad and Uncle Bill just took the blanket off Grandpa, and found that his feet were rotting with gangrene! ...Dad and Uncle Bill were just horrified, and Dad couldn't believe he didn't remember where he knew that smell from- the rotting corpses in the war! They put Grandpa in a kitchen chair and carried him out to the van and went to Hackensack Hospital. Dad said the young "kid" doctor was in their faces, asking them how they could not know what shape their own father was in. Dad and Uncle Bill felt so ashamed. When Dad told Ray and I about it, he said; "what was I supposed to do, undress my own father?--he's a grown man!" Grandpa died within the week, I thought from a heart attack, but maybe just a massive infection. I don't know if he had diabetes, either. I guess Grandpa had just given up. Well, that's the story. I hope it doesn't depress you. I can still hear my Dad's voice, all excited and emotional, telling it to Ray and I. Your parents came for Grandpa's funeral, and Kim and I and Bruce were there, too.” - Susan Vajda36
“...Grandpa still enjoyed a lot of things until that winter. Dad and Bonnie took him to the Lake all summer, where he used to work in that big vegetable garden all day, in a long-sleeved white shirt and straw hat. Before Dad retired, they had started taking him up there every weekend. Also, Uncle Bill and cousin Billy lived close by. He was pretty much of a loner, at least in old age.” - Susan Vajda37
Played semi-professional baseball, probably for the Fibre Conduit Company of Orangeburg. Once pitched against Hall-of-Fame pitcher Leon Cadore at "Bell Anns" (an aspirin factory that had sports complex with Stephen's team's home field). Cadore is famous for pitching 26 consecutive innings in an extra-inning game in the majors–then a record. He went on to start and get a relief appearance in the 1920 World Series for the Brooklyn Robins, who later became the Brooklyn Dodgers. Cadore started game four against Hall-of-Famer Stan Coveleski. The Robins lost to the Cleveland Indians in seven games.8,19,21,35,34
“During the winter of 1987, Grandpa was 89, and spent most of his time alone at his house in New Milford, NJ. My Dad was 64, and still taking small jobs with Uncle Bill. Dad tried to go over to Grandpa's every day during lunch, to visit and check on him. He started to notice an odor, and he knew it was familiar, but he just couldn't identify it. It was a sickish, sweet smell, and it got stronger over the weeks. Grandpa was always wrapped in a blanket, too. One day Dad and Uncle Bill just took the blanket off Grandpa, and found that his feet were rotting with gangrene! ...Dad and Uncle Bill were just horrified, and Dad couldn't believe he didn't remember where he knew that smell from- the rotting corpses in the war! They put Grandpa in a kitchen chair and carried him out to the van and went to Hackensack Hospital. Dad said the young "kid" doctor was in their faces, asking them how they could not know what shape their own father was in. Dad and Uncle Bill felt so ashamed. When Dad told Ray and I about it, he said; "what was I supposed to do, undress my own father?--he's a grown man!" Grandpa died within the week, I thought from a heart attack, but maybe just a massive infection. I don't know if he had diabetes, either. I guess Grandpa had just given up. Well, that's the story. I hope it doesn't depress you. I can still hear my Dad's voice, all excited and emotional, telling it to Ray and I. Your parents came for Grandpa's funeral, and Kim and I and Bruce were there, too.” - Susan Vajda36
“...Grandpa still enjoyed a lot of things until that winter. Dad and Bonnie took him to the Lake all summer, where he used to work in that big vegetable garden all day, in a long-sleeved white shirt and straw hat. Before Dad retired, they had started taking him up there every weekend. Also, Uncle Bill and cousin Billy lived close by. He was pretty much of a loner, at least in old age.” - Susan Vajda37
Notes for Anna Justina (Spouse 1)