Frank Torok

Frank Torok, age 89, of Conneaut Lake passed away July 18, 2019 at Rolling Fields Eldercare Community.  He was born in Kosice, Czechoslovakia to the late Albeta Torok on March 18, 1930.  He married Jean Michler in July of 1960.  She preceded him in death on December 19, 2017.

Frank grew up in Czechoslovakia during the Nazi invasion in the late 1930s and early 1940s.  As a young child, he spent several months in an underground bomb shelter and was forced to work under Nazi rule as a young boy.  After the official end of WW2, at the age of 16, he left his hometown and was placed in a refugee camp where he worked as a locksmith.  He escaped the camp and fled to West Germany where he was placed into another displaced persons refugee camp where he befriended a man who operated a boxing club. Frank trained and became a semi-pro boxer in Germany and Austria.  In December 1950, at the age of 19 years old, he traveled to America on an overcrowded boat and came to Ellis Island, New York.  He spoke 5 different languages at the time: Czech, Slovak, German, Hungarian and Polish, but not a word of English.  He later taught himself to read and write in English using a dictionary and a notepad.  He worked on a farm as a farm hand for two years before moving to Meadville to begin working at Talon Zipper.  He continued working there until his retirement in 1995.

Frank taught himself how to build furniture as a hobby.  He became a very skilled woodworker.  He spent countless hours in his woodworking shop in his garage.  He enjoyed playing Bingo and played religiously every evening for years.  He enjoyed watching Pittsburgh sports and working in his yard.  He owned several Australian Blue Heeler Cattle dogs and enjoyed spending time with them and spoiling them.  In his later years, he was blessed to spend a lot of time with his family.

He is survived by his son, Dan Torok and his wife, Amy of Meadville and his daughter, Cindy Simonette and her husband, Sam of Conneaut Lake; five grandchildren, Kristin Torok Hunter of Meadville, Doug Torok and his wife, Jenni of Conneaut Lake, Meghan McCurdy and her husband, Colton of Meadville, Keri Simonette of Philadelphia and Lynsey Beech and her husband, Evan of Kent, OH; and three great-grandchildren, Brayleigh and Bentley Hunter and Reed Torok.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Jean and a son, Milan.

Family and friends are invited to call Sunday, July 21 from 1-2 p.m. at Hatheway-Tedesco Funeral Home, 614 Baldwin St., Meadville, PA.  Funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Russ Hixson officiating.  A private burial will take place at Evergreen Cemetery.

Please sign Frank’s guestbook at www.hatheway-tedesco.com

Arrangements have been entrusted to HATHEWAY-TEDESCO FUNERAL HOME, 614 BALDWIN ST., MEADVILLE, PA.