Published in the September 7, 2018 edition
MELROSE — Maria Magdalena (Gal) von Jako, 87, longtime resident of Melrose, passed away peacefully with her loving children at her side, in her favorite place, her home of 51 years, on Wednesday, August 29, 2018. She was a high-fashion model, an international airline stewardess, and most importantly, a devoted wife, adoring mother, and cherished grandmother.
She was born in Keszthely, Hungary on March 16, 1931, the daughter of Captain and Mrs. András Gal. Her parents owned and ran a successful clothing business with a number of large textile factories in Hungary. The late 1930s and early 1940s were challenging times as she grew up in one of the epicenters of World War II. After the war, Hungary became part of the Communist Bloc, and, as a result, Maria’s parents’ businesses, wealth, and homes were seized by the Soviet Union.
In the 1950s, with her beauty and determination, Maria had a successful modeling career at the internationally-known Klára Rotschild agency and worked as an airline stewardess for MALÉV Hungarian Airlines. Working for MALÉV gave her the opportunity to travel outside of the former Eastern Bloc. She developed a great love of western culture that included movies and jazz music.
Maria met a young physician, Dr. Geza J. Jako in the mid-1950s. Geza needed to escape Hungary in 1956 due to his involvement in the uprising against the Soviet Union and was granted asylum in United Sates. They kept in close communication with each other and were finally able to marry in January 1965 in Hamburg, Germany, after Maria was also able to escape from Hungary. After several months of living in Montreal, Canada with her cousin, she was re-united with Geza in Boston after she was able to immigrate into the United States. They eventually settled in Melrose in 1967.
Maria worked very closely with Geza while raising their children: Ronald, Cynthia, and Christopher. She was the flux capacitor to his DeLorean as they hosted many social events and international visitors to their house. They also enjoyed spending time with friends and their children at Bellevue Golf Club where they were members for over 25 years. Maria and Geza frequently traveled the world together, and during her time in Hungary she acted as a liaison between the U.S. and Hungarian governments to improve cultural and scientific synergies. One of her proudest accomplishments was when she and Geza helped establish an English-speaking curriculum for medical schools in Hungary in the 1980s, which opened enrollment for students worldwide.
Maria was always very stylish and elegant and frequently greeted people with her Hungarian accented “Darling.” However, learning English was not always so easy, and she learned some of her colorful English from the Eddie Murphy movie “Delirious” when it first aired on cable TV in the early 80’s. Coincidentally, many years later, she would meet Eddie in Hungary while he was filming a movie there. Maria was a gregarious networker, had an incredible knack for befriending people, and a unique ability to convince others of the benefits and logic of her ideas. Her culinary gifts were a great source of pride. Feeding her family and friends brought her such joy. Her ultimate weapon was her phenomenal Hungarian-cuisine dishes that always had perfectly proportioned dollops of sour cream.
Following a heart attack in October 2001 and many months of recovery, she renewed her passion for life and loved to be active. Maria’s bright green thumb allowed her to tend to both her indoor and outdoor gardens. Her slapstick humor and quick wit was unmatched, and if you understood Hungarian, she was even more hilarious. Out of every activity she enjoyed in life, being the adored “Nagymama” (Mamama) to her three grandsons was no doubt her favorite.
Over the last several weeks, Maria expressed that her work on earth was now complete. The night before her passing, she got “a call” from her beloved Geza for a new endeavor that she would not return from. So, Maria pushed the elevator button to the “second floor.” The “second floor” is where she will reunite with family and friends, socialize with a few cocktails, tell jokes and laugh, dance, garden, cook, and listen to jazz music to her hearts’ content.
Maria was the beloved wife of 50 years to the late Dr. Geza J. Jako and leaves behind her three children. Her son Dr. Ronald von Jako, his wife Ava, and their son Christian of Saugus; Her daughter Cynthia von Jako and her husband Carl Taylor of North Reading; and her son Dr. Christopher von Jako, his wife Sheri, and their two children, Nolan and Drew, of Lynnfield. She also leaves behind her cousin, Anne Gal-Carfagnini, from Montreal, Canada, several other of her close friends, and her garden bunnies. Predeceased by her older brother, István Gál, her daughter, Beatrix, and her dachshund, Zsa-Zsa.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Mary’s Church, 9 Herbert Street, Melrose on Wednesday, September 5. Burial at Wyoming Cemetery in Melrose. There were no visiting hours. Relatives and friends were respectfully invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Maria’s name to the American Heart Association 300 5th Ave., Waltham, MA 02451 or at www.heart.org. To send a message of condolence please visit www.gatelyfh.com
