Forstners celebrate 65th anniversary

PALMER – Edward and Edith Forstner of Palmer celebrated 65 years of marriage on Sunday, September 27 with a quiet dinner at their home surrounded by family and close friends.

Edward Forstner and Edith Csajtay were married in Gyor, Hungary in 1950. Edward and Edith met while competing in national sports. Edward was a champion high jumper from Mosonszolnok and Edith an All-Around champion gymnast from Papa, winning her first national Regional title at the age of 14. It was love at first sight and the two athletes married six months later.

The couple was first married in a civil service according to Communist law. Later, in borrowed suit and wedding dress, Edward and Edith were married in the Carmelites Catholic Church with the Reverend Father Buzas, Yugoslavia’s dictator Tito’s nephew, officiating. A simple home-cooked reception followed at the couple’s home in Gyor.

Edward worked as a purchasing agent for a large railroad wagon factory in Gyor. Edith continued to coach and compete in gymnastics while raising their three small children. In 1956 with the outbreak of the Hungarian Revolution, the Forstners fled Hungary with their children, daughter Marianne, and twins Ed and Edie, and Edith’s ailing father to eventually settle in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where two more children, Peter and Thomas, were born.

The early days in Pennsylvania were spent living at the Little Flower Catholic Institute in Darby, Pennsylvania. One of the residing nuns at Little Flower was originally from Edward’s childhood village in Hungary, so the young family stayed with the Sisters for six months until a more permanent house could be found. It was there in Clifton Heights and Broomall, Pennsylvania they raised their five children while Edward worked as a machinist in nearby Folcroft for over 20 years.

In 1983, Edward and Edith moved to Palmer, Alaska where sons Ed, Peter, and Tom built them a log home off Edgerton Parks Road in Hatcher Pass. From 1986-1993 Edward volunteered at Pioneer Peak Elementary as a foster grandparent. He was dearly loved by the children and staff there. Edward enjoyed amateur photography and was an avid philatelist throughout his years in Pennsylvania and Alaska. Edith still treats everyone she knows with her tremendous baking and Hungarian dishes as well as her beautiful flowers and garden.

For 30 years Edward and Edith cared for their disabled son Tom with great love until Tom’s passing in 2009.

Edward and Edith enjoy 12 grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren.