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Kellner’s community dedication recognized
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| Paul Kellner, 98, is being honored by the Columbia County Association with its Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award. (Jamie Larson/ Hudson-Catskill Newspapers) |
Native Hungarian honored as Distinguished Citizen of the Year by Columbia County Association
By Jamie Larson
COLUMBIA COUNTY — Paul Kellner, this year’s recipient of the Columbia County Association’s Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award, says his 98 years on Earth fit the old Chinese saying, which he paraphrased, “Born in an interesting time, lead an interesting life.”
Kellner was born at the dawn of World War I in Hungary. His father left for war when Kellner was just three years old and was one of the first casualties of the conflict.
In 1942, in an unwelcome moment of universal deja vu, Kellner’s wife, Clara, told him she was pregnant — only days before he left to face the Russians as a disapproving axis soldier in World War II. Kellner can still recall the feeling he had at that devastating moment of uncertain future.
Kellner’s son George now calls his father every day, no matter where in the world the successful lawyer and businessman may be. “I have the best son in the world,” Kellner says proudly. “I am so lucky to have the family I have.”
Like the country of Hungary itself, Kellner felt trapped between the evils of the Nazis and the flawed system of the Communists. The Nazis ordered Kellner’s unit, the Second Hungarian Army, to Voronezh, Russia, where it was defeated. Kellner and about 50 Hungarian troops were released by the Russians and walked home through burned-out villages and the aftermath of war.
The walk back was perilous. Kellner barely escaped a firing squad after being recaptured near the Ukrainian border, with the help of a sympathetic Hungarian fighting on the other side.
He eventually made it back to Budapest where he reunited with his young family, his son now born. He dodged reconscription, but was soon captured by the Nazis. On his way to be executed at the shore of the Danube River he escaped again, waiting out the rest of the war underground.
After the war Kellner found his country — which he deeply loves — under Communist control. So in February 1947 he immigrated to New York City.
Like many new immigrants, starting over was hard. Kellner remembers days when there was only one hot dog for the family to share. Starving, Kellner and his wife would lie to each other, one saying they weren’t hungry so the other could eat.
In only a few years, Kellner went from destitute to the proprietor of a startup tie company. Through skill, intelligence and, as Kellner will be the first to say, some luck, his business, Better Cravats, became a major company.
By the time Kellner sold his company in the 1960s it was making $5 million a year.
Kellner came to America in search of democracy and a safe and prosperous future for his family. He found it all, and now gives back to both the countries he has called home.
The Kellner family’s philanthropy is broad and deep. They provide complete scholarships for Hungarian youths from Kellner’s alma mater in Budapest’s American studies program to come to study in the U.S., but the Kellner family also has a scholarship for nursing students at Columbia-Greene Community Collage, provided they move on to Columbia Memorial Hospital in Hudson when they graduate.
In the 1990s the hospital honored Paul and Clara Kellner for their many years of plentiful donations and support by naming its newly constructed wing in their honor. The Kellners’ involvement with the hospital, CCA President David Crawford said, was one of the main reasons Kellner is being honored with the award in May.
Kellner was actually offered the award a few years ago but modestly declined. While he has finally agreed to receive it this year, he says in no uncertain terms that the award belongs as much, if not more, to his wife as it does to him. While Paul Kellner has split his time between New York City and his Germantown farm, the couple has given generously around the area to causes related to the arts, children, medicine, parks, and the list goes on.
At one time Clara Kellner was Columbia County parks commissioner.
“She did a lot more personally then I did,” Kellner says of his wife. “I think we should share the award. She accomplished many things and I was in the background.”
The whole Kellner family has given a tremendous amount of charity to Columbia County, and though many residents may not recognize their name, the county wouldn’t be the same without their history, their presence, and especially their generosity.
“We are married to this community,” Kellner said with a smile. “I love it here.”
By Jamie Larson
COLUMBIA COUNTY — Paul Kellner, this year’s recipient of the Columbia County Association’s Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award, says his 98 years on Earth fit the old Chinese saying, which he paraphrased, “Born in an interesting time, lead an interesting life.”
Kellner was born at the dawn of World War I in Hungary. His father left for war when Kellner was just three years old and was one of the first casualties of the conflict.
In 1942, in an unwelcome moment of universal deja vu, Kellner’s wife, Clara, told him she was pregnant — only days before he left to face the Russians as a disapproving axis soldier in World War II. Kellner can still recall the feeling he had at that devastating moment of uncertain future.
Kellner’s son George now calls his father every day, no matter where in the world the successful lawyer and businessman may be. “I have the best son in the world,” Kellner says proudly. “I am so lucky to have the family I have.”
Like the country of Hungary itself, Kellner felt trapped between the evils of the Nazis and the flawed system of the Communists. The Nazis ordered Kellner’s unit, the Second Hungarian Army, to Voronezh, Russia, where it was defeated. Kellner and about 50 Hungarian troops were released by the Russians and walked home through burned-out villages and the aftermath of war.
The walk back was perilous. Kellner barely escaped a firing squad after being recaptured near the Ukrainian border, with the help of a sympathetic Hungarian fighting on the other side.
He eventually made it back to Budapest where he reunited with his young family, his son now born. He dodged reconscription, but was soon captured by the Nazis. On his way to be executed at the shore of the Danube River he escaped again, waiting out the rest of the war underground.
After the war Kellner found his country — which he deeply loves — under Communist control. So in February 1947 he immigrated to New York City.
Like many new immigrants, starting over was hard. Kellner remembers days when there was only one hot dog for the family to share. Starving, Kellner and his wife would lie to each other, one saying they weren’t hungry so the other could eat.
In only a few years, Kellner went from destitute to the proprietor of a startup tie company. Through skill, intelligence and, as Kellner will be the first to say, some luck, his business, Better Cravats, became a major company.
By the time Kellner sold his company in the 1960s it was making $5 million a year.
Kellner came to America in search of democracy and a safe and prosperous future for his family. He found it all, and now gives back to both the countries he has called home.
The Kellner family’s philanthropy is broad and deep. They provide complete scholarships for Hungarian youths from Kellner’s alma mater in Budapest’s American studies program to come to study in the U.S., but the Kellner family also has a scholarship for nursing students at Columbia-Greene Community Collage, provided they move on to Columbia Memorial Hospital in Hudson when they graduate.
In the 1990s the hospital honored Paul and Clara Kellner for their many years of plentiful donations and support by naming its newly constructed wing in their honor. The Kellners’ involvement with the hospital, CCA President David Crawford said, was one of the main reasons Kellner is being honored with the award in May.
Kellner was actually offered the award a few years ago but modestly declined. While he has finally agreed to receive it this year, he says in no uncertain terms that the award belongs as much, if not more, to his wife as it does to him. While Paul Kellner has split his time between New York City and his Germantown farm, the couple has given generously around the area to causes related to the arts, children, medicine, parks, and the list goes on.
At one time Clara Kellner was Columbia County parks commissioner.
“She did a lot more personally then I did,” Kellner says of his wife. “I think we should share the award. She accomplished many things and I was in the background.”
The whole Kellner family has given a tremendous amount of charity to Columbia County, and though many residents may not recognize their name, the county wouldn’t be the same without their history, their presence, and especially their generosity.
“We are married to this community,” Kellner said with a smile. “I love it here.”
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