Victor Laczo

December 9, 1935 - August 21, 2020

Victor Laczo, 84, of Bethlehem, passed away on Friday, August 21, 2020. Born in Kondorfa, Hungary he was the son of the late Karoly and Gizella (Beck) Laczo. He was the beloved husband of Evelyn Zayaitz-Laczo. In June of 1949 Victor emigrated to the United States and lived with his mother’s parents in Catawissa, PA. His journey to the U.S. started on a train in Budapest and he arrived in the U.S. aboard the USS Washington on July 1, 1949 without knowing a word of English. After the death of his grandparents he lived on a 50-acre farm without any type of utilities and to help support the family he worked on a chicken farm after school and on weekends. On July 11, 1955 Victor joined the Army as a Private. After basic training at Fort Jackson, SC and Fort Belvoir, VA he was transferred to the 38th parallel of Korea. He was stationed in Korea until December of 1956 when his parents after the Hungarian uprising arrived in the United States and the Red Cross of Bethlehem asked the Army to send Victor back to the States. He completed the rest of his Army obligation at Fort Belvoir, VA until his honorable discharge on July 11, 1958 and attained the rank of Corporal. After being discharged Victor moved from Catawissa to Bethlehem, PA. While working three jobs he enrolled himself in the Pennsylvania State University Production Management curriculum. It was an evening program and after 9 years Victor graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Production Management in May of 1965. In November of 1962 he was hired by Mack Truck’s Industrial Engineering Dept. and remained with Mack Truck until he retired as a Production Engineer in December of 1986. While at Mack he was sent to their Pakistan facility in 1964 where he was instrumental in helping setup Mack’s truck assembly plant in Karachi, Pakistan. He stayed there for 6 months then returned to Mack in Allentown. In January of 1970 he started his income tax business as a mobile tax preparer for 8 to 9 years until he could open his own home office. He continued to do taxes and in 1988 became licensed as an enrolled agent with the IRS. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn; sons, Victor II and James; daughter, Suzette; sister, Erika Cirullo; 5 grandchildren and 4 great-granchildren. Viewing hours will be held on Monday, August 24th from 7 to 9 p.m. and again on Tuesday, August 25th from 10 to 11 a.m. (Masks will be required and occupancy inside the funeral home will be limited.) A private service will be held at 11 a.m. followed by a public burial at Fountain Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution in Victor’s name to St. Luke’s Hospice, 240 Union Station Plaza, Bethlehem, PA 18015.