Béla John Kamensky, age 77 years, of East Amwell Township, NJ, died peacefully on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at home, surrounded by his loving family, after a long-fought battle with cancer.

Born on May 24, 1945, in Vámfalu, Hungary, son of Béla Elemér and Maria Briszkán Kamensky, the family fled the brutality of communism after the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and emigrated to the United States, settling in Trenton, NJ. He resided in East Amwell Township for the past forty-eight years in the home he and his wife built.

Béla’s story is one of joy and resilience no matter the difficult circumstances encountered early in his life. Surviving a revolution and starting out in a new country was both a brave and fearful thing for anyone, yet alone a young child. Béla though, sheltered in love and faith by his parents and family, saw the United States as his home and would become the epitome of a patriot.

During the summer before his senior year in high school, Béla volunteered to attend the United States Navy Boot Camp in Great Lakes, IL, and then upon graduation in 1964, Béla served four years in the United States Navy as a Radarman. He served ashore at Listening Station, Pacific Beach, WA, and ARD-29, Floating Dry Dock, Guam. During his final year of service, Béla valiantly served his country onboard the USS Turner Joy on her fifth deployment to Vietnam, where she supported the war effort on the gunlines. Though becoming one hundred percent disabled from Agent Orange poisoning during his military service, Béla never looked back on his time in the service with any regret, only pride.

It was during his service, while home on leave, where Béla’s life would be altered for the better when a chance encounter with one of his sister’s best friends, Ms. Maria Kloc, would result in passionate sparks that would lead to a marriage of over fifty-two years.

The pair would write each other during the war and upon Béla’s return, they would join hands in Holy Matrimony on May 30, 1970, at St. Josaphat’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, Hamilton, NJ. Their union would result in the light of Béla’s life, his daughter, Danielle. He was a proud and dotting father, ensuring that his daughter was grounded in all ways. From her youngest days, Béla laid the foundation for her future legal profession by always requiring her to give three pros and cons to every request. He always encouraged her to follow her dreams wherever they would take her, and one of his proudest moments was this past fall when he was able to assist in her promotion ceremony to the rank of Captain in the United States Navy.

Upon returning from the War, Béla used his G.I. Bill to attend Rutgers University, where he earned a B.A. in Economics, with concentrations in Business Management and Accounting. He also later attended the University of Alabama Management Institute, earning a certificate in Executive Management in Human Services as well as Rider University, earning a certificate from their Public Administration Program.

For many years Béla was employed by the State of New Jersey where he worked for the Department of Human Services in fiscal management. During his tenure with several state departments and offices, he was known to get the job done in a way that streamlined processes and maximized efficiency. He was a Past President of the National Association of State Human Services Finance Officers (HSFO) and was proud to host one of the National Conferences of the HSFO in Cherry Hill, NJ. Béla also received a Special Achievement Award from the Association of Government Accountants for his efforts to make the field of work better for all involved.

After his government service, Béla utilized his years of leadership managing IT Consultants for Cybertech Systems & Software in Bensalem, PA. A true servant of the people, Béla volunteered a considerable amount of time through the years assisting the less fortunate in Trenton.

In retirement, Béla combined his love of driving and children in being a local School Bus Driver. Since he never got to play with tonka trucks as a child, he fulfilled this desire as a County Snowplow Driver.

A passionate Hungarian who loved family, Béla and his wife greatly enjoyed traveling, especially to visit family in Hungary and Estonia, and making pilgrimages to various holy sites. He was devout in his faith and put his trust in God with all that he did. Béla, being a dreamer, always believed that God’s love would be his guide so there was no reason to hold back in following one’s heart. He was a loyal Past Grand Knight and 4^th Degree Knight of Columbus at St. John the Evangelist Church, Lambertville, NJ. He also was an active member in several rosary groups.

A fun-loving spontaneous adventurer, Béla loved to be active and involve family and friends in his escapades, which created much laughter and valuable memories. He was passionate about tent camping with his favorite spot being Bar Harbor, ME, where he would steam lobster over a campfire. In 1984, he convinced his sister and her family to join him and his family in a month-long expedition in a van across the United States. After falling in love with skiing, he motivated the whole extended family to learn, which led to memorable trips to the Poconos, Killington, and Lake Tahoe. Large family gatherings were enjoyed in his backyard, the Poconos, and down at the Jersey shore with many cherished memories made in Wildwood. He was always up for a hand of poker or pinochle. He also loved a spur-of-the-moment trip to Atlantic City for a good dinner and some blackjack.

Always on the go, Bela was an avid walker, averaging five miles a day. When he did slow down, he loved to sit on his porch with his Goldendoodle Benji and his grand-dogs Lincoln, Lucy, and Rosie, and admire his wife’s multitude of flowers. These were the latest pets in a long list of family pets from hamsters to cats and dogs, but not least at all his beloved Cockatiel Francis, who landed on Béla’s shoulder one day while walking the beach at Seaside. Bela loved animals, so much so that family and friends often joked that he was the modern-day St. Francis of Assisi.

Though his passing leaves a void in the hearts of many, Béla’s life of patriotism, loyalty, family, faith, and love will not soon be forgotten and will surely illuminate the paths of generations to come.

Surviving are his wife, Maria; his daughter and son-in-law, CAPT Danielle Marie Higson, USN and Master Gunnery Sgt. William S. Higson, USMC, Ret.; his sister and brother-in-law, Gabriella and Stephen Faluvegi; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Stephanie and Roger Crea and Walter and Marianne Kloc; several nieces, nephews, and extended family; his adored pups Benji, Lucy and Roise; and many dear friends.

Béla will lie in repose on Sunday, June 19, 2022, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.

A Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by Rev. Jack Bogasz will take place on Monday, June 20, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church, 44 Bridge St, Lambertville, NJ 08530. Everyone is kindly asked to meet directly at the church on Monday morning beginning at 10:15 a.m. Please follow the instructions of the Wright & Ford Care Team Family Ambassadors upon arrival.

Interment with military honors in the family plot will follow at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church Cemetery #3, between Ridge and Hunt Avenues off of Cedar Lane, Hamilton, NJ, and to which all are welcome.

Realizing that some may be unable to attend due to the pandemic, the Mass of Christian Burial and the interment with military honors will be live-streamed, with the stream being active starting at 10:15 a.m. on Monday. To watch, please click HERE and kindly ensure you do not have a pop-up blocker on. If you are having issues, copy and paste this link in your browser: https://vimeo.com/event/2214903. Please note that the link is the same for both events and there will be a pause as we proceed to the cemetery.

You are encouraged to visit Béla’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of his life.

Memorial contributions in his honor may be made to the Soi Dog Foundation, via mail to: Soi Dog Foundation USA, 1321 Upland Drive, Suite 3905, Houston, TX, 77043, or online by clicking HERE, or to the USS Turner Joy Museum Ship, via mail to: P.O. Box 336, Bremerton, WA 98337, or online by clicking HERE.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”

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