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The unveiling of the bust

                     SZEGO GABOR
                     MATHEMATIKUS
                      1895-1985

(i.e., G\'abor Szeg\H{o}, mathematician, 1895-1985) commemorating the life of
this great mathematician took place in front of the Town Library in his place
of birth of Kunhegyes, Hungary, at 3 p.m. on August 23, 1995. The bust was
made by the artist Lajos Gy\H{o}rfi from the nearby town of
P\"usp\"oklad\'any. He is well known in Kunhegyes and his artwork can be seen
in various places in the town. Financial support was provided by more than a
hundred friends and admirers of Szego.

Participants at AFS95 (International Conference on Approximation Theory and
Function Series), the ongoing conference in Budapest, were treated to an
almost three hour bus ride, organized [and partially paid (the editor)] by
the J\'anos Bolyai Mathematical Society, complete with a packed
lunch. Rumours that the lunch boxes were filled with bananas proved to be
groundless and all [junk food loving (the editor)] culinary tastes were
accomodated as we travelled through the fields of [partially burned out (the
editor)] maize and sunflower fields that adorn the Hungarian countryside.

Upon arrival at the small town of Kunhegyes, we inspected an exhibit from the
works of Lajos Gy\H{o}rfi inside the Town Library before the ceremony took
place on the lawn outside.

Several curious villagers joined the gathering of mathematicians and town
dignitaries to listen to the proceedings in the blazing afternoon sun. The
ceremony was both solemn and informal with speeches by the Mayor of
Kunhegyes, Veronica Tincher (the daughter of Gabor Szego), Vilmos Totik, Paul
Nevai, and the town historian, Lajos Szab\'o. Steven Tincher, Szego's
grandson, and the sculptor of the bust were also present at the unveiling.
The speeches by the locals were in Hungarian (with partial English
translation provided by the [very pretty but somewhat inexperienced (the
editor)] English teacher of the local high school), whereas Totik and Nevai
gave bilingual presentations. Veronica Tincher spoke in English and delivered
a short, moving tribute to her father. She dwelt not on his impressive
contributions to mathematics but on the ideals that he cherished, saying that
he was a warm and caring man, committed to the values of equality and justice
for all. Altogether there were approximately a hundred people (including
about thirty mathematicians) watching the dedication ceremony.

The bust itself is impressive and appropriate, a solid head-and-shoulders
cast made of bronze, mounted on a rectangular block. There is a shiny brass
plaque on the back of the pedestal engraved in Hungarian and English:

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                              G\'abor Szeg\H{o}
                                Mathematician
               Born on January 20, 1895, in Kunhegyes, Hungary
          Died on August 7, 1985, in Palo Alto, California, U.S.A.

    Placed here by friends and admirers from Kunhegyes and around the world
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Two copies of the sculpture will be displayed at Stanford University and
Washington University (St. Louis) in the United States.

The proceedings were concluded with a reception in the Town Hall at which
presentations were made to Veronica Tincher and to the people whose efforts
had facilitated the creation of this memorial to the life and work of Gabor
Szego, mathematician extraordinaire. [The ever hungry mathematicians emptied
the buffet tables in no time. (by the editor)]

 written by

 Kathy A. Driver
 Mathematics Department
 University of the Witwatersrand
 P. O. Wits 2050
 Johannesburg
 South Africa
 (036kad@cosmos.wits.ac.za)

 and edited by the editor

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  "A blue veil fell to the ground, and one of the greatest analyst of the
20th century Gabor Szeg\H{o} (more precisely, his bronze bust on top of a
rectangular pedestal) appeared in front of a hundred or so people who had
gathered that sunny afternoon on the lawn outside the Town Library in his
place of birth of Kunhegyes, Hungary.

  PUZZLE 1. When was the last time that Kunhegyes had a company of nearly 30
scientists from at least 8 countries (Hungary, USA, Ukraine, Russia, Germany,
South Africa, Israel, and Taiwan)?

  In my opinion Szeg\H{o} looks somewhat resolute, even stern, especially
when compared to his last photography. Veronica Tincher--Szego agreed with
me. She told me that her father was a kind and gentle man and a faint smile
on his face would much more conform to his character.

   Before that dedication we visited the exhibition of the sculptor's works
in the basement of the library and listen to several speeches: a short
introductory word by the Mayor of Kunhegyes and a long, difficult to
understand (even for our pretty interpreter) talk by the local historian; a
few cordial words by Veronica Tincher about her father and a majestic ode by
Paul Nevai, the main organizer of the event, who fluently passed from one
language to another so that I could hardly make out familiar English phrases
among totally incomprehensible and charming music of Hungarian.

  Before that there was an almost three hour trip from Budapest by a
comfortable bus (which as much resembled Latvija minibus as a modern train
resembles the first Stephenson's locomotive). We were heading the south-east
of Hungary towards the small town of Kunhegyes.  I never heard about it up to
February 5, 1995 (see AT-NET Bulletin at http://www.math.ohio-state.edu/JAT,
devoted to Szeg\H{o}'s centennial). The flat green fields were floating past
the window. The landscape seemed so familiar that it made me feel as if I
were in my native Ukraine. Each passenger was given a bag with food
equivalent to "Macdonalds" (joy for the junk food lovers!). Wise and
forethoughtful enough, I constrained myself with the only small roll and a
bottle of water (see below). [Leonid is about 175 cm and weighs about 60 kg
(the editor).]

  PUZZLE 2 (for the former soviet citizens only [and for every other sensible
person as well (the editor)]). How can you make use of empty boxes from
hamburgers? [I can't wait for a good answer (the editor)!]

  After that a reception was held in the Town Hall and we were treated to
some delicious Hungarian meals (where are you, junk food lovers?). The buffet
tables emptied in a jiffy. I picked up a lot of free souvenirs for my
colleagues and friends in Kharkov. An hour later the full and content
mathematicians embarked into the vehicle and in less than 2 and a half hours
the bus with sleepy passengers pulled up at the Police Academy building in a
picturesque district of Buda.

  PUZZLE 3. Who is the next?

  Well, whoever he/she will be, I definitely would like to participate in the
ceremony...

Leonid B. Golinsky
Mathematics Division
Institute for Low Temperature Physics
   \& Engineering
Ukraine Academy of Sciences
47 Lenin Avenue
Kharkov, 310164
The Ukraine
(golinskii@ilt.kharkov.ua)