Béla Kissh, a respected history teacher and coach at Edmondson High School in Baltimore, has died at the age of 90. He passed away on December 29, 2023, due to bladder hematuria at the Gilchrist Center in Towson. His dedication to education and sports left a significant impact on the community.
Born in Budapest, Hungary, Mr. Kissh was the son of Jenö Kiss, a newspaper delivery worker, and Jolán Fehér Kiss, a bookkeeper. He experienced the devastation of war early in life, narrowly escaping injury when his family home was bombed during World War II. In search of a better future, he left Hungary amid the Soviet invasion that sought to suppress a revolution.
After spending time in an Austrian refugee camp, Mr. Kissh arrived in the United States via Camp Kilmer in New Jersey. His granddaughter, Samantha Hawkins, shared how he arrived with a Hungarian-English dictionary and traveled to Miami for a language program. “He was a quick learner,” she noted, highlighting his previous studies in Latin, Russian, and German.
In the U.S., Mr. Kissh met his future wife, Mary Agnes Lynch, at a summer camp in Connecticut. He considered his American experience a realization of the American Dream, believing that “everything he touched turned to gold,” according to Hawkins. He settled in Baltimore, where he earned a bachelor’s degree from Towson University in 1965 and was recognized as the athlete of the year for his prowess in soccer.
Mr. Kissh dedicated 32 years to teaching history at Edmondson High School and coaching tennis and soccer. He notably championed gender equality in sports by allowing female athlete Marcia Dickerson to compete against male players in high school tennis matches in 1972, challenging existing Maryland Scholastic Association rules.
In addition to his teaching career, he earned multiple advanced degrees, including master’s degrees from the University of Maryland, College Park, and St. John’s College in Santa Fe, New Mexico, along with a doctorate in modern European history from the University of Maryland. His daughter, Katherine Kissh Hawkins, remarked on his exceptional memory and passion for sharing knowledge about history, sports, and current events.
As a member of the Towson Racquet Club, Mr. Kissh remained engaged with sports throughout his life. Although peripheral neuropathy ultimately limited his ability to play tennis, he continued to exercise by walking in his neighborhood, where he was known for his friendly demeanor and connections with residents.
Mr. Kissh maintained relationships with fellow Hungarians who immigrated to the United States in the 1950s and was an avid reader, often clipping articles from the newspaper to share with family.
A service of remembrance will take place at 10:30 AM on January 21 at the Church of the Nativity, located at 20 E. Ridgely Road in Timonium.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Agnes Lynch Kissh, a mathematics teacher at Towsontown Junior High School, along with two sons, Steven Michael Kissh of Hayward, California, and Richard Béla Kissh of North Potomac. His daughters, Katherine Kissh Hawkins of Ellicott City and Jill Kissh Bochkarev of Silver Spring, along with five grandchildren and a great-grandson, also mourn his passing.
