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Peter Gorog (born Péter Grünwald) was born on March 10, 1941, in Budapest, Hungary. His father, Árpád Grünwald, worked as an office manager at the Franklin Publishing House but had aspired to be a lawyer. Unfortunately, due to the discriminatory Numerus Clausus Act, which limited the number of Jewish students allowed to study certain subjects, his father was unable to pursue a law degree.
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Péter’s mother, Olga Schönfeld, was a hat-maker.
In August 1940, Péter’s father was conscripted into a forced labor battalion, leaving behind his pregnant wife. Although he was present for Péter’s birth in 1941, he could only see his son on brief visits home. His final visit was in March 1942, before the Hungarian government sent him to Ukraine with his labor battalion.
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The conditions were harsh, with little food or clothing provided during the winter. By January 1943, Péter’s father was reported missing by the Red Cross, and it is believed that he froze to death.
Péter’s mother supported the family by making hats in her apartment until March 1944, when the Germans invaded Hungary, and she was forced out. They were ordered to move into a house marked with a yellow Star of David.
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Carrying just one suitcase filled with clothing and valuables, Péter and his mother sought refuge with a distant family member who had converted to Christianity. During this time, Péter’s mother was arrested and taken to Mosonyi Street Jail for refusing to report to the Obuda brickyard, but was released after three weeks and moved into an internationally protected apartment provided by the Swiss embassy.
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In October 1944, the Hungarian Nazi party, the Arrow Cross, took control of the government. By late 1944, Péter and his mother were forced to relocate to the Budapest Ghetto, where they lived near his grandparents, two aunts, and a cousin. They spent most of their time in the basement due to frequent air raids. In January 1945, they were liberated by the Soviet Army and returned to their apartment.
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However, after liberation, Péter's grandparents died from illnesses exacerbated by malnutrition and a lack of medical care.
In 1947, Péter started attending a Jewish day school, but it was closed in 1949, and he then continued his education in public school. Growing up in Communist Hungary, he changed the family name to Gorog in 1962.
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Péter went on to earn a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering from Budapest Technological University, where he contributed to the design of the first Hungarian-made computer.
In 1980, Péter immigrated to the United States and worked on NASA projects, as well as for high-tech companies as a software and systems engineer. His mother passed away in 1997.
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Péter is married and has five daughters and six granddaughters. He also volunteers at the Holocaust Memorial Museum.
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Peter Gorog interview at Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy - 2023-2024
Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy
