Obituary of Joseph Pal

On August 21, 2024, Joseph (Joe) Pal of New York, New York died peacefully in Stamford, Connecticut. He was 90 years old.  In many ways, Joe lived the American Dream.

Joe is survived by his children, Andrew Pal and Laura Sanchez, his daughter-in-law Charlene Pal, his grandchildren, Courtney Pal, Cameron Pal and Hayley Mead, all of whom he was extremely proud.  He was preceded in death by his loving wife Josephine (Jo Jo) Pal, his parents Erzsebet and Jozsef Pal, and his siblings Serenca, Imre, Tibor and Elemer.

Joe was born in Kotaj, Hungary, a small farming community in northeastern Hungary, on March 6, 1934.  While he admittedly was not always the most diligent student, Joe instead focused his early years on his passion for soccer.  As an attacking left footed midfielder, he rose through Hungarian youth leagues ultimately becoming a professional soccer player.  When Russia invaded Hungary in 1956, he joined the Hungarian freedom fighters to try to repel the invaders.  As a result, after Russian tanks brutally quelled the rebellion, Joe was forced to flee his native land.  After trekking across Europe, Joe secured passage to the United States on the U.S.N.S. General Leroy Eltinge.  He arrived in New York harbor without any money and not speaking any English.

Joe spent his early time in the New York area working a low-paying meat packing job and learning English but realized quite soon that in order to improve his life here, he needed to be educated.  Joe matriculated to Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota, where he was placekicker for the football team and Homecoming King and where he ultimately earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.  In order to help pay his tuition, Joe became a part time door to door encyclopedia salesman with P.F. Colliers, Inc.  This was the beginning of a very successful career in sales. 

After college, Joe joined Colliers full time.  Using his compelling refugee story and his trademark charming Hungarian accent, Joe went door to door to sell encyclopedias throughout the Midwest.  As a top salesman at Colliers over the years, Joe climbed the corporate ladder – ultimately becoming President of both Colliers Encyclopedia and Merits Students Encyclopedia, divisions of Macmillan Publishing Company.  In this role, he traveled across the globe managing teams of a large sales force.

In the late 1970’s, Joe joined American Invsco, the premier converter of condominiums in the U.S., to head up its foray into the New York City real estate market.  During the next 30 years of his career, Joe was involved in the conversion and sale of numerous apartment buildings on New York’s upper east side, including 900 Park Avenue, 400 East 56^th Street, Continental Towers Condominium and the Leighton House Condominium. 

Joe and Josephine raised their family in Greenwich, Connecticut.  Joe commuted into New York City to work every day until they moved into the city they loved later in life.  Joe lost his wife to Alzheimer’s in 2005 and continued to live independently in the city until the year before his death.

Our family wishes to express our sincere gratitude to his care team at Benchmark Senior Living at Stamford, Connecticut who made his last year enjoyable and comfortable.

At Joe’s request, there will be a private memorial service for immediate family members.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Joe’s memory to the Bennett Cancer Center c/o Stamford Hospital Foundation, 3001 Summer Street, 2^nd Floor., Stamford, CT 06905 (StamfordHospitalFoundation.org).