Zsuzanna "Zsuszi" Ozsvath

Beloved mother, grandmother, wife, unofficial therapist to friends, devoted teacher, musician, literary scholar, poet, life sensei, and trusted friend to many, Zsuzsanna (Zsuzsi) Ozsvath, passed away on the morning of Feb 6, 2026. Zsuzsi was born on July 2. She died peacefully in Albany on February 6, 2026.

Zsuzsi lived a titanic life. She was born into a well-to-do Hungarian Jewish family. Her father was a pharamacist, and her parents were devoted amateur musicians. As a child, she was a musical prodigy, devoting many hours a day to the piano, while avidly reading poetry and literature.

Her idyllic childhood was interrupted by war. During World War II, Hungary’s fascist dictator first sided with Germany. But when his commitment to the Axis cause faltered, the Germans reasserted their power and began their massive campaign to eradicate Hungarian Jewry. Her seven aunts and uncles were all killed in concentration camps. Zsuzsi, her parents, and her brother Ivan narrowly escaped the same fate, heroically saved by her babysitter, Erzsebet Faj´o (Erzsi). This story is told in detail in her memoir When the Danube Ran Red.

Freed from the oppression of the Nazis, Hungary fell into the grips of the Communist Russians. In the shadow of this oppressive regime, she worked hard to establish herself as a professional pianist.

In 1949. At 18 years of age, Zsuzsi met the love of her life, Istvan (Pista) Ozsvath. They were married a year later and lived in a lifetime of unending love and deep mutual respect.

In 1956, the Hungarians rebelled against Communist oppression, giving the young couple the opportunity to escape to Germany, where Zsuzsi continued her musical journey. In 1962, they came to America. At the age of 31, Zsuzsi decided to start anew. She learned English, and enrolled in graduate school at UT Austin, where she earned her PhD in German Literature. Moving to Dallas, she devoted herself first to raising two kids while teaching German, later taking a faculty position alongside Pista at the University of Texas at Dallas.

In addition to teaching European literature and history, she immersed herself in teaching the Holocaust, turning the trauma which had marked her childhood into an intellectual passion, uncovering its fascinating history, and educating generations of students. The Ackermann Center for Holocaust Studies was born. It was also during this period that she started a lifelong collaboration with the poet Fred Turner. Fred and Zsuzsi would meet weekly, to translate great Hungarian poetry into English, with a strict adherence to the musical cadence of the original. They won the highest Hungarian literary award for translation of the works of Miklos Radnoti into English in 1995. After translating several volumes of Hungarian poetry, they turned to German poetry, translating, among other works, Goethe’s Faust. Their collaboration was undeterred when she moved decades later to the East Coast. They met weekly on Zoom. Their last meeting was three days before Fred’s death in 2025.

In 2013, she was struck by tragedy when her husband of 63 years died. In the Summer 2019, Zsuzsi moved Princeton, NJ to live with her  son, Peter, her daughter-in-law, Shevi , and their four children, Eli, Nico, Rex and Leora. In 2022, she moved to Albany, New York to live with her daughter Kathleen. She was once again surrounded by love and community. A special group of caregivers cared for her as if she was part of their own family. Jenney Commerford, Angelica Lanzot, Cindy Mohammed, Avian Hernandez, Kerstin King, Michelle Martin, Kara Kozekiwicz, and April Allen. Special thanks also to Rosie the support dog who visited weekly.

Zsuzsi is survived by Kathleen Ozsvath (daughter), Elizabeth Bernardini (granddaughter), Peter Ozsvath (son), Elisheva Sperber (daughter in law), Eli, Nico, Rex, and Leora Ozsvath (grandchildren), Krisztina Abonyi (niece), and Maria Abonyi (sister-in-law).

In lieu of flowers or gifts, please consider making a donation in her name to:

Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies:
https://giving.utdallas.edu/Ozsvath

American Venus Forum
https://www.venousforum.org/about-us/donate/