The Story of Steve– An Immigrants Tale

By Dan Remenyi

This is a biography and a ghost story set in various parts of the world including the slums of post war Dublin and the plush life of UDI Rhodesia.

 From his arrival in Ireland from Hungary as a Radio Officer on board the ship Vicia in 1941, Steve Remenyi was faced with what might have been for others, insurmountable problems. His ship was trapped in Dublin. He did speak English and he didn’t know anyone in Ireland. But Steve was an optimist and made the most of the opportunities facing him. So he started a business.

 Then marrying, seeing his business go broke and having a child in war time Dublin were just a few of the adventures he faced. After the war ended he returned to the sea with Irish Shipping and became involved in the Irish Hospitals Sweepstakes operation. This changed his life considerably. But for various reasons this comfortable life in MountMerion in Dublin’s comfortable South Side did not last long.

 He moved with his family to South Africa and then Rhodesia. This was during the heydays of apartheid in South Africa and the rule of the Settler Government in Rhodesia. Nonetheless his struggle to find a suitable job lasted most of his life. He died early when 65 years old.

 But his death was not the end of the story. Steve’s memory did not rest in peace. It transpired that he was a highly secretive man and from beyond the grave he touched his three children which led to a number of adventures in Hungary and which eventually took me to Auschwitz itself.