Ferenc Bakó, the oldest living man in Hungary, passed away in Fertőszentmiklós on 17 February, at the age of 107 years, 100 days, according to ATV.
Ferenc Bakó was born in Kecskemét on 9 November 1917. He spent his early childhood in orphanages after his father, who was injured in World War I, tragically passed away. He also lost his mother, who succumbed to the Spanish flu. He and his five siblings were orphaned and, sadly, separated. After leaving the orphanage, he went to live with his mother’s brother. As a child, he worked as a shepherd, tending to geese, pigs, sheep, foals, and goats, which provided him with a wealth of experience.
His love for music led him to learn the violin, mandolin, and hunting horn. At the age of 19, he moved to Sopron, where he served as a military musician from 1936 to 1940. During the war, he did not work as a musician but served as a financier, first in Szombathely and later in Pápa with a parachute battalion. He was then sent to the front, where he was seriously wounded. After recovering, he returned to Sopron. Once he had recovered, he was finally able to return to music.
At some point, he got married and had five children. As of 2024, he had ten grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren. At the age of 107, he was one of the world’s oldest active social media users. He commented that the internet had a profound impact on his daily life and social interactions. Thanks to the internet and Facebook, he was able to stay in constant contact with family, friends, and acquaintances.
The featured image was sourced from: Esterházy-kastély Fertőd – Hivatalos
We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Ferenc Bakó during this difficult time.
