Obituary of Frank A. Hasek

Frank A. Hasek 91, loving father, grandfather and devoted husband of the late Margot Hasek. He was born in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia and earned his Law degree at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest. He started playing professional soccer for SK Bratislava at the age of 17. After 6 years he transferred to Hungary VAC where he played for 4 years. During these years he was also part of the Hungarian Underground (Partizanok) and helped hundreds of Jews escape the holocaust. He loved soccer and decided to become a soccer referee. He took the course (six months) in 1954 and became a national referee in 1955. He was a major participant in the Hungarian Revolution which took place in 1956 and was on a list of 21 men they were looking for after the Russians took control; he had no future in Hungary so he immigrated to the US in 1957 to start a new life. Soccer, being his passion, Frank became the President of The Northern Massachusetts and New Hampshire Referee Association in 1958. He was instrumental in starting and growing soccer in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts. He reached the pinnacle of refereeing when he became a FIFA referee in 1962. He refereed over 50 international games over the next few years. In 1962 he officiated the US Open Cup. Then FIFA president Sir Stanley Rous was quoted as saying “That Hungarian did not miss a thing” and he was very proud of that. In the Sixties he started working in Real estate and had a real estate business in Cambridge for over 10 years. He continued in Real Estate and soccer for the rest of his life. He attended many Celtics, Bruins, TeaMen and Revolution games with family and friends. He served as protocol officer in all International games held in Boston. Frank became a national assessor and helped elevate many referees’ skills to higher levels. He really enjoyed mentoring young referees and helped many become FIFA referees. He was inducted in the New Hampshire, Massachusetts and New England Hall of Fames. He has also received many individual honors and awards for his work in soccer. He worked all 1994 World Cup games in Foxboro as protocol officer and worked with many dignitaries including ex-President Bush and the prince from Nigeria who attended the games. He attended the World Cup final in 1994 in Pasadena with his wife. He enjoyed watching his grandchildren play soccer and referee games. He took his wife to Budapest for vacation in August every year during the last 10 years of her life. He was a great individual who will be missed and remembered