January 21, 1934 ~ July 15, 2024
Dr. Albert Béla Janko died peacefully on July 15, 2024, surrounded by his family, at his home in Carmel, CA. He lived a life of service to others, guided by his unwavering faith.
Béla was born on January 21, 1934, in Budapest, Hungary, where he lived until forced to flee his homeland to Austria. He was a thirdyear medical student at the University of Budapest Medical School (Semmelweis University today) at the time of the 1956 Hungarian Uprising. A born leader with firm convictions to support the free pursuit of knowledge, justice and goodness, he was an influential and guiding force in the uprising– demonstrating against the Communist Party and evacuating the wounded from battle. Upon his escape, Béla helped establish the Union of Free Hungarian Students (UFHS), serving as its founding president from 1956-57. During that time, the UFHS relocated nearly 5000 refugee students in 16 countries and secured scholarships to help them resume their studies. Led by his indomitable spirit and courage, Béla arrived in the United States in 1957 and became a naturalized US citizen, proudly flying the American flag each day at his residence in Carmel and summer cottage in Leland, MI. Although exiled from Hungary, he felt at home in Carmel and Leland, a place that reminded him of childhood summers on Lake Balaton After 32 years away, Béla Janko returned to Budapest to reunite with family. In 1992, he was decorated with the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merit by President Arpad Goncz. He returned many more times building personal and professional bridges between his mother country and adopted nation. Béla organized adventures throughout Hungary for his cherished American friends – experiences that often would be woven into his creative story-telling and charismatic toasting. He established the Visiting Medical Scholar Program with the Hungarian Medical Coalition, fostering improvements in Hungarian medicine and collaborations with colleagues in the US. In 2005, Dr. Janko was honored with the Semmelweis-Tauffer Memorial Award from Semmelweis University for these efforts.
With Mount Angel Abbey in Portland, Oregon, Béla established the Rev. Géza Havass Scholarship, providing the opportunity for a Hungarian seminary student to attain a Degree in Divinity in order to serve parishes throughout Hungary and help rejuvenate the once-suppressed Catholic Church.
Béla remained committed to his calling and matriculated at UCLA Medical School where he received his MD degree in 1959. He interned at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and later earned a residency at Stanford University in the OB-GYN department where he served as an instructor and clinical associate professor until 1990. Drawn to the natural beauty of the Monterey Peninsula, he made it his home. He established a private gynecology, infertility, and obstetrics practice which he maintained until his retirement in 2001. Dr. Janko was a respected public servant who delivered thousands of babies and cared for even more women on the Monterey Peninsula. A pioneer in osteoporosis evaluation and treatment and an equally gifted surgeon, he later expanded his practice, creating the Osteoporosis Prevention Clinic and the CO2 Laser Clinic. In 1997, he was appointed Medical Director of Comprehensive Osteoporosis Consultation Services at the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP) and served in that role until 2002.
During his 40+ years practicing medicine, Dr. Janko held several volunteer leadership roles at CHOMP. He was a director of the Monterey County Medical Society; director of the Cypress Foundation; a founding member, secretary, vice president, program chairman and president of the Sierra Medical Society; president of the local Union of American Physicians & Dentists; and member of the California Medical Society, the American College of OB-GYNs, the American College of Surgeons, and the American Society of Reproductive Medicine.
Dr. Janko also was a published scholar and invited lecturer on a wide range of topics, even beyond medicine. He was a voracious reader, an aficionado of world history and current events, an inventor & patent holder of several medical devices, and an inspired metal sculptor.
Full of surprises, he had a penchant for entertaining, a panache for bow ties and ascots, and a compulsion to give irrepressible hugs, born out of a boundless love. Magnanimous, Béla was a champion for everyone he met and performed many “courtly acts with great grace.”
More notable than any of his accomplishments was the spirit behind them. He recognized the sacredness of each moment, and the wonder in all of creation. Béla was a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, and a loyal friend to all. He leaves behind a legacy of faith and love. Béla was preceded in death by his parents, Gyula and Márta (Mikoss) Janko; an older brother, Gyula; a younger sister, Márta Janko Mamusich; and a grandson, Alden Curtis Janko. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Abigail Mead Janko; three children, Julia (Brad) Wong, Isabelle (John) Murphy and Alexander Janko (Laura Goodenow); a sister, Marika Janko Hajas; a brother, András “Bandi” Janko; four grandchildren, Chandler, Matthew, George, and Alexa; and 6 nieces, 4 nephews, 12 grandnieces, 6 grandnephews and 1 great-grandniece.
The family thanks all friends who served Dr. Janko in his last months, in particular, Hospice of the Central Coast led by the care of Rhianna Kelly, RN and Ileini’s Care, Inc. led by Ileini Penaloza, RN who was by Dr. Janko’s side with the family until the end.
A Requiem Mass will take place at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 13 at Carmel Mission, 3080 Rio Rd, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93921. Interment of ashes at Beechwood Cemetery in Leland, MI will take place at a later date. The family asks any memorials be directed to Mount Angel Abbey at 1 Abbey Drive, Saint Benedict, Oregon 97373 or www. mountangelabbey.org/giving/make-a-gift.
