He writes already his poems on the white of the clouds

The editorial team of the Vienna Journal (Bécsi Napló) bids farewell to

                         János Csoma Schmidt                

           December 7.1942. - October 20.2025.

with deep sorrow, but also with love and gratitude, who was a loyal colleague, creative partner and friend of our newspaper for decades.

János served the Hungarian community not only with his writing, but also with his humanity. He knew how to observe, ask questions, and see the human in every situation. His pen never lacked sincerity, and his heart never lacked cheerfulness. He loved humor, and not only at the end of a difficult day of editing, but also during work he was able to bring a smile to the faces of others with a well-placed story, a warmly worded joke.

Many people knew him as a journalist, but we know that he was also an exceptional talent as a poet: his two volumes of poetry preserve the delicate sensitivity with which he viewed the world and people. Behind his words there was always the quiet belief that the hungarian word is not only a memory, but also a home.

Although he spent most of his life in Vienna, his last years were spent in Kecskemét in Hungary, where he continued to live with quiet serenity and his usual modesty. His wife passed away in May of this year. Now they are together again, where there are no more borders or pain.

We, his friends and colleagues, in the editorial staff of the Vienna Journal, servants of the Hungarian word and the cause of the community, keep János' spirit, humor and humanity in our hearts. We believe that he still has his pen in his hand just up there, on the white pages of the clouds, writing on.