- Dr. Francis R. Bethlen, 84, of Sarasota, Florida and formerly of Plattsburgh, passed away Wednesday, June 17, 2010 at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.
He was born in Budapest, Hungary on July 2, 1925 to Count Pal Bethlen, a member of Parliament, and Countess Gabriella Maria (Serenyi) Bethlen. His ancestor, Prince Gabor Bethlen, served briefly as King of Hungary in 1620 and is one of 10 heroes honored in Hero Square in Budapest.
Dr. Bethlen earned his Baccalaureate Degree from the School of the Piarist Fathers in Budapest in 1943, and his B.S. degree from the Regent Joseph Politechnical University in 1947. He apprenticed on a commercial farm in the Lake Balaton region, he worked for a tobacco factory and then a flour and feed consortium in Budapest, and he was a livestock market specialist for a large beef cattle ranch in Olavarria, Argentina. He also served clandestinely in the Hungarian Resistance Movement against the Nazi occupation during World War II.
He married Ilona R. Szentimrey in Vienna, Austria on October 7, 1948 after escaping from Hungary. Emigrated to Buenos Aires, Argentina where their daughter, Anna Maria Bethlen (now Lafontaine) was born in 1949. Their son, Mihaly Antal, was born in Buffalo, NY in 1954.
He came to the US in 1952 from Buenos Aires and became a US citizen on July 8, 1957.
Dr. Francis R. Bethlen served the State University of New York at Plattsburgh with great dedication for thirty-four years. In 1961, Dr. Bethlen joined the Social Sciences Department as Associate Professor of Economics with an M.S. degree from Cornell University (1956) and a Ph.D. degree from Purdue University (1962). Promoted to Professor in 1966, he led the Economics faculty from 1963 to 1969.
Dr. Bethlen was instrumental in building strong business and economics programs at Plattsburgh, particularly the marketing and international business study options. He served as Professor in the Department of Business and Economics and then the Department of Management and Marketing from 1971-1995, and taught both economics and marketing courses. Dr. Bethlen was awarded his first two Fulbright Fellowships to teach economics at University of Rosario in 1969 and at National University of Cordoba, Argentina in 1970, followed by his third Fulbright Fellowship in 1978-79 at University of Nicaragua, where he taught economics and agro-marketing. Dr. Bethlen served as Director of the Economic Education Council of Northern New York for 15 years, which provided economic training and materials to teachers throughout the region. He also served as an international consultant for the U.N. and other agencies in countries such as Costa Rica, Hungary, Kenya, Tanzania, and Russia. In 2006, Dr. Bethlen was the first inductee into the SUNY Plattsburgh School of Business and Economics Faculty Hall of Fame.
Dr. Bethlen was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Plattsburgh for many years, and he joined the Rotary Club of Sarasota-Keys after moving to Florida. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Rakoczi Foundation-International(USA), the Global Energy Society, International Economics Society, and a Knight of St. John of Hospitallers.
Dr. Francis Bethlen – beloved teacher, scholar & colleague, with tremendous generosity of spirit, tolerance, honesty, humility, and the skills of a diplomat.
He was predeceased by his parents, his sister Maria, and his beloved wife Ilona, who died in 2006.
In accordance with his wishes, there will be no calling hours. A memorial service followed by a reception will be held on Friday, June 25, 2010 at 1:00 pm at the Valcour Conference Center, Route 9 South in Valcour. Interment will be in Budapest, Hungary at a later date.
Memorial donations may be offered to the North Country Mission of Hope Program, 206 new York Road, Plattsburgh, N.Y. 12901
Arrangements are entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, 29 Broad St., Plattsburgh, N.Y.(518) 561-3980.
Online condolences may be made and memorial candles lit at www.brownfuneralhomeinc.com.

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