Page 12 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Winter 2021 - Online Magazine
P. 12
Exceptional
SENIORS
ANDREA ELISE
Colorful Creator of
“ seniors wearing
socks as told to Jane Bromley
veryone’s story is unique, but some English. She joined the Peace
if there were a prize for most Andrea didn’t Corps in 1977 and
Eunique, Andrea Elise would be learn English until spent two years
the one to beat. she started school, teaching English as
and the language a Foreign Language
She was born in Sopron, Hungary barrier made for a to middle school
to John and Elizabeth Alpar. Her bumpy beginning. students, high school
parents were among the 200,000 students, and adults
Hungarians who escaped the Dr. John Alpar in South Korea.
Communist-controlled country was a brilliant Her time in Korea
during the Revolution in 1956. They doctor who helped was one of the most
carried two-year-old Andrea and develop intraocular memorable in her life,
her baby brother across the border lens surgical and she remains in
to Austria on foot, past sleeping technology and contact with several
guards. The Alpars hid in the woods lectured around friends from those
until they found a refugee camp. the world in almost years.
100 countries.
Elizabeth’s brother in Delaware He received two master’s degrees She first met her husband, Alan
sponsored the family so they could at West Texas A&M University, Erwin, when they were 19 years old
immigrate to the United States. John one at the age of 86, making him and attending Amarillo College.
had been an ophthalmologist in the oldest graduate of West Texas One day, in Philosophy class, the
Hungary but was required to repeat A&M. He passed away in 2021 at professor asked the class a question.
his internship and residency in the 95. While her husband fulfilled his After Andrea raised her hand and
U.S. After that, the young doctor calling, Elizabeth was happy in answered, Alan blurted out, “That
was offered a job in Amarillo, TX. hers. “She loved being a mother,” is the most illogical comment I’ve
Adjusting to the new culture was a her oldest child attests. Elizabeth ever heard.” Andrea was so upset
challenge because only John spoke died in 2013, but the couple had that she told the professor she
raised six wonderful children and wanted to drop the course; the
had 17 grandchildren and six great professor talked her into staying. She
grandchildren. learned a lesson, and Alan made an
impression.
After growing up in Amarillo,
Andrea obtained an associate degree The two went their separate ways,
at Amarillo College, which she called reconnected in 1990 for a couple of
“a great foundation.” She received years, then, again, followed their
her undergraduate degree in English own paths. They found each other
Literature at Duke University and, again in 2008, and their love story
years later, a master's degree in commenced.
Counseling at West Texas A&M
University. Alan and Andrea share a deep love
of music of all genres. Alan has
12 Amarillo Senior Link
