Dear Dames and Knights, 

it is with deep sorrow that the Magisterial House of our Sovereign Order and of the State of Knights (KMFAP) informs all about the decease of our dear Knight, Sir Andor Schmuck. After a very active life, he passed away on the 14th July 2025 in Budapest, Hungary, at the age of 54.

Our Knight, Sir Andor has departed, but left in us all the vivid memory of an intelligent person full of good humour and of Love for his people and for his homeland, Hungary, a very kind man and a committed Knight, proud of being a Knight of Saint John (KMFAP). 

One of the most important achievements in the all-too-short life of Sir Andor Schmuck was in the humanitarian field, which is the core mission and activity of our Sovereign Order and of our State of Knights – KMFAP. At the age of just 33, true to his knightly values, he founded in Budapest the “Tisztelet Társasága” (Society of Respect), an organisation dedicated to supporting elderly people in both Cultural and Social aspects of Life. 

Through his extensive social and cultural network, he created a wide range of programs and events – concerts, lectures, community gatherings – offered either free of charge or at very low cost, ensuring accessibility for all. Over the years, the organisation evolved into a highly respected civil institution, recognised at the highest levels of the Hungarian society and today, with over 180,000 members, Tisztelet Társasága stands as a lasting testament to his compassion, vision, and lifelong commitment to honouring the dignity of older generations.

Since he was knighted (in 2008 in Gödöllő), he always wore the rosette of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem on his jacket, and was rarely seen without it, because for him it was not merely a decoration, but became part of his everyday look, a quiet yet proud expression of the values he lived by: Honour, Service, and Humanity. 

Now, for Sir Andor Schmuck there will be the Peace that only a Just can have and for us will remain the heartfelt grief and nostalgia of him, the pride of having had a Knight like he was and the sweet memory of his smile and of his sense of humour. 

It is a poignant thought that two of our most esteemed knights – Sir Andor Schmuck and Sir Zoltán Pánczél – will rest in the same tomb. In life, both were bound by strong friendship and shared ideals, in death, they remain united in eternal brotherhood. 

The Magisterial House and the Office of the Prime Minister present their most sincere and heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and friends of Sir Andor for the tragic and sudden loss, which is also a very significant loss for KMFAP and for its Knights and Dames.

In addition, we seize the opportunity to inform you that the Funeral Service and Farewell will take place on the 15th August 2025 (Friday) at 14.00 o’clock, at the National Cemetery on Fiumei street in Budapest, Hungary. (Address: 1086 Budapest, Fiumei str. 16-18.) 

During the funeral service, a knightly farewell will also be held, so we kindly ask our Hungarian Dames and Knights to attend the event, wearing the Maltese or Cyprus capes, and you can express your love and sympathy with 1 flower. 

15th July 2025