Gabor Boritt, Holocaust Survivor and Lincoln Scholar, Dies at 86

The refugee from Hungary became a pre-eminent expert on Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Gabor S. Boritt, a Holocaust survivor who fled Hungary as a refugee and became one of the world's leading scholars on Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War, died on February 2 at the age of 86. Boritt founded the Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College, where he taught for decades, and helped establish the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and its prestigious Lincoln Prize.

Why it matters

Boritt's life story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the American dream. As a Hungarian Jew who endured the Holocaust and Communist rule, he arrived in the U.S. as a penniless refugee and went on to become a preeminent expert on one of America's most revered historical figures, Abraham Lincoln. His scholarship and leadership helped shape the study of the Civil War era for generations.

The details

Boritt was born Gabor Roth-Szappanos in 1940 in Budapest, where his family faced increasing persecution under Hungarian fascist rule during World War II. After the Nazi invasion, Boritt and his family were forced into the Budapest ghetto. His father later joined the Resistance, while Boritt, his mother, and siblings were placed in an orphanage after his mother's death. Boritt fled to Austria during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and eventually immigrated to the U.S. in 1957 with just $1 in his pocket. He changed the family surname to Boritt and taught himself English using Lincoln's writings. Boritt went on to earn a PhD in history and had a distinguished academic career, publishing extensively on Lincoln and founding influential history institutes.

  • Boritt was born on January 26, 1940 in Budapest, Hungary.
  • The Nazi invasion of Hungary occurred in March 1944.
  • Boritt fled Hungary during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution.
  • Boritt arrived in the U.S. as a refugee in 1957.
  • Boritt died on February 2, 2026 in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.

The players

Gabor S. Boritt

A Holocaust survivor who fled Hungary as a refugee and became a pre-eminent scholar on Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War, founding the Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College and helping establish the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

Pal Roth-Szappanos

Boritt's father, an economist and journalist who served in the Resistance in Hungary during World War II.

Rozsa (Schwarz) Roth-Szappanos

Boritt's mother, who managed the family home in Budapest and died soon after the Soviet liberation of Hungary.

Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

A nonprofit organization that Boritt helped found, which awards the prestigious Lincoln Prize.

Gettysburg College

The college where Boritt taught for decades and founded the Civil War Institute.

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What they’re saying

“He had that immigrant's passion. He had that sense of discovery that, to him at least, Lincoln represented America.”

— David Blight, Professor of American History, Yale University (New York Times)

What’s next

Boritt's family and colleagues at Gettysburg College are planning a memorial service to celebrate his life and legacy as a leading scholar of the Civil War era.

The takeaway

Gabor Boritt's remarkable life story, from Holocaust survivor to preeminent Lincoln expert, exemplifies the power of perseverance and the enduring promise of the American dream. His scholarship and leadership helped shape our understanding of one of the most pivotal periods in U.S. history.