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Markoff Great Grandchildren.	Agnes, family and friends.
Ed Markoff, Angèl Roy and Pat French.	The Markoffs.

The historic social hall of the Bulgarian Macedonian National Educational and Cultural Center (BMNECC) in West Homestead was officially dedicated as The Nick and Agnes Markoff Social Hall at a January 20 ceremony at the Center. 

Nick Markoff was the son of Lambe Markoff, a Macedonian immigrant who founded the Bulgaro-Macedonian Beneficial Association (BMBA) in 1930 and became its first president. Nick and his wife, Agnes, were active leaders in the Association for many years.  Their commitment to cultural preservation and social unity inspired their son, Edward J. Markoff of Munhall, to carry on their tradition by serving as a BMBA president and Vice President of today’s BMNECC. 

Edward, along with his siblings, Nicholas and Diane, long dreamed of a permanent memorial to their mother and now-deceased father.  During a recent visit to Pittsburgh, Nicholas and his daughter, Natalie, were so impressed with the Bulgarian Center’s large-scale physical improvements and its commitment to the arts, education and cultural preservation, that they helped inspire their extended families to keep the names of Nick and Agnes Markoff alive within the historic facility they helped establish.

Today that dream has been realized as The Nick and Agnes Markoff Social Hall.  A monetary donation from the Markoff family secured the naming rights for this historic 70-year-old hall, where earlier generations sang, danced and dined.

Dozens of Markoff family members were among the 150 guests on hand to celebrate the naming of the hall.

“This is a great day for the Markoff family and a great day for the Cultural Center,” said BMNECC President Patricia Penka French.  “We are honored to receive this first-of-a-kind donation from the proud descendents of our organization’s early leaders.”