Andrew Warde High School Community Mourns the Passing of Longtime Language Teacher & Soccer Coach Constantine Vanghele

Constantine Vanghele, a foreign language teacher for 29 years at Andrew Warde High School in Fairfield (1961 to 1989), passed away peacefully on June 27, 2014, surrounded by his loving family. He was 91 years old. Born on May 8, 1923, to Pandu and Vasila Vangheli in Korce, Albania, his mother died when he was a boy, and he was raised by his father and stepmother, Konstandina. He lived there until 1943, before relocating to Greece, Germany, Austria, and Italy, where he attended the University of Rome, graduating in 1949.

He arrived in the United States on May 4, 1949 from Italy and settled in Bridgeport. From 1950-1980, he studied various foreign languages and became fluent in eight different languages, attending the Institute of World Affairs in Salisbury, Middlebury College, the University of Connecticut, River College in New Hampshire, the University of Massachusetts, the University of Bridgeport, University of Barcelona in Spain, Fairfield University, and the University of Perugia, Italy.

In 1951, Constantine was employed by Radio Free Europe, as a translator, speaker, and script writer at the Albanian Desk in New York City. From 1954-1961, he worked for the National Committee for a Free Albania, a political organization with the aim to liberate Albania from the Communist regime.

Beginning in 1961 and for 29 years, Constantine was a teacher of foreign languages at Andrew Warde High School in Fairfield, where he was also the school's soccer coach for many seasons. He is pictured below (top right) with his Crimson Eagles' soccer team in the 1976 Flame yearbook. Constantine was a member of the St. George Albanian Orthodox Church and the St. Dimitrie Romanian Orthodox Church. He was a former President and retired Member of the Benevolent Society Of Farsarotul.

He is survived by five sons, four daughter-in-laws, and four grandchildren: Thomas and Janice Vanghele, of New York City, Alexander and Patty Vanghele, of Bridgeport, Dino Vanghele, of Bridgeport, Nicholas and Susan Vanghele, and their children, Logan and Olivia, of Shelton, Christopher and Kim Vanghele, and their children, Christopher, Jr. and Lauren, of Woodbury. He is also survived by his niece, Sophie Fatsi Cashavelly, and her husband, James, of Trumbull. His sister, Caterina Vangheli Fatsi and brother, Thoma predeceased him.

Courtesy Connecticut Post