Ansonia's Ted Vartelas dies due to complications from coronavirus

Apr. 14--ANSONIA -- A town resident who was part of the large Greek "Vartelas Family Foods" extended family, a sports lover and longtime businessman, died due to complications from coronavirus, according to his obituary.

Theodore John "Ted" Vartelas, 89, died April 1 of complication from COVID-19, his obituary said. Vartelas was born on July 14, 1930, son of the late John and Paraskeve Vartelas.

Vartelas grew up in Ansonia, with his large Greek family and their father owned and operated "Vartelas Family Foods" a grocery store that "serviced the community for decades until the flood of 1955 destroyed the area. Working at the family store would prepare him for his future; servicing people with their financial needs," according to his obituary.

"In August of 1955, after graduating from the University of Connecticut, Ted started his career in finance with New York Life Insurance Company. He had a very successful career for the next 65 years helping people and families with their most important financial decisions."

Vartelas "loved sports and was a talented athlete. He was inducted into the Ansonia High School Hall of Fame as a three-sport athlete in basketball, football, and baseball and achieved all-state in basketball," according to his obituary.

Vartelas played basketball for a year at New Haven State Teachers College "where he was in the top 15 in the nation in scoring, and then went on to play for 2 years" at UConn. Upon graduating, he played in the semi-pro league for The Norwood's Club of Ansonia. "There he played against the likes of Wilt Chamberlain and Bob Cousy. Ted was also a fastpitch softball player. He attended many sports championships, US Opens, Final Fours, and Super Bowls," Vartelas' obitiary says.

Vartelas' "priorities were family, sports, and career. His Greek heritage and church community were very important to him. His father John was a founding member of Holy Trinity Church in Ansonia which later merged with St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church in Orange."

For more on Vartelas' family see legacy.com.

A formal service will be held at a future date at Saint Barbara Church in Orange, CT. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ted's memory may be made to:

"The Ted Vartelas Fund" is online at the Valley Community Foundation www.valleyfoundation.org or mailed to 253-A Elizabeth Street, Derby, 06418. Donations can also go to "The Theodore "Ted" Vartelas Fund" mailed to Saint Barbara Church, 480 Racebrook Rd., Orange, 06477. For information, call (203)795-1347 or email [email protected].

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