Albert A. Chapar Sr.

Albert A. Chapar, Sr. of Stratford, passed away on November 28, 2010 at Bridgeport Hospital following a struggle with a brain tumor. He was born in Bridgeport on July 19, 1930, to Abraham and Zekie Chapar. He was a lifelong member of St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church where for years he served as the choir director. He graduated from Central High School in 1949, received his bachelors degree in education from what is now Southern Connecticut State University, followed by two masters degrees, the first from Southern and the other from the University of Bridgeport. Mr. Chapar was a dedicated and lifelong educator, who taught several subjects in every elementary school in the Stratford Public School System. In 1989, he was honored as Teacher of the Year. He retired in his final position as a guidance counselor at Stratford High School. His students spanned several generations. He remembered every one of "his kids" by name. He loved high school sports and remained a fixture at local events to the end of his days. Mr. Chapar had a marvelous tenor singing voice. Very early in his career and at a time when he had a young family, he suffered a nearly total loss of hearing. Even during an era less accommodating to the hearing disabled, he continued to teach and sing on pitch -- wearing his signature hearing aid without ever a complaint. He could dance like a professional and remembered well the glamour of the old Pleasure Beach Ballroom and the Ritz Ballroom, where he danced to the Big Bands. Mr. Chapar was known for so many things it is impossible to list them, but he was above all happy, kind, gentle and filled with love for his fellow human beings. He looked only for the good in people, and mostly that is precisely what he found. Growing up in the immigrant center that was Bridgeport -- with a great pride in his Syrian heritage, his American identity was forged and merged with that of his friends of so many varied cultures by shared national sacrifice and triumph. Like so many of them, he lived through the Great Depression, helped his immigrant parents achieve success in their new land, watched loved ones go off to wars and waited for them to come home, pursued his education, raised a family, saw men first walk on the moon, and learned to use the Internet to send messages to his friends and family. He was a devoted husband of more than 50 years to his wife, Stella Nastu Chapar. She pre-deceased him by just a few months. He attended to her daily during the months of her final illness. Nearly his first instruction following receiving his diagnosis of a likely inoperable brain tumor was for his son to drive him back to the hospital to sit by her side. When urged to rest for just one day, he replied, "I made a promise." He kept that promise and all others. He is survived by his sons, Thomas and Albert, Jr., Albert Jr.'s wife, Nadine Kirma Chapar; grandchildren, Sophia, Natalia and Helena Chapar; his sisters, Mary Chapar Moran (the former mayor of Bridgeport) and Nassa Sam and their husbands, Steve Moran and William Sam; sisters-in-law, Frieda, Catherine and Gloria Nastu; his close cousin, Nasra Chapar Condoleo and many nieces and nephews whom he adored. In addition to Stella, Mr. Chapar was preceded in death by his parents, his brave brother, Nicholas Chapar; his talented brothers-in-law, Aurely (Ray), Peter and Thomas Nastu; his sisters-in-law, Sofia Cipu Nastu and Rose Nastu, and his German Shepherd dog, Katrina, who gave him much joy. Calling hours are on Thursday from 3 to 8 p.m. with Trisagion Services at 7 p.m. in the Commerce Hill-Radozycki Funeral Home, 4798 Main Street, Bridgeport (on the Trumbull line). Friends are invited to go DIRECTLY to St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church on Friday at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Fr. Romanos Malouf officiating. Interment immediately following in Lakeview Cemetery. In memory of Albert and Stella Chapar, the family expects to establish a scholarship fund to ambitiously further their lifelong work in public education. In lieu of flowers, friends, family and former students may consider a contribution to this fund when it is established. Details will appear at www.chaparfoundation.org. Alternatively, donations may be made to the St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church. Memory Eternal.