Andrei N. Andreyev

Andrei N. Andreyev passed away surrounded by his loving family on November 17, 2018, beloved husband of Maria Andreyev for 55 yrs.; loving father of Tina Bilis and her husband George, Andreana Andreyev Psarros and her husband Kostas; dear brother of Todor Andreyev; cherished grandfather of Athanasios Bilis, Andrea Bilis and Maria Psarros.

Andrei came from a different place and time. He was born on February 12, 1931 in a small mountain village in northwestern Bulgaria, Staropatitsa. They had kerosene lamps instead of electricity, dirt floors, and no modern conveniences even by 1930s standards. They were landowners and spent their days working the land.

He lived through WWII and the Communist take-over. The thing you have to know about Andrei is he is quiet but he has a strong spirit. As a young man, he ran an underground political party. It was found out and he fled the country in the middle of the night to save his own life. He then lived in a series of refugee camps and settled in what was then Yugoslavia for 5 years where he was once again forced to move. He then moved to Paris for a short time and there he found a ticket to a new life….in America and joined the U.S. Army. While a soldier he met a fellow Bulgarian who was married to a nice woman from Greece. This woman knew a girl, her name was Maria (and now you know the rest of the story). Andrei always prided himself on marrying the best woman - beautiful, kind, and a devoted wife and mother.

Andrei was a true conservative, in thought and in life. He believed in modesty and humility. He believed in working, taking care of yourself and your family. He held 3 jobs at 3 different hospitals as a Laboratory Technologist in Chemistry while going to school at Johns Hopkins University. He always was looking for a new way to make extra money - selling real estate, buying and renting properties, even selling toothbrushes. He always worked hard and made a solid life for him and his family. He never asked anything from anyone.

Although drastic events, shaped his world, Andrei always lived his life on his own terms. He is a scientist by nature, someone who loved Physics and Chemistry. He is not witty or quick - he was slow and quiet. Andrei was the tortoise that won the race. He’s the American dream.

And through 55 years and two children, he was a man of his word who enjoyed figuring out how things worked and enjoyed making things work. He showed an ability to take the good from the old country and the good from the new country and leave the rest behind.

His life gives encouragement to others.

Above all else, Andrei put family first. He was adored and respected by his entire family his whole life. For the past 10 years his wife Maria relentlessly cared for him and nursed him. His daughters Tina and Andreana and son-in-law George never left his side as his health waned.

His grandchildren Thanasi and Andy were the light of his life….and he was especially adored by little Maria.

So this is the man, who was our patriarch and who, for us, was always larger than life. His opinion always mattered and his word always trusted. We always loved his quirky sense of humor.

Thank you Andrea, Dad, Papou, Theo, for being the rock for all of us. We will never forget your legacy, your strength, stability, and the love you gave us.

The family will receive friends in the LEMMON FUNERAL HOME OF DULANEY VALLEY INC., 10 W. Padonia Road (at York Road) Timonium, Maryland 21093 on Tuesday, November 20, 2018 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm with a Trisagion Service at 7:00 pm. Mr. Andreyev will Lie in State in St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 2504 Cub Hill Road, Parkville, Maryland 21234 on Wednesday, November 21, 2018 from 10:00 am to10:30 am at which time the Funeral Service will begin.

Interment the adjoining cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy may be directed in Mr. Andreyev’s memory to the St. Demetrios Church, 2504 Cub Hill Road, Parkville, Maryland 21234.