Valeriu Albu

Dr. Valeriu Albu passed away unexpectedly near his home in Friant, CA on November 10, 2024. Those who knew him recognized his embodiment of the American Dream and more: a remarkable, yet gracious man of many talents who dedicated his life to his family and to helping others.

Born in Brasov, Romania on September 25th, 1950, Dr. Albu grew up in a multilingual household where he became fluent in seven languages and developed a passion for nature and music. As a young man, he trained to become a concert pianist, but ultimately chose medicine as his career. Seeking a better life for his family, he emigrated to the United States in 1983 with his wife, Magdalena and young son, Sebastian. After completing his residency in Dayton, Ohio, where his second son, Alexander was born, he worked as an anesthesiologist at St. Francis Hospital in Charleston, West Virginia for more than a decade before moving to Fresno, CA in 2002, where he worked at Clovis Community Medical Center and Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital until his retirement in 2016.

Upon retirement, Dr. Albu focused on his lifelong passion for studying butterflies and moths, an endeavor that took him and his family to many different countries. During a span of more than fifty years, he collected and catalogued nearly 50,000 specimens from around the world and published several articles in scientific journals. His collection is now housed at the Smithsonian Institution.

Some of our fondest memories are of hiking with him up to mountaintops, across alpine meadows, through narrow canyons, and along the banks of raging rivers and quiet streams. As children, he told us bedtime stories recounting the adventures of his youth. Later, we accompanied him into the desert, where on moonless nights we stayed up late, marveling at the fantastic, winged creatures that emerged out of the darkness. He was a happy and beautiful soul with a pioneering spirit, who led by example and was not afraid to embark into the unknown for those he loved. His kindness and integrity endeared him to all who spent time with him and his dedication to his principles was inspiring. Though we deeply wish we had more time with him, we feel so blessed to have had such a wonderful man in our lives.

Valeriu Albu was preceded in death by his parents, Valeriu and Elisabeta Albu. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Magdalena, his two sons, Sebastian and Alexander, and four grandchildren, Vanessa, Sebastian, George, and Santiago, whom he loved dearly.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at 1:00 pm at Whitehurst Sullivan Burns and Blair Funeral Home, 836 E Nees Ave., Fresno California, 93720.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations, in honor of Valeriu Albu, be made to:

Philip Lorenz International Keyboard Concerts (www.keyboardconcerts.org/support) or

Sierra Foothill Conservancy (www.sierrafoothill.org/donate-today/)