Tudor Cotruta

Tudor Cotruta was born on March 1st, 1926 in Bragadiru, Romania. His parents were Tudora and Dumitru. His father owned sheep and some land. They were a prosperous family and had three children: Gheorghe, Tudor, and Lucretia. Even though Tudor proved to love learning and going to school, his father refused to send him to continue his formal education. After the 5th grade he interrupted his studies and was sent to a nearby town to learn how to work with electricity. At the age of 18, he went into the mandatory military service and then he was put in prison for three years for refusing to work on the Sabbath.

He married Aritina Zanfir (Carciumarescu) when he was 27 and they had three beautiful daughters: Silvia, Claudia, and Daniela. After five years of marriage, they moved from the rural area and lived for a few years in beautiful Busteni. Later on because of the lack of work they moved again to Suceava and then in 1968, they moved to Brasov. In 1982 they decided to immigrate to the United States.

They loved their new life in this country where the communist eye was no longer a menacing presence. They immensely enjoyed the favorable climate of Southern California and the new beautiful Romanian community the found in Loma Linda. Tudor was a strong believer and student of the Bible. He and Aritina could always be found having morning devotions studying God's word and singing hymns in their home. Sabbath was a highlight of the week when they enjoyed fellowship with their community in the Romanian Loma Linda Seventh-day Adventist church. They had a vibrant and joyous life surrounded by their family including their children, grandchildren, sons-in-law, and friends. Tudor is survived by Aritina, his wife of 61 years, and their three daughters: Silvia, Claudia, and Daniela as well as 12 grandchildren and three great-grand children.