Obituary of Dr. Constantin Burlacu

Dr. Constantin Burlacu, 72, of Ridgewood, NY, passed away at 4:44 a.m. on Wednesday, December 29, 2021 at Wyckoff Hospital after a long, difficult battle with COVID. Born in Botosani, Romania on January 20, 1949, he was the eldest son of Elena and Petru Burlacu. Constantin served in the Romanian Army for approximately two years. While in the Army he met his wife, Elisabeta, and upon discharge he married Elisabeta and shared 50 loving years together. Constantin began his family and career as a restaurant Manager throughout Romania, but after facing persecution at the hands of the Romanian Communist Party, he sought political asylum in the United States. Constantin came to this country in 1980, and continued to fight tirelessly for the freedom and change in the country of his birth until the fall of the communist government in 1989. He was a humanitarian and believed in promoting education and donated a great deal of his time and money to building community-based schools throughout Romania. In the United States, he went on to earn his PhD and generously helped others fulfill their dreams in this country, as he had. Constantin was employed in New York City. He loved traveling, writing, and music. He had a passion for life and living it, he enjoyed relaxing on the beach and loved new adventures like parasailing and dancing the night away. Above all, he enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He fulfilled his lifelong dream of living in Hawaii, where he would spend several months every year in retirement. Constantin is survived by his wife, Elisabeta; mother, Elena; his two adult children, Monica and Johnny; two sisters, Carolina and Valentina; six grandchildren, Joshua, Julian, Monica, Jasmin, Tristan, and Madison; as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his father, Petru, and brother, Dumitru.