Charles ("Charlie") Francis Vachris (February 19, 1939 – October 7, 2014) was an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

civil engineer and politician, and was the founder and head of Vachris Engineering, PC.

Life and career

Early life and education

Vachris was born in Brooklyn, New York, on February 19, 1939. For high school, Vachris attended Chaminade High School in Mineola, New York, which he graduated from in 1957. It was there where he met his wife, Evelyn Gaye Vachris (born Kruetzer). In high school, Vachris played on his school's football team. For college, he attended Yale University's honors college as an engineering major and graduated in 1961; Vachris also played on the school's basketball team. For his masters, Vachris went to Columbia University and earned his masters in Engineering in 1968.

Military service

Vachris served in the Army Corps of Engineers and was stationed at Fort Knox. He was honorably discharged from the military as a Captain.

Career

Vachris Engineering

Vachris founded and headed Garden City-based Vachris Engineering, PC in 1982. Before founding the firm, he had worked in a construction company owned by his family. In 2014, Vachris voluntarily donated personal and corporate services for the engineering of a new basketball court at the

Flower Hill Village Park Flower Hill Village Park (formerly known as Flower Hill County Park) is a village-owned park in the Incorporated Village of Flower Hill, on Long Island, in the State of New York. It was formerly owned by Nassau County. Park description His ...

Political career

As a resident of the village of Flower Hill, New York, Vachris served as a village trustee from 1988 to 1990, and also served on its planning board and ethics board until his passing. Vachris also served as Flower Hill's village engineer for many years.

Death and legacy

Vachris died of a heart attack at the age of 75 on October 7, 2014, while playing basketball at the Munsey Park Elementary School in

Munsey Park, New York Munsey Park is a village in Nassau County, on the North Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. It is considered part of the Greater Manhasset area, which is anchored by Manhasset. The population was 2,809 at the 2020 census. The Inc ...

. He is buried at

Nassau Knolls Cemetery Nassau Knolls Cemetery (also known as Knolls Cemetery and Nassau Knolls Memorial Park) is a cemetery and memorial park in Port Washington, in the Town of North Hempstead, in Nassau County, on the North Shore of Long Island, in New York, Unite ...

in Port Washington, New York. The basketball court at the Flower Hill Village Park is dedicated to Vachris.

Personal life

At the time of his death, Vachris had lived in Flower Hill for roughly 45 years. He and his wife, Evelyn, had 5 children and 11 grandchildren. At the time of his death, Vachris resided at the family's home at 42 Dogwood Lane in Flower Hill. Vachris was an avid fan and player of basketball, and would play the game until his death.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vachris, Charles People from Flower Hill, New York American engineers Engineers from Brooklyn Chaminade High School alumni Yale University alumni Columbia School of Engineering and Applied Science alumni 1939 births 2014 deaths Burials at Nassau Knolls Cemetery