Elez Ndreu

Feb. 4, 1929 - Mar. 8, 2015

Resident of Monterey

Elez Ndreu, resident of Monterey for almost 50 years, passed away March 8, 2015 after a brief illness, having maintained his stubbornness and sense of humor to the end. Elez was born in Peshkopi, in northern Albania to a noble family in 1929. He was named after his renowned grandfather Elez Isufi Ndreu, an Albanian National Freedom Fighter, who was key to gaining Albania’s independence as a nation.

Elez fled Albania in 1946, after Communists targeted his family. He attained a PhD in Albanian Area Studies and a Masters in Linguistics from the University of Belgrade in the former Yugoslavia, and arrived in the United States in 1959 after having spent time in a refugee camp in Italy. He earned another Masters in Linguistics from Bloomington University in Indiana University. Elez was a Professor of Linguistics fluent in five languages, and taught Linguistics throughout his career, most of which was spent teaching Albanian and then Russian at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey. He was able to return to Albania in 2005 for a brief visit with his surviving relatives.

Elez is survived by his two daughters, Naime and Dije (Jim) and his two beloved granddaughters, Deshira and Liriana. He is also survived by his brothers Skender and Ethem Ndreu of Albania, as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews in Albania, the U.S., Australia, and Turkey.

Private services have already been held. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers a donation be made to one’s favorite charity. The family would like to thank the CHOMP Palliative Care Team and nurses aide Tessa Stoeberl-Smith for their caring assistance.