Charles E. Vandrei Jr.

Charles Ernest Vandrei Jr., 69, died suddenly at his home on July 19, 2024. Son of Charles Ernest Snr and Elizabeth (nee D’Alfonso) Charles was born in Buffalo, NY, on 5 December 1954. He attended Cardinal O’Hara High School, Buffalo, before completing a BA at Buffalo State University (1977), and then an MA in Anthropology at the State University of New York, Buffalo, with a speciality in Archaeology (1979). Following a brief period in the private sector, in 1984 he took up a job in the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), becoming the state’s Historic Preservation Officer, a role which he held until his death. He represented the Commissioner of Environmental Conservation on the State Board for Historic Preservation, as well as serving as Treasurer of the New York State French and Indian War 250th Anniversary Commemorative Commission. His work included archaeological and historical research on military sites, primarily in New York State, including Fort Niagara, Fort Edward, Fort Miller, Crown Point, and the Lake George Battlefield, among others. He also worked for the preservation of shipwrecks in Lake George and Lake Champlain and, most recently, worked to create a visitor center at the Lake George Battlefield Park. He received many honors for his contributions to New York history, heritage and archaeology across more than 35 years, including an Adirondack Architectural Heritage Special Recognition Award, a DEC Commissioner’s Meritorious Service Award, and the New York Archaeological Council’s 2023 Founders Award.

Charles moved to Schenectady in 1984, and from there to his home in Rotterdam in 1991. His passion for history and heritage drove his professional work, as well as his involvement in activities such as historic reenactment, particularly of the French and Indian and Revolutionary Wars. He loved the landscape and traditions of the Adirondack Mountains and worked tirelessly to ensure the preservation of historic sites across New York State, collaborating closely with local and Indigenous communities. His influence on the archaeological profession within the state of New York has been profound.

He is survived by his daughters Elizabeth and Martha, who share his passion for culture, language, history, and social justice. He is survived also by his three sisters, Sue, Lynne, and Cheryl; his wider family, including two nephews, Joshua and Ian; and his niece, Clara. He was a doting great-uncle to Adelyn, “the little one”. He leaves behind two beloved and very spoiled cats, Bruno and Leon, who will have a new home with Martha and her husband, Paul, in England.

Friends and colleagues are warmly invited to visit with Chuck’s family from 2pm to 3pm on Saturday, August 10, 2024, at Bond Funeral Home, 1614 Guilderland Ave., Schenectady, NY, 12306. A memorial service will follow on the same day at 3pm, also at the funeral home, to which all are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Chuck’s memory to a scholarship fund to be established in his name. Information about where to donate will follow.