Obituary of Vatutin Bala

Vatutin Bala, 74, of Bridgeport passed away peacefully in his home on April 19. He was the beloved husband of Mimoza (Thanasi) Bala. Born in Gjirokaster, Albania, in 1946, he was the oldest son of the late Marika (Mamani) Bala and the late Halil Bala.

Vati, as he was affectionately called by friends and family, was born to very humble beginnings in communist Albania. He and his two younger siblings were raised by a single mother, after his father was wrongfully imprisoned and persecuted by the Hoxha regime. He received his college education in agrarian economics, and later graduated from the University of Zootechnics. He  was one of the first new promising scientists to join the brilliant team at the Institute of Zootechnical Research in 1972. 

He pursued his postgraduate studies and wrote his thesis on “Quantitative Genetics,” thus finishing a Candidate of Science degree, the equivalent of a PhD. 

After political unrest in Albania, he joined the ranks of those calling for the establishment of democracy, and found a love for and dedication to politics. In 1997, he was named Ambassador of Albania to Slovenia—where he and his family spent four wonderful years. In 2001, Vati, Mimi, and their young daughter, Helena, immigrated to the United States, where Vati worked at People’s United Bank until his retirement in 2017. He took great pride in his work — big or small — and delighted in dressing up formally in a suit and tie for all of his bank customers. Vati was a patriarch of the Albanian community here in Connecticut — he loved talking politics with his friends and playing the occasional game of Texas Hold ‘em. 

To those who knew him well, Vati had a sharp mind and a formidable wit. He loved to polemicize and trade ideas of all kinds; above all, he loved to read. He finished an executive MBA program later in life, when he was well in his fifties, and got his Connecticut realtor’s license when he was in his sixties — no matter what, he believed it was never too late to learn something new.

To those who knew him best, what stood out was his heart: easily moved to emotion, he was the first to offer a helping hand and go above and beyond to help loved ones.

Although he encountered and overcame many obstacles in life, Vati’s biggest pride was his family. He was devoted to his wife of 35 years, Mimi, and to their daughter, Helena. He was a doting grandfather to Ronan, whom he loved deeply and unconditionally. Vati also took great joy in his son-in-law, Alex, whom he considered a son. Vati cherished his daughter from a previous marriage, Merisa, her beautiful children, Aiden and Ailin, and her husband Aides. He is also survived by his sister, Jeta Alimhillaj; his brother, Ilir Bala, and many nieces and nephews.

A walk-through visitation will take place on Thursday, April 22, 2021 from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. in the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Rd., Trumbull.  The family will read a eulogy at 11:30 am.  Visitors are asked to wear masks and social distance as they walk through, pay their respects, and exit without lingering to ensure all guests can come through the building. Interment will follow in Nichols Village Cemetery, Trumbull.

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