December 23, 1940 - August 28, 2007

NAIROBI, Kenya - The Rev. Charles E. "Father Johannes" Eko, 66, died Aug. 28, 2007, at Mater Hospital, Nairobi, after a brief illness.

He was born in 1940 in Springfield, Vt., the son of William and Lillian (Vainio) Eko.

He graduated from Springfield High School, and Keene State College and Central Washington State College with bachelor and master's degrees in education.

The Rev. Eko taught and administered student and teacher education programs in the Marshall Islands in Micronesia under the auspices of the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Trust Territory of the Pacific's Department of Education for 11 years. He was recognized as the only non-native educator in the Marshalls who had fluent command of the Marshallese language and who wrote the first curriculum in the Marshallese language.

Having won a scholarship from the president of Finland, he pursued advanced studies at the University of Jyvaskyla, in central Finland, for one academic year.

He became a lay missionary based in Kenya, employed by the Finnish Orthodox Missions Board. He was involved in AIDS projects, well projects and the building of medical clinics and schools.

From 1991, the Rev. Eko followed his calling to the Greek Orthodox faith to become a deacon, an ordained priest, and an archimandrite with duties at the Greek Orthodox Patriarchical School and Seminary in Nairobi.

Survivors include two sisters, Lisbeth Champagne of Longmont, Colo., and Judy Demers of Grafton, Mass., and a brother, James Eko of Springfield, Vt.; and four nieces.

The funeral service will be at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Springfield, Vt., as well as on the same day at the Greek Orthodox Patriarchical School and Seminary in Nairobi.

There are no calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 90 Park St., Springfield, VT 05156.

Date: September 5, 2007
Publication: Rutland Herald (VT)