Obituary of Cornell Achilles Constantinidis

Cornell Achilles Constantinidis, PE of Charlotte, NC, left our world Wednesday afternoon after three long and arduous battles with cancer.

Born to Angela Catherine and Valentine Achilles Constantinidis PE in 1964 in Bucharest, Romania, Cornell attended grammar school, middle school and I. L. Caragiale high school in Bucharest, before escaping Romania in 1980. After graduating from South Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte, NC, he studied engineering at Virginia Tech, Central Piedmont Community College and University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree, and capped his academic career with earning his professional license in 2000, following the footsteps of his father.

He applied his trade at several chemical equipment manufacturers in Charlotte, ending his engineering career at Fabrication Associates, Inc. Through the years he has built a reputation as one of the best designers of pressure vessels and columns in the business. After learning for years from the brightest of colleagues, he had the opportunity to pass along knowledge and experience to the next generation.

Cornell met his wife of 27 years in 1983. They were married after 7 years of going their own way, in 1992. They had two children, Zachary Achilles in 1993 and Julia Corinne in 1995. Together they enjoyed a life full of learning and discovery, traveling through the US and Europe on ski and beach vacations. Dearest places include the Colorado Rockies and the NC Outer Banks with an absolute love for Ocracoke Island, NC.

Cornell was absolutely amazing husband, father and friend. He is survived by his wife Madalina Waldmann Constantinidis, his mother Angela, his brother Adrian, his cousin Ruxandra Dutoiu, his son Zachary and wife Emily and his daughter Julia and husband John Glover.

Cornell will truly be missed.

Instead of flowers, please make a donation to the American Cancer Society (Cancer.org) or the Shriner’s Hospital for children (Shrinershq.org).