Tatiana Vessova Gotcheva

Tatiana Vessova Gotcheva, 62, of West Hartford, CT, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Tuesday, August 15th, 2023, in Yale New Haven Hospital, after a ten-month valiant battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Tatiana was born on April 14, 1961, to Roza & Vesso Mazgalov in Ilindentsi, Bulgaria. In her childhood, Tatiana lived with her older sister, Valentina Marinopolska, and her parents in Sandanski, Bulgaria where her parents were teachers. During her childhood, she fell in love with Pirin Mountain, frequently visiting Popina Laka with her family for holidays. Popina Laka held a special place in Tatiana’s heart, filling her with happiness and joy every time she would visit. After Tatiana graduated high school from “SOU P.K. Iavorov” in 1979, she went on to study Mathematics at Sofia University in Sofia, Bulgaria. It is in college where she met, fell in love, and, in 1982, married Ivan Stanev Gotchev. They went on to have two children, Stanislav Gotchev and Rossitza Gotcheva, and lived happily together for more than 40 years. After graduating college with a MS in Mathematics Education in 1984, she continued her education at Sofia University and completed consequently a Second Qualification Degree in 1985 and a First Qualification Degree (similar to the Ed.D. degree in US) in 1991. Tatiana started her lifelong teaching career at “87th Secondary School” in 1985 where she taught Mathematics for four years followed by ten years of teaching at “8 SOU Vasil Levski” in Sofia, Bulgaria. In 1999, Tatiana and Ivan moved their family to the United States. They lived in Bangor, Maine for two years, where Tatiana became the “Mom” to many Bulgarian students at University of Maine at Orono, always being there for them to listen, hosting parties and cooking Bulgarian food to give them some comfort of ‘home’. In 2001, Tatiana and Ivan settled in West Hartford, Connecticut where Tatiana worked as an Adjunct Mathematics Professor at Central Connecticut State University for 21 years and at the University of Connecticut for 17 years. Tatiana was a great educator, was beloved by many and positively impacted so many students’ lives throughout her career. She loved teaching math. One of the last things she said before she passed away was “I wish I had more time to teach math to my grandkids.” In Connecticut, Tatiana was at the center of the Bulgarian community. She loved hosting large gatherings and cooking Bulgarian food. There was always laughter, singing, dancing and many good times shared with family and friends. Tatiana was loved by everyone who had the privilege of knowing her. Her superpower was her ability to love unconditionally. Every person she met felt her love, warmth, and her amazing, ‘bear hugs’. She was a true, trusted friend. A shoulder to lean on, a great listener, and most importantly an incredible mother, wife and a ‘funny baba’ as her grandkids liked to call her. Tatiana loved to travel. She was always excited to go on a new travel adventure, especially one that she could share with family and friends. One of her favorite places to visit was the Caribbean, especially Jamaica. ‘Jumping’ the waves in the turquoise water, soaking in the sun, and relaxing on the beach brought her peace and true happiness. When Tatiana took her last breath, the image on the TV in her hospital room changed to a picture of a Caribbean beach. Tatiana was predeceased by her parents Roza & Vesso Mazgalov. She is survived by her husband Ivan Gotchev, her children Stanislav Gotchev and Rossitza Gotcheva, her daughter-in-law Alexandrina Tzanova, her son-in-law David Pinho, and her two grandchildren Ian Pinho, and Anabella Gotchev. Tatiana is also survived by her sister, Valentina Marinopolska, and her family, Stefan, Atanas, Ina, Stefani, and Vesselina; by her brother-in-law Vasil Gochev, and his family Aneliya, Kalin, Dimitar and Sophie; by her sister-in-law, Nedialka Gocheva; by her godchildren Billie Marcheva, Neli Marcheva, and Mihail Sirmanov; by numerous cousins and their families, as well as many beloved friends. Services will be held at Molloy Funeral Home in West Hartford on Saturday, August 19, 2023, at 10:30 am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to the American Red Cross, an organization that helped extend Tatiana’s live during her battle with leukemia

Tatiana Vessova Gotcheva

August 15, 2023