VENTZISLAV (VENTZI) GUENTCHEV

Ventzi Guentchev, 61, of Canon City, CO, passed away Wednesday, October 11th, after a brief hospitalization. He was born in Sofia, Bulgaria (Europe) on April 20th 1956, to Ludmil Guentchev, classic singer, and Deshka Guentcheva, military journalist. Because of his mother’s career, Ventzi’ s early life was affiliated with the Bulgarian Army, which he joined at age 18. He served in it as a medic and medical instructor. Upon completing his service, he worked as an electrician and an Opera House worker before being accepted in a graduate program in Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, at the Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski. Ventzi graduated with a Master’s Degree with honors and was selected for one of four full scholarships for post-graduate research in Social Psychology. He joined a research group in the Technical University and researched the role of self-concept for the individual’s motivation for growth. After the collapse of the communist regime in 1989, Ventzi was fascinated with the open society opportunities. He founded the National Non-governmental Organization Home for Everyone and became part of establishing the democratic legislation on housing and residential construction. Ventzi declined becoming a professional politician in favor of remaining a Psychologist and Psychology Instructor in the Bulgarian Fine Art Academy where he developed further his interest and knowledge in art. He was married to Jenni Guentcheva in 1981 and had a daughter Stela Guentcheva (Coffelt) in 1988. In Europe, Ventzi worked in various research and counseling projects and became part of the standardization and cultural validation of psychological instruments, such as the 20 Sentences Test, Hans Eysenck’s theory of personality testing etc. In 1999, the family followed a US friend across the ocean and became part of the Southern Colorado human services community. Ventzi embraced the challenge of working with adult sex offenders and adolescents who have committed sexual crimes. Along with that, he developed a keen interest in assisting young men with behavioral challenges and traumas succeed in life. At the family mental health practice Goodneighbor LLC, Ventzi worked with his clients on finding self-respect, emotional safety and stability and enjoy life in the moment as a foundation for personal growth. He modeled these practices in his own life and made a point of taking annual motorcycle rides to the ocean and trips to various countries. Always a dynamic person, he also enjoyed the company of his friends from different countries and walks of life, wild mushroom hunting and “hunting” for rare books, prints and mid-century modern furniture. Ventzi’s biggest pride and joy was his family: daughter Stela Coffelt, son-in-law Joseph Coffelt, wife and life-long professional partner Jenni Guentcheva, who are surviving him. Celebration of Ventzi’s life will take place at the Abbot’s room of the Holly Cross Abbey in Canon City, Colorado, on October 29th, Sunday, at 1:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Habitat for Humanity or the American Heart Association.