Andrea Kelmachter, 61, an English teacher at Cheshire High School, died Thursday, March 24, 2011 at Connecticut Hospice in Branford, CT.  She had lung cancer. Mrs. Kelmachter taught grades 10 thru 12 at Cheshire High School for 14 years prior to her death.  Before that she taught at Gateway Community College, Cheshire Academy, and as a long-term substitute and home-bound tutor for the Cheshire School System. Andrea Lynn Kelmachter was born in New Haven, CT but grew up across the globe.  During her childhood she lived in far flung places such as Alamogordo, New Mexico, Edwards Air Force Base, California, and RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, England.  She returned to New Haven in her teens and graduated from Hillhouse High School in 1967. After graduating high school, Mrs. Kelmachter attended Syracuse University, receiving a Bachelor's degree in English in 1971.  She later received a Master's degree in British Literature from George Mason University in 1978. An avid reader and literature lover, advising Cheshire High School's literary group for several years and enjoying a wide array of books from classic literature to murder mysteries.  Her favorite book to teach was Our Town by Thornton Wilder, and found great meaning in its message to seize every day and enjoy the little details of life to their fullest. She is survived by her husband, Barry L. Kelmachter, daughter Heather J. (Kelmachter) Salon and her husband Neil Salon of Boston, MA, and son Michael Z. Kelmachter and his wife Kai Kelmachter of Fairfax, VA.  She has one granddaughter, Lila, age 2.

Funeral service at Temple Beth David, 3 Main St., Cheshire Friday morning at 11. The interment will be in the Beaverdale Memorial Park, Pine Rock Ave., New Haven. Period of mourning will be observed at the Kelmachter residence, 75 Meadowbrook Pl., Cheshire through Sunday evening. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.