Garry C. Degermajian, 83 years of age, lifelong resident of the City of Worcester, passed away on Monday, April 27.
He is survived by his devoted, loyal, supportive, faithful wife, Theresa "Terri" (Kalashian) also, a Worcester native sharing 57 years of blessed marriage. Also, he leaves two wonderful children, son Gregory D. Degermajian of Worcester, daughter Katherine (Kathy) Rose Wall, wife of Christopher Lee Wall, and his pride and joy, cherished granddaughter, Katherine Julianna (Katie) Wall of Charlottesville, Virginia. He also leaves Sarkis and Janice Kalashian and his family of Longmeadow, MA, and Daniel and Teresa Kalashian and family of Dublin, California.
Garry was the youngest son of the late Karzouhi (Katherine) Bozarian Degermajian and Kerkor (Gregory) Degermajian, both survivors of the Armenian Genocide in the ancient homeland of Armenia, now Turkey, and was predeceased by his special, devoted sister Roseanne Egan and brother, George.
Garry attended the Worcester Public Schools , graduated from North High School, 1950, earned his Bachelor of Science at the College of the Holy Cross, 1954, and was conferred his Master's Degree in Education from the former Boston State Teacher's College in 1957. In addition, he completed many post-graduate courses at Worcester State College in School Curriculum and Administration.
Shortly after receiving his degree at Holy Cross, Garry was inducted in to the U.S. Army during the Cold Wars, 1954-1956 and proudly served with distinction, dignity, and honor. Upon completion of his basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey and the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Aberdeen, Maryland, Garry was assigned to the European Command, Seventh Army, with the 599th Field Artillery Battalion, in Erlangen, Germany. He separated from the military as Specialist 4th Class and did not receive his Honorable Discharge until 1962, when his eight year obligation was completed.
In the summer of 1957, he accepted an appointment with the Oxford Public Schools, began as classroom teacher, and developed in his lifelong career in school education, including a diversity of administrative capacities with the Oxford Public Schools. Garry never forgot the cooperation and vigorous efforts of the teachers and total staff members of the entire school personnel that provided him with the motivation to administer and the Oxford Teacher's Association.
Garry was a member of the Armenian Church of Our Saviour in Worcester, American Legion Tatnuck Post #288, State Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Massachusetts Retired County and Municipal Employees Association. He was also a volunteer coordinator at his 60th class reunion at Holy Cross
During his retirement years, Garry enjoyed making renovations to his home and landscape, traveling nation-wide to select historic and scenic sites, visiting with his daughter Kathy and son-in-law Christopher, and special granddaughter, Katie, in the Thomas Jefferson Lake Monticello area, at the beautiful foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia.
In addition, he would not miss a day without his morning coffee at the local Worcester Dippin-Donut Shop with friends and acquaintances discussing the news of the day and happenstances.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the visiting hours with the family at the Armenian Church of Our Saviour, 87 Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA on Friday May 1st at 10:00 AM and followed by the funeral service at 11:00 AM.
Burial will follow immediately after the church services at the Degermajian family lot in Worcester's Hope Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy, in lieu flowers, if desired, may be made in memory of Garry to the Armenian Church of Our Saviour at 87 Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA 01609 or the College of the Holy Cross Scholarship Fund, 1 College Street, Worcester, MA.