Lifelong Scouter and World War II Veteran Vahram “Vee” Sookikian of Waltham, Mass. passed away on February 19, 2019, just shy of his 92nd birthday on March 28. Vee leaves behind his beloved wife of nearly 70 years, Helen Sookikian, his daughter, Linda Sookikian Eckersley and her husband Timothy, his son, Steven Richard Sookikian. Also grandsons Justin Vee Eckersley and his spouse Heather Eckersley, Christopher G. Eckersley, and Julian Oskian Sookikian and spouse Ana Sookikian, and great grandson Julian Sookikian. And sister-in-law Pauline Sanasarian. Son of the late Aghavny Calionjian Sookikian and Oskian Sookikian, Brother of the late Araxe Sookikian, Vee was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. At the age of 12, he joined Boy Scout Troop 2 of Brooklyn, beginning a life-long commitment to the Boy Scouts of America. When he was 16 years old, Vee served in the USDA’s Crop Corps working on a dairy farm in Northern Vermont. When he was old enough, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and was trained as a B-29 tail gunner, but did not see combat duty because of the cessation of hostilities. He was retrained as a touch typist and stationed in Germany as part of the Army of Occupation. Vee became a member of AMVETS Post 41 in Watertown, Mass. After returning home, he and Helen married on June 5, 1949, at St. James Armenian Apostolic Church in Watertown. The couple lived in New York City for several years while Vee earned a Bachelor’s degree and then a Masters in Physics from New York University. In 1956, the couple purchased a home in Waltham, Mass., where Helen continues to reside. Vee’s professional career as an electronic engineer spanned the era of miniaturization of transistors and the development of silicon chip microprocessors. He worked for multiple companies, including Sylvania, Raytheon, Computer Control, Honeywell, and Digital. An active member of the Armenian community, Vee served on the Board of Trustees for St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church, where he also taught Sunday School for many years. At the urging of his father-in-law, Vahrich Sanasarian, Vee founded Scout Troop 222 in 1959 at St. Stephen’s and served as its Scoutmaster until 1975 when the troop disbanded. A Star Scout in his youth, Vee’s 70 years of service to Scouting was honored with the District Award of Merit, the Silver Beaver Award, and the Vigil Honor of the Order of the Arrow. He was also Fox Patrol Leader in the first Wood Badge adult leader training course held in New England. Funeral service at Saint Stephen's Armenian Church, 38 Elton Avenue, Watertown on Thursday, February 28 at 11:00 a.m. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Visiting hours at the Aram Bedrosian Funeral Home, 558 Mount Auburn Street, Watertown on Wednesday, February 27 from 4 - 8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to either St. Stephen's Armenian Apostolic Church or make checks payable to the “Vee Sookikian Philmont Scholarship,” c/o Steven Sookikian, 26 Pelham Road, Waltham, MA 02453-6711. The fund will enable an individual Scout each year to attend the Philmont Scout Ranch, BSA high adventure base in New Mexico.