Stephen Martin Sabounjian Obituary
November 2, 1952 – April 27, 2025
Stephen “Steve” Martin Sabounjian, 72, of Wilmington, Mass., passed peacefully into the hands of his Lord on Sunday, April 27, 2025, after a valiant medical battle. Steve was born on November 2, 1952, in Cambridge, Mass., the son of the late Mehran and Ossana (Orchanian) Sabounjian.
Steve grew up in Belmont, Mass., where he graduated from Belmont High School in 1971. Relationships were important to Steve, and he often spoke about the special connections he made while working on the senior class production of Bye Bye Birdie. Those relationships inspired him to pursue Communication/TV/Radio Production at Grahm Junior College in Boston, Mass., and later the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he earned his bachelor’s degree.
Not many people can say they loved work, but Steve often spoke of his various jobs and career paths with pride. He worked hard at many jobs over the years—often multiple jobs at once early in his career. He particularly enjoyed and excelled in the field of purchasing for new product development with medical device manufacturers. Steve retired on March 16, 2025, from Johnson & Johnson/Abiomed in Danvers, Mass. Though he loved purchasing, Steve also kept a hand in television production. For years, he worked part-time for NBC and then CBS Sports as a “runner” for Celtics and Patriots home games. He later joined the board of directors for the local Wilmington cable station, WCTV.
On October 6, 1979, Steve married his loving wife, Libby, and began a 46-plus-year partnership of strength and love that resulted in their son Marty, his wife Kathleen, and their beloved granddaughter Sydney. Steve was involved in all aspects of Marty’s life, but his time with Marty’s Boy Scout troop and journey to Eagle Scout held especially meaningful memories and lasting friendships.
Steve seemingly knew “everyone,” but he prioritized staying close to his very large extended family, his many circles of friends, and the friends who became family at Armenian Memorial Church. He could often be found supporting the church and treasured the relationships and memories made in the church hall.
Steve is survived by his wife, Elizabeth “Libby” Ernestine (Leach) Sabounjian; his son, Martin “Marty” Richard Sabounjian, and Marty’s wife, Kathleen Elizabeth Kiely; and his granddaughter, Sydney Kiely Sabounjian of Quincy, Mass.
He is also survived by his sister, Madeline “Ann” (Sabounjian) Menzie, and her husband, Michael “Mike” John Menzie of Belmont, Mass.; his sister, Grace Azniv Kent, and her husband, Robert “Bob” Kent of Wilmington, Mass.
Additional survivors include his niece, Melissa Taline Evans, her husband, Robert “Bob” Raymond Evans, and their son, Anderson “Andy” Michael Evans of Brooklyn, N.Y.; his nephew, Keith Michael Menzie, and Keith’s fiancée, Susan Buenafe of Arlington, Mass.; his nephew, Timothy “Tim” Michael Kent of Tewksbury, Mass.; and his nephew, Matthew Stephen Kent, Matthew’s wife, Lee Alexandria Sprague, and their children, Logan Xavier Sprague-Kent and Calliope Fae Sprague-Kent of Ayer, Mass.
A wake will be held on Friday, May 2, 2025, from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at Aram Bedrosian Funeral Home, 558 Mount Auburn Street, Watertown, Mass., 02472. A funeral service will take place on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 11:30 A.M. at Armenian Memorial Church, 32 Bigelow Avenue, Watertown, Mass., 02472.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial gift to Armenian Memorial Church.