Kenneth C. Minasian of Hyde Park, formerly of Malden, passed away on January 6, 2026. He was 83 years old.
Ken was born in Malden and attended Malden Public Schools for 8 years, and for the rest of his life he was educated by experience.
He entered the Navy at 18 years old and did four years of active duty on the first large deck aircraft carrier USS Forestall. He was an elevator operator maneuvering aircraft up to the flight deck. During this time, he was also selected to a small group that served a detail for President Eisenhower. He was honorably discharged in 1965 and later served in the Navy reserves as a BU (builder) in the Seabees until he retired in his early 60’s as an E5 2nd class petty officer.
Ken’s combined service tallied over 25 years. On the civilian side, in his early years he worked as a heavy truck mechanic for ford, ran a cleaning business but he spent most of his career as a self-employed contractor specializing in home remodeling. It was mainly a family business and over the years he employed his sons, their friends and many others teaching them life skills and life lessons. He also officiated baseball, softball and soccer. More recently he ran clocks for football games. He loved to keep busy.
His whole life he tried to stay active and live life to the fullest. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Moose Lodge in Malden. He spent his free time over the years playing cards, horseshoes, riding dirt bikes and motorcycles, enjoying a scotch and a cigar, dancing, skiing and watching football, baseball and listening to music. His favorites were big bands, old country- Western, jazz and oldies to name a few. He loved his wife, son, daughter-in-law but most of all, his grandchildren. They were his motivation to “stick around” as he would say. He loved attending their sports and dance competitions. He never missed any of them and he was always early.
Ken is Predeceased by his beloved Ma and Pa Miller, in-laws Bea and Fred, Aunt Margaret, son Matthew and stepson Neil, siblings Carol and David, and his closest friends Henry and Paul.
He leaves behind his wife Virginia, son Ken Jr. and his wife Jaime. Stepdaughter Nancy and husband William and stepson Richard and his husband Richard. Stepdaughters Jill, Chantal and their husbands Brian and Kevin. His grandkids Dylan, Samantha, Alex, Zachary, Charlotte, Delaney and Brody. His nephew John and his wife Charlotte. And many other friends and extended family.
Visiting hours will be held at A. J. Spadafora Funeral Home, 865 Main Street, Malden, on Sunday January 11th from 3:00pm-6:00pm. A prayer service will be held at 6:00pm following the visitation. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Private interment will be in the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, MA.
In lieu of flowers donations in Ken’s memory may be made to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital at https://www.stjude.org