Sarkisian, Charles Garabed , better known as ''Unc'' to his family, passed away January 26, 2011. He was 79 years old. Charles had been visiting his sister and his niece in California when he suffered an attack of pancreatitis. Although he showed moments of great strength, convincing his family that he was going to pull through this health scare, his body could no longer handle the strain. Born July 8, 1931 in Flint, Michigan, Charles was the eldest of three ,born to Armenian parents who were survivors of the Genocide. He spent the majority of his life in Massachusetts, with a home in Belmont and one , which he built himself in Cape Cod. Charles served in the U.S. Airforce during the Korean War from 1951 to 1955. He had entered the military as a private and he left as a sergeant with an honorable discharge.
He then attended the Wenworth Institute and Northeastern University and he graduated with a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering. he worked as an engineer at several different companies, but most recently at Copley Controls where he helped develop technology currently used in MRI machines. Although he never married and he had no children of his own , Charles was a father figure to his six nephews and nieces, grandfather to ten grandchildren and great-grandfather to four great -grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters, Lucy Sahagian and her husband Ed of Falmouth, MA, and Nancy Goubran of Pacific Palisades, CA.
Funeral services will be held at Saint James Armenian Church, 465 Mount Auburn Street, Watertown on Wednesday February 2 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 Tuesday from 5 - 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Saint James Armenian Church.Interment at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Arlington. Veteran Korean Conflict, U.S. Airforce