Benjamin Dargoonian, 88, of Andover, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Saturday, April 23, 2011, at Holy Family Hospital in Methuen, MA.
Ben was born in Lawrence, MA, on March 15, 1923. He was a lifelong resident of Andover, MA. He was drafted in 1943, and left the family farm to serve as a heavy truck driver in the 1000th Engineers Treadway Bridge Company of the United States Army, the mission of which was to build bridges to enable the advancement of troops over various rivers. He landed in Omaha Beach and started his inland progress from Normandy, through Belgium and into Holland where he participated in most campaigns including the Battle of the Bulge.
After discharge in 1946, he returned to the family business that he co-founded with his brother Garabed in Andover in 1941. Over the years, the original farm expanded to include three additional parcels, and in the 1970’s, was again expanded to include greenhouse growing. Dargoonian Brothers Farm and Greenhouses, now run by his son Thomas, was his life-long passion, where he continued to work into and through his retirement.
Due to his military service and the need to tend to the family business, he was unable to complete his high school education. Fifty-three years later, he was bestowed with an honorary diploma from Andover High School during commencement exercises at Merrimack College.
He is predeceased by his wife Doris (Bourdelais) Dargoonian, and will be deeply missed by his three children; son Thomas and his wife Dena Dargoonian of Andover, MA, daughter Denise and husband David Pathiakis of Derry, NH, daughter Deborah and husband Jeff Manning of North Andover, and brother Garabed Dargoonian of Andover, MA.
He leaves his loving companion Karen MacKenzie of Andover, MA. Ben and Karen were members of the Armenian Church community and enjoyed entertaining family and many friends. The couple enjoyed numerous adventures, including ocean and river cruises, and visiting World War II sites in Europe.
He is also survived by six granddaughters: Jennifer (Manning) and husband Craig Guerin of Atlanta, GA, Michelle (Manning) and husband Zachary Fier of North Andover, MA, Chelsea Pathiakis of Derry, NH, and Kali, Kristen, and Kendra Dargoonian of Andover, MA.
Arrangements: A funeral mass was celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 28, in St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, 110 Main Street, Haverhill, MA 01830. Burial was in West Parish Garden Cemetery, 129 Reservation Road, Andover, MA 01810. Calling hours were held in the Burke-Magliozzi Funeral Home, 390 North Main Street, Andover on Wednesday, April 27, from 4-8 p.m.
For directions, please visit www.burkemagliozzi.com. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Armenian Apostolic Church at Hye Pointe 110 Main Street, Haverhill, MA 01830, or Holy Family Hospital Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, 70 East Street, Methuen, MA 01844. For additional information, please visit, www.burkemagliozzi.com.