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Obituary: Albert Sarkissian (1917-2014)
By Contributor on July 24, 2014
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2014/07/24/obituary-albert-sarkissian-1917-2014/
Albert Sarkissian
Albert Sarkissian was born on Feb. 12, 1917, in an Armenian community
that was then in Russian Ashkabad. Albert was the son of Shooshanik
Hovsepian (born in Shushi) and Vaghinak Sarkissian (born in Tabriz).
Albert and his sister, Seda, were orphaned at a young age. Although
they lived with family, they needed to learn to fend for themselves
very early in life. Albert joined the army at age 16 and served as a
communications specialist. He spent most of his childhood in Iran
where he met his future wife, Lena Aganoor.
Albert and Lena were married on Aug. 6, 1943 and were inseparable
partners for 65 years. They had three children--Susan, Sofia, and Leo.
Collectively there are seven grandchildren, several of whom are
married: Susan and Ray Bagdasarian, with children, Laura and Greg
Srebotnik and Robert and Karen Bagdasarian, and great-grandchildren
Nicole and Matthew; Sofie and Marv Gough, with children, Kristen and
Thomas Aikman, and great grandson, Noah; Greg Gough; Alissa and
Michael Ray, and great grandsons Xavier and Xander; and Leo and Mary
Sarkissian, with children Heather and Matt Saforrian and Hailey
Sarkissian.
Albert worked diligently his entire life, always taking advantage of
educational opportunities, even when working full-time. The
opportunity to further his family's and his personal education was a
driving factor in his decision to move to New York City in 1958 with
his wife and three young children.
He believed strongly in education. In New York, he attended RCA
institute while working full-time, so that he could advance himself as
an electronics engineer. He earned his bachelor's degree from the New
York Institute of Technology and later, as a graduate, was an
instructor at the successor to the RCA Institute. Albert served as
vice president and plant manager of an electronics firm in Queens,
N.Y., for many years. In the early 1970's, he established and became
the president of Hybrid Semiconductors, Inc. The U.S government was
one of the company's primary customers.
In retirement in the 1990's, he and his wife left New York to live
close to the Armenian community in Watertown, Mass. There they
attended many events and seminars hosted by the church, the Armenian
Library and Museum of America (ALMA), the National Association for
Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR), the Armenian Cultural
Foundation (ACF), and other organizations.
Although his career was in electronics, in retirement Albert returned
to literature and journalism in his volunteer and personal activities.
As a "Researcher of Armenian Studies," he authored and published a
book titled, Contemplations, Free Masons and British Anti-Armenian
Activities in 2003. He sent copies of the book to Armenian libraries
and groups across the world.
For years he was active in the Armenian church, serving on the board
of St. Illuminator's Cathedral in New York and attending many church
national assemblies. Albert was a member of St. Stephan's Armenian
Church, active in the Armenian Revisionary Federation (ARF), and was a
volunteer at ALMA and the Hairenik newspaper. He felt strongly about
Armenian independence and Armenian education. He and his wife traveled
to Armenia twice in later years.
Albert always had time for his family. One of his major roles was
"chauffer," dropping off and picking up his children, wife, and
sister-in-law often on a daily basis. He was protective of his
daughters and would not want them driving with friends (so, he would
often drive them to the mall or the movies, and wait in the car if
need be, reading or doing his engineering homework).
In addition to his family, he was fortunate to have many good friends,
both from the Armenian community and work. He was a man of strong
principles, reflected in his commitment to his Armenian heritage, his
adopted country, his family, church, and friends.
By Contributor on July 24, 2014
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2014/07/24/obituary-albert-sarkissian-1917-2014/
Albert Sarkissian
Albert Sarkissian was born on Feb. 12, 1917, in an Armenian community
that was then in Russian Ashkabad. Albert was the son of Shooshanik
Hovsepian (born in Shushi) and Vaghinak Sarkissian (born in Tabriz).
Albert and his sister, Seda, were orphaned at a young age. Although
they lived with family, they needed to learn to fend for themselves
very early in life. Albert joined the army at age 16 and served as a
communications specialist. He spent most of his childhood in Iran
where he met his future wife, Lena Aganoor.
Albert and Lena were married on Aug. 6, 1943 and were inseparable
partners for 65 years. They had three children--Susan, Sofia, and Leo.
Collectively there are seven grandchildren, several of whom are
married: Susan and Ray Bagdasarian, with children, Laura and Greg
Srebotnik and Robert and Karen Bagdasarian, and great-grandchildren
Nicole and Matthew; Sofie and Marv Gough, with children, Kristen and
Thomas Aikman, and great grandson, Noah; Greg Gough; Alissa and
Michael Ray, and great grandsons Xavier and Xander; and Leo and Mary
Sarkissian, with children Heather and Matt Saforrian and Hailey
Sarkissian.
Albert worked diligently his entire life, always taking advantage of
educational opportunities, even when working full-time. The
opportunity to further his family's and his personal education was a
driving factor in his decision to move to New York City in 1958 with
his wife and three young children.
He believed strongly in education. In New York, he attended RCA
institute while working full-time, so that he could advance himself as
an electronics engineer. He earned his bachelor's degree from the New
York Institute of Technology and later, as a graduate, was an
instructor at the successor to the RCA Institute. Albert served as
vice president and plant manager of an electronics firm in Queens,
N.Y., for many years. In the early 1970's, he established and became
the president of Hybrid Semiconductors, Inc. The U.S government was
one of the company's primary customers.
In retirement in the 1990's, he and his wife left New York to live
close to the Armenian community in Watertown, Mass. There they
attended many events and seminars hosted by the church, the Armenian
Library and Museum of America (ALMA), the National Association for
Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR), the Armenian Cultural
Foundation (ACF), and other organizations.
Although his career was in electronics, in retirement Albert returned
to literature and journalism in his volunteer and personal activities.
As a "Researcher of Armenian Studies," he authored and published a
book titled, Contemplations, Free Masons and British Anti-Armenian
Activities in 2003. He sent copies of the book to Armenian libraries
and groups across the world.
For years he was active in the Armenian church, serving on the board
of St. Illuminator's Cathedral in New York and attending many church
national assemblies. Albert was a member of St. Stephan's Armenian
Church, active in the Armenian Revisionary Federation (ARF), and was a
volunteer at ALMA and the Hairenik newspaper. He felt strongly about
Armenian independence and Armenian education. He and his wife traveled
to Armenia twice in later years.
Albert always had time for his family. One of his major roles was
"chauffer," dropping off and picking up his children, wife, and
sister-in-law often on a daily basis. He was protective of his
daughters and would not want them driving with friends (so, he would
often drive them to the mall or the movies, and wait in the car if
need be, reading or doing his engineering homework).
In addition to his family, he was fortunate to have many good friends,
both from the Armenian community and work. He was a man of strong
principles, reflected in his commitment to his Armenian heritage, his
adopted country, his family, church, and friends.