Vartkas (Vark) Minasian, 89, of DeWitt, N.Y., passed away in Lake Worth, Fla. on Feb. 21, 2012.
Born in Syracuse, N.Y., Vartkas attended Blodgett Vocational High School and Syracuse University. He was a World War II veteran who honorably served his country in the army. Vartkas was employed at Kane & Roach and then at General Electric for 25 years. He later owned and operated Orange Julius in Shoppingtown and Fairmount Fair Malls and was a member of the DeWitt Rotary Club.
Vartkas dedicated his life to the Armenian Cause and was one of the founders and designer of St. John the Baptist Armenian Apostolic Church and Community Center built in 1956 in Syracuse. He was a member of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF). He later served the church as the president of the Board of Trustees for many years.
He was a devoted husband and father and will truly be missed.
Vartkas was predeceased by his parents, Hoosig and Siranoush Minasian. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Zephyr (Kyoomjian); daughters Adrienne (Gene) Spencer and Kathleen Anoush (Ernest) Santangelo; granddaughters Anissa M. and Briana M. Spencer; brother Mourad (Rosemary) Minasian; sister Eve Panzino; and several nieces and nephews.
Armenian services were held at the Dorsey-E. Earl Smith Memory Gardens Funeral Home in Lake Worth on Feb. 24. Calling hours will be held at the Gethsamane Baptist Church (formerly St. John the Baptist Armenian Apostolic Church) on 372 W. Matson Ave. in Syracuse, N.Y., on Sat., April 14 from 10-11 a.m.
Donations may be made in his memory to the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), 1711 N. Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20036, or to the Armenian Prelacy, 138 East 39th St., New York, NY 10016.
Always a loss for the Armenian community to lose one of their own, especially someone who dedicates themselves to the ARmenian Cause..
May God receives him in lights… Rest in peace…
I met Mr. Minasian many years ago when his children and many of us were in the AYF. He and his wife were always gracious hosts to kids from out of town who were visiting the Syracuse community. I remember visiting his Orange Julius store at the mall with my Armenian buddies. A wonderful man and a humble servant to the Armenian nation. May God Illuminate his soul and give comfort to his family.