Charles Sarajian

Charles Sarajian – 100 years old

Born in Revere MA 6/28/23 to Krikor & Areknaz Sarajian

His father suffered a stroke in 1936 and would pass some years later.

Charles graduated Revere HS in 1940

Charles then went to NYC to learn the photoengraving business from his Uncle after graduation .  He lived with his Uncle’s family in Cliffside Park for a year and then brought his mother and sister, Grace  to NYC where they lived on 25^th Street in an apartment with all Armenians

Charles was then drafted into the Army Corp of Engineers in WWII

They built runways at the Azores for bombers to stop and refuel.

After returning to the states, he was based in Virginia.  From there he went cross country to Spokane WA where they would board a ship headed for Okinawa.  Before they reached their destination, the war ended but they completed the trip anyway.

He returned to NYC to work with his Uncle in the photoengraving business.

After his sister married, they all moved to North Bergen.

In 1955, he married Thelma, they moved to Cliffside Park in 1956  and  was blessed with two boys, Robert & Gregory.

Because he was very skilled in photoengraving, he was in high demand and worked in many shops in NYC & NJ.

Finally he joined with 3 other men and became a partner at Van Allyn Graphics in NYC.

He retired in 1987.

He was a member and trustee at Holy Cross Armenian Church, then a member of St Thomas and finally a member at  St Leon’s.

Charles & Thelma enjoyed the Armenian get-away weekends in the Catskills, the times spent in Florida with a group of Armenians, the yearly weekend gathering of the St Gregory Choir in the Catskills/Poconos and summers at the Palisades Park pool.

In 1992, Gregory would marry Barbara and they would give him his two grandchildren, Erika & Alex and Robert later married Carol in 2011.

His favorite pastimes included listening and dancing to Armenian music and playing cards.

For many years, he would play cards 3 times per week with the Armenian senior groups at the various churches in northern NJ

He also loved to go the Meadowlands race track with his partners from work and also organized many St Thomas Men’s club dinners at the track

In 2004, he finally was able to celebrate his beloved Red Sox winning a World Series.

Charles was well-liked by everyone who knew him. We will miss him very much.

Survived by wife, Thelma of 68 years, sons Robert(Carol) & Gregory(Barbara), grandchildren Erika & Alex, and sister Grace .

The family will receive their friends on Thursday May 16th  from 5-8 pm at St. Leons Armenian Church in Saddle River NJ. The funeral service will start at 11am on Friday May 17th at St. Leons Armenian Church.   In lieu if flowers donations can be made in Charles memory to St. Leons Armenian Church.   For further information call (201) 944-0100 or www.frankpatti.com