Obituary: Arthur H. Kevorkian

KEVORKIAN, Arthur H. (Hadoo)


Arthur H. (Hadoo) Kevorkian, 93, of Kensington, beloved husband of the late Catherine B. Kevorkian, former educator, and Central Connecticut State University's oldest living football player passed away peacefully January 17 at the MidState Medical Center in Meriden. Born May 13,1918 in New Britain, he was the middle of five children born to Harry and Mary Kevorkian. He graduated from New Britain High in 1937 where he played football under the legendary coach Chick Shea. After graduation he worked at Stanley Golf course where he regularly played golf with Herbert Welte, then the President of New Britain Teacher's College (CCSU) and Coach Jim Kaiser. Both men convinced "Hadoo" to enroll at the college and play football for the school. When he enrolled in September of 1939, he joined 12 of his former New Britain High teammates on a team that went on to become one of the most famous teams in the history of Central sports. That 1939 team went undefeated in six games and was unscored upon until the last quarter of their last game. The team, which played their home games at Willow Brook Park before crowds of over 5,000, gained national recognition and Kevorkian was named to the small college Little All American team as a tackle. Eight members of that team including Kevorkian and Coach Kaiser are in the CCSU Sports Hall of Fame. In 1940 &41 the "Profs" as they were called then went 9-2 and Kevorkian was twice named to the New England Small College team. With the outbreak of WWII he enlisted in the Army Air Corp and served three years as a B-24 pilot and flight instructor. In 1946 at the age of 28, he returned to Central, which was then known as T.C.C. -Teacher's College of Connecticut, and Captained the 1946 team. He graduated in May of 1947 and began a thirty year career in public education working first as an Industrial Arts teacher and coach at Berlin High School while playing semi pro football with the Hartford Blues and New Britain Codys. When the Korean War broke out he was called back to active duty and served two years in Japan as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force. He later obtained his Master's Degree from Trinity College and a sixth year certificate in administration from Hartford College. From 1961-1966 while still teaching in Berlin he served as President of the Connecticut State Federation of Teachers until he became Director of Vocational Education for the New Britain School District retiring in 1978 as their Director of Instruction. An avid golfer and bowler, he was a longtime member of the Timberlin Men's Golf Association and played on many public links teams as well as winning the club's Senior Golf Championship several times. However, his great passion remained the game of football where he was an active member and official for 55 years with the Central Connecticut Association of Football Officials retiring in 2005. In 1994 he was named outstanding official by the Hartford Chapter of the National Football Foundation and was selected to the New Britain Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. In 2010 he was in the inaugural class of the Berlin Sports Hall of Fame. Additionally, he was a past commander and longtime member of the Berlin VFW Post 10732 and had served on the Board of Directors of St. Stephen's Armenian Church. A skillful auto mechanic and handyman, he loved working on cars and doing various jobs around his home which he had built. He was a devoted husband, a loving and caring father and grandfather who was always willing to help others. He was predeceased by his loving wife of 57 years, Cassie (Basile) and his two brothers Michael and Stephen. He is survived by his two sons, Arthur L. and his wife Holly of Kensington, and Mark S. and his wife Rose of Meriden and his two devoted sisters, Shirley Kevorkian and Sue Kochunas of Kensington. He also leaves five grandchildren, who gave him great joy, Noelle Garneau, Kory, Kyle, Matthew, and Jacquelyn Kevorkian plus two great grandchildren, Aidan and Cameron Garneau, along with several nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be held at Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home, 411 South Main Street, New Britain from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, (January 20, 2012) with a prayer service conducted by Archpriest Rev. Krikoris Keshishian at 6 p.m. Funeral services will be held at St. Stephen's Armenian Apostolic Church, 167 Tremont St, New Britain on Saturday at 10 a.m. Burial, with military honors, will follow in Fairview Cemetery in New Britain. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Arthur & Catherine Kevorkian Family Scholarship, c/o Central Connecticut State University, Davidson Hall, New Britain, CT 06051 or to St. Stephen's Armenian Apostolic Church, 167 Tremont St., New Britain, CT 06053. Please share a memory of Arthur with the family in the on line guest book at www.ericksonhansen.com.