Richard M. Serdjenian

Richard “Dick” Serdjenian Obituary 

Richard “Dick” Serdjenian, 97, died peacefully Thursday night at home in Roxbury, CT, a home shared by his daughter Janet Childs and her husband Christopher Childs. He was predeceased by the love of his life, his wife of 67 years, Beatrice Serdjenian. 

Born August 1, 1924 in Providence, RI he was the son of Michael D. and Nevart Serdjenian, with a younger brother Mihran and sister Helen. He attended Central High School in Providence, RI and went on to Rhode Island State College – now the University of Rhode Island - majoring  in accounting and playing on the football team. He graduated in 1948. 

After college, Dick worked at Fairdeal Manufacturing Company, a company his father started in 1935. Fairdeal Manufacturing made ornamental buttons primarily for the NY garment trade. Richard went on to grow the business and expanded it to include costume jewelry and advertising specialties. He and his brother, Mihran, sold the business when they retired in the 1990s. 

Some of his fondest childhood memories were of playing sandlot baseball and football as a kid at Roger Williams Park in Providence. As a Boy Scout, he went to Camp Yawgoog in Hope Valley, RI and played basketball at the local YMCA which he always believed “kept me out of trouble” as a youngster. He was the President of the Cranston Junior Chamber of Commerce. Over the years he was an avid stamp collector, bought and repaired old clocks, and collected  cloisonné pieces. 

He loved and played golf, and as he aged would talk golf with any and all who were around and willing. Dick and Beatrice spent half their time at The Plantations in Venice, Florida post retirement and were members of the Quidnessett Country Club and the Potowomut Golf Club in Rhode Island. 

Dick was a gregarious, kind and generous man. He loved sports of all kinds and followed the Red Sox, Patriots and all University of Rhode Island teams. A forever Rhode Islander, he enjoyed all things uniquely Rhode Island including snail salad, saugy hot dogs and coffee milk. 

He was a member of St. Sahag and the Mesrob Armenian Apostolic Church. Both of his parents were 1st generation Armenians who emigrated to the US to escape the Armenian genocide. Dick was very proud of his Armenian heritage and connected with the Armenian communities in both RI and Florida. 

He is survived by two of his three children, Janet Childs (husband Christopher Childs) and Mark Serdjenian (wife Tina Serdjenian). His loving son Kenneth predeceased him at the age of 24 in 1978. 

Dick loved his extended family including his grandchildren and great grandchildren: Kerry Serdjenian (daughter Danica), Tracy Serdjenian, Christine Serdjenian Yearwood (husband Jose Yearwood, daughter Ani, son Antonio and daughter Arpineh), Leigh and Shawn Childs. 

A memorial gathering will be held for Richard on Tuesday, November 23rd at 10:30 am at the Roxbury Congregational Church, Roxbury CT. The burial will be at 3 pm at Swan Point Cemetery in Providence, RI that same day. 

In Dick’s own words … “That’s about it”.

In Lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Rhode Island American Heart Association, 1 State Street Ste. 200 Providence, RI 02908.

To leave an online condolence please visit www.munsonloveterefuneralhome.com.

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