Harry J. Kevorkian

Aug. 14, 1929 - Oct. 9, 2011
GRANGER - Veteran broadcaster Harry J. Kevorkian, 82, of Granger, passed away Sunday at Hospice House in South Bend following a brief illness. Born Aug. 14, 1929, in Chicago, Harry was the son of the late Kachadoor and Paroos (Sahagian) Kevorkian, Armenian immigrants who fled Turkey to escape the Armenian genocide. Harry was proud of his heritage and his parents' sacrifices to make a better life in America. He grew up in a mixed immigrant neighborhood where he developed his love of different cuisines and cultures. He had a rare gift to be able to pronounce anyone's name correctly, an important asset to a news anchor. Harry graduated from Wright Junior College in Chicago and served in the Air Force, including 18 months in Morocco. Later, he earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois, where he would meet his future wife, Joyce Caroline Damron, who survives. They were married June 7, 1958, in Elmhurst, IL. A voracious reader, Harry loved literature and the English language. He enjoyed playing with words, and affectionately dubbed his wife "Funny Duck," a loving nickname that he used for 53 years of marriage. He enjoyed theater, music and the arts, and traveled extensively with family and friends. Always a quick wit, Harry enjoyed a good joke and, with a twinkle in his eye, often delivered hilarious one-liners. He was an avid amateur photographer, though continually professed his lack of skill. Besides Joyce, he is also survived by his son, Raiman Kevorkian of Swampscott, Mass.; two daughters, Virginia "Ginny" (Bruce Harris) Kevorkian of Granger and Melissa "Missy" (Jack Fields) Kevorkian of West Harrison, Ind.; twin grandchildren, Anna and Gregory Harris of Granger; three step-grandchildren, Brandon and Megan Fields, both of Iowa, and Jenifer (Fields) (Trevor) Hope, and their twins Logan and Lyla Hope, all of the Chicago area. Besides his parents, Harry was preceded in death by two brothers, Gregory and George, and two sisters, Albis and Anny. He started in the news business at the age of 14 as an ad runner for the Chicago Sun Times. He worked as a radio newscaster in Roanoke, Va., before moving to South Bend to join WSBT. He earned his master's degree in communications from Notre Dame. He later worked as a political reporter for WISH-TV in Indianapolis before returning to South Bend in 1967 to become news director of WNDU-TV. For more than 25 years, he worked for WNDU as a newscaster, assignment editor, news director and public affairs director. He retired from the station in 1993 as vice president for education and administration. His love for education was lifelong. He helped to establish WNDU's broadcast education program at Notre Dame in 1976 and taught broadcast courses there. He served on the board for Connect, the Coalition for Educational Success, winning the Exemplar Award in 1997. Harry received many broadcasting and community awards. He was past president of the Indiana Broadcasters Association and a charter member of the local Sigma Delta Chi chapter, a professional journalism organization. He was co-founder of PGL, the Pathetic Golf League, which started off with a handful of members and now has more than 40 members. An active Rotarian, he served on various boards and committees. Harry was recognized extensively for his contributions, including the Paul Harris Fellowship award by the Rotary Club of Downtown South Bend in 1994. A service celebrating Harry's life will be at 6 pm today at the McGann Hay Granger Chapel, 13260 SR 23, with the Rev. James Miller, Sunnyside Presbyterian, officiating. Visitation will be from 3 to 6 pm prior to the service. Harry requested that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the South Bend Rotary Charitable Foundation, 120 W. LaSalle Ave., #500, South Bend, IN 46601; or to the South Bend Civic Theatre, PO Box 1146, South Bend, IN 46624. Condolences to the family and memories of Harry may be shared with them at www.McGannHay.com.