David Topazian

David S. Topazian, D.D.S
Dr. David S. Topazian, a former resident of Orange, Connecticut, went home to be with his Lord on December 29, 2017. He was 86. Dr. Topazian was born in 1931 in Greenwich, Connecticut, to Shavarsh and Alyce Topazian. He attended Houghton College and McGill University Faculty of Dentistry in Montreal, where he met and married his wife Deidre. After serving in the United States Army, he completed training in oral surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1961, he opened his oral surgery practice in Milford, Connecticut, where he practiced for 27 years.
David served in many community and Christian organizations, including as President of the Connecticut Society of Oral Surgery, President of the national Christian Medical and Dental Associations (CMDA), and as an elder and Sunday School teacher at Black Rock Church in Fairfield, Connecticut. He was a frequent volunteer on short-term medical missions trips to many parts of the world.
After retiring early from his surgery practice, he and Deidre pastored the Valencia Community Church in Valencia, Venezuela as full-time missionaries. During this time, David became aware of a decline in the numbers of American healthcare professionals serving people in need worldwide. His research found that educational debt was a primary contributor to this decline: large student debts prevented interested professionals from pursuing low-paying missions careers. After completing an M.B.A. in non-profit management, David co-founded and led MedSend, a nonprofit organization which pays the educational debts of healthcare professionals while they serve in missions settings in the USA and around the world. A resurgence in American healthcare missions followed. Since its inception 25 years ago, MedSend has approved grants to more than 600 healthcare professionals serving around the world.
David's love for God was the defining focus of his life. He will be remembered for his generosity, his willingness to invest in other people, his and Deidre's hospitality, and his love for family, scripture, singing, poetry and gardening.
David is survived by his wife Deidre Wade Topazian; their three children Mark Topazian and his wife Janet, Peter Topazian, and Joy Topazian Moore and her husband Will; his grandchildren Hillary, Rachel and Elise Topazian, and Ava, Simon and Caleb Moore; his brother Dr. Richard Topazian and his wife Pauline; his sister Carolyn Topazian; his sister-in-law Rev. Thora Rowe; and nine nieces and nephews. A memorial service to celebrate David's life will be held at Black Rock Church, 3685 Black Rock Turnpike in Fairfield, Connecticut on Saturday, January 6, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. A reception and visiting hours with the family will be held at 2:30 p.m. at the church. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Dr. Topazian's memory to MedSend, 999 Oronoque Lane, Stratford, Connecticut 06614, or https://medsend.org.