Richard Kolchakian

Kolchakian, Richard
April 19, 1919 - Jan. 10, 2009

Richard Kolchakian, 89, Sarasota,, formerly of Thomason, Ga., died Jan. 10, 2009.
Services will be 2 p.m. Sunday at Colonial Oaks Baptist Church, 6901 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota. Arrangements are by Kicliter Funeral Home in Palmetto. Burial will be at the Florida National Cemetery in Sarasota.
Survivors include sons Mike (Paula) and Marc (Debbie) of Sarasota, David of Myakka Head, and Maury (Diana) of Tallahassee. Richard is proudly survived by two grandchildren, Dr. Misty Kolchakian of Fullerton, Calif., and Griffin Kolchakian of Tallahassee. He was predeceased by his sisters, Araxy, Zabelle, Sally and Mary; and the mother of his sons, Gerry Griffin Burke.
Richard was raised in foster homes in Lewiston, Lisbon, and Poland Springs, Maine. For high school , he was selected to attend Henry Ford's Wayside Inn Boys School in Sudbury, Mass., where he was on the baseball and boxing teams. Richard saw extensive duty with the Army Signal Corps during World War II in England, Belgium and France. He also served during the Korean War, earning the rank of master sergeant and finished his military service as a civilian instructor at Fort Gordon. Richard had an exemplary career at Electro Mechanical Research in Sarasota, where he conducted the quality control testing on the telemetry system for the Gemini space program. After retirement, Richard became an accomplished ballroom dancer and was highly sought after by area dance studios. He danced in numerous competitions and in theatrical productions at the Sarasota Players Theatre. Richard traveled to Tallahassee to attend the seasonal Springtime Tallahassee balls. Richard had a great appreciation for growing, cooking, and eating food. He was legendary for putting on his Armenian feasts at Thanksgiving and Christmas for his family and friends.
Above all else, Richard was a dedicated father who selflessly raised his four sons in the country at Myakka City. After working his job all day in town, Richard took great joy in coming home to take care of his boys and in providing them with a happy upbringing filled with invaluable memories. He extended this family relationship to his other "adopted sons", Mark Weedman and Mike Mizell. Richard loved the land and having his own citrus grove, vegetable garden, and animals. He taught his sons to love the outdoors, learning sports, and the freedom to live your life your way. By example, he taught the values of loyalty, dependability, and compassion. Richard always kept a keen sense of humor in his approach to life. Richard lived his Christian faith by his daily love of family, kindness to friends, and generosity to the less fortunate.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Father Flannagan's Boys Home, Boys Town, Neb. 68010.