Mr. Charles Balian

In Yale New Haven Hospital, Monday, October 19, 2009, Charles Balian, 79, of 10 Ridgeview Cir, Guilford. Beloved husband of Margaret Moorachian Balian. Charles was born in Racine, WI on November 10, 1929, son of the late Artin and Zarouhi Meldonian Balian. Loving father of Christopher (Anna) Balian of New York, NY and Lizbeth (John) Silbermann of Arlington, VA. Brother of Margaret Dadian of Racine, WI. Also survived by two grandsons, Jake and Alex Silbermann, many nieces, nephews and cousins. Predecease by a sister Patricia Balian. Charles, an accomplished chemical engineer, worked most recently for Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics in New Haven, Connecticut. His love for research and creativity led him to receive numerous U.S. patents, the most recent in 2006, for innovations in pressure-sensitive adhesives and thermal-interface materials. His talents and accomplishments also extended beyond his professional life. Charles held a long-standing passion for composing, directing, and playing music. His compositions included piano concertos, pieces for piano and orchestra, and piano and choir. During a two-year tour with the Army ('52-'54), he won several armed forces competitions and was selected to be a part of two entertainment shows touring Germany. Charles combined his passion for music and duty to the Armenian Church by directing church choirs in Racine, Wisconsin; Evanston, Illinois; and Trumbull, Connecticut. Under his direction, the St. Mesrob Choir (Racine, Wisconsin) conducted a national tour presenting concerts of Armenian folk and liturgical works. He also served as national chairman for the Armenian Apostolic Church Choir Association. Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 26 at 12 noon at the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church St, Guilford, CT. Friends may call prior at the funeral home from 10:30am to 12pm. Burial will be private. Contributions in Mr. Balian's memory may be made to the Yale Cancer Center, 157 Church St, New Haven, CT 06510-2100 or to the Armenian Church of the Holy Ascension – Church Choir, 1460 Huntington Turnpike, Trumbull, CT 06611. For more information or to send a condolence please visit www.GuilfordFuneralHome.com