Armen Babamian

BABAMIAN
Armen P. a longtime resident of New Milford, formerly of Cliffside Park passed away on December 24 at the age of 97. Armen was a retired Insurance salesman, avid tennis player and a world renowned soloist. Armen Babamian sang his first solo at the age of twelve in the Holy Cross Armenian Church of Union City, NJ. He was featured as tenor soloist in his junior and senior years in high school and subsequently studied voice with Manley Price Boone at the Metropolitan Opera Studios. Following an audition by director, Robert Shaw, Armen was accepted in the Collegiate Chorale, and qualified for the Varsity Choir and Shaw's CBS Radio Choir. He served as Choirmaster at St. Illuminator Armenian Church in New York City for 25 years and the conductor of the Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church in Ridgefield N.J. for many years. In 1999 he was the recipient of the Mesrob Mashdots Metal and Holy Ecyclical Metal by the Catholicos Aram I of Antelias. Armen is survived by his beloved Rita of 71 years of marriage. Devoted father of Carole Abbatiello and her husband Joseph and Armen J. Babamian and his wife Amelia. Loving grandfather of Christine Manning (Michael). Lynn Madden Toufayan (Arthur), Joseph Abbatiello (Carissa), Gernelle Bokuniewicz (Dan) and Armen P. Babamian II. He has 10 terrific great grandchildren and is survived by a large extended family. His visiting will be on Thursday for 3-7 PM at the William G. Basralian Funeral Home, 559 Kinderkamack Road, Oradell. Funeral Services will be on Friday 10:30 AM at Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church 461 Bergen Boulevard Ridgefield. Entombment following George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus. In lieu of flowers. donations may be made to Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church or the American Heart Association.