The Eastern Diocese was deeply saddened by the loss of Charles Guleserian, a lifelong member of the St. James Armenian Church in Watertown, MA, and its Diocesan delegate for close to a quarter of a century, who passed away on April 21, a few days shy of his 84th birthday.
Charlie was a fixture in the New England Armenian community: always dapper and smiling, a warm and friendly personality involved in every activity. He was very highly regarded in his native town of Belmont, where he was well known as a civic leader and founder of a successful construction and real estate firm.
He devoted a great part of his talent and energy to the Armenian Church, from his local parish, to the Diocesan and international levels. At the St. James parish, he served in almost every way imaginable: in the Sunday School, on Parish Council, in the Men’s Club, leading numerous fundraising and event committees over the course of six decades. In 2014, he was honored as the parish’s Man of the Year.
As Watertown’s longtime Diocesan delegate, Charlie was a beloved presence at Diocesan Assemblies, and was entrusted by his fellow delegates with responsible positions on the Auditing Committee and the Diocesan Board of Trustees, where his executive experience and sense of honor were greatly appreciated.
He was also deeply proud of being a cofounder of the of the Armenian Heritage Park Foundation, and of his leadership roles in the Armenian Council of Executives, the Knights of Vartan Ararat Lodge, the Masons and Belmont Rotary Club.
The centerpiece of Charlie’s life was his 60-year marriage to Joyce, and the family they raised: their three sons Mark, Gary and Matthew, and subsequently their grandchildren Samantha, Michael, Isabella, Lillian, and Gunther. His loved ones were the greatest comfort to Charles during his a brave battle against Parkinson’s Disease, and we pray for their consolation in this time of grief.
Click here to read more about Charles Guleserian’s life and work.
May our Lord grant repose to his servant, and make him worthy of God’s kingdom on the day of his judgment.