Roland Haig Tcherkezian

Roland Haig Tcherkezian, a long time business owner and resident of Charlotte, N C, passed away on Friday, December 8, 2023 after a sudden decline in health. He was born in Brussels, Belgium on January 17, 1929.

He is predeceased by his parents, Haroutian Artine and Alice C. Desmedt Tcherkezian; he of Egypt and Belgium and she of Belgium. Additionally, he is predeceased by his only sibling, Eric Armen Tcherkezian of Belgium and New York City, NY. To his great sorrow, Roland’s youngest son, Harry Pierre “Hap” Tcherkezian died at age 40 in 2004. Additionally, he is predeceased by his step-grandson, Andrew Dutterer.

Roland is survived by his loving wife, Brenda Dutton Tcherkezian, and by his son, Mark Bealer Tcherkezian and wife Lesa and their four children: Mark Jr. and wife Meghan and their two children, Matthew and his wife Bonnie, Kathleen T Hawes; and Alex Hawes husband and baby son; and Lucas.

Roland’s first wife, Ernestine Bealer Tcherkezian passed away in February 2006. Roland is survived by her three children: Leigh B. Walker and husband Vince, Judith B. Dutterer and husband Dennis, and Robert A. Barnett and wife Rebecca, and all grandchildren. He enjoyed many happy years with family gatherings for celebrations, and beach outings and awe-inspiring travels.

Adding to his life circle, Roland found new adventures with wife Brenda’s children: Michelle Mosier and husband Eugene Sandy III, Melanie Mosier-Haun and husband James, and Thomas Mosier and wife Barbara and their daughters, Brittany Minahan and husband Michael and baby Michael, and Danielle Zaharek and husband Trey. They shared holiday celebrations, musical jam sessions, vacations, travels and dinners at Roland’s favorite local restaurant.

Roland leaves loving cousins who will miss the eldest in their clans and many faithful friends.

Roland’s education was interrupted by the German occupation of Belgium during World War II and their invasion of his family’s home. He and a best friend left their families and joined the French Underground Resistance forces at age 15. Roland was captured by the Germans and held until end of war in Europe in 1945. He was a very brave young soldier. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre Avec Etoile D’Argent by France and the Croix des E’Vades by Belgium at age 16.

Returning to home in Belgium, he continued his education there and in Switzerland. He entered the U.S. to work under mentoring by his father, a tobacco broker and manufacturer of tobacco products. He learned company organization and operation in Danville, VA in the tobacco industry. He received his Certificate of Naturalization for U.S.A. citizenship in 1954 while residing in Danville. Roland created his own tobacco brokerage company, travelling in the U.S. and to many countries- notably Africa, India, Japan and the Middle East.

He met and married his first wife, Ernestine Bealer Barnett, a widow with three young children, in Danville.

Roland’s career path changed when he left tobacco to become President and principal owner of Bealer Wholesale, Inc., a distributor for Anheuser-Busch. He developed a “budding” company into a very successful enterprise for the Charlotte region, making many friends across the U.S. He held a strong relationship with Anheuser-Busch and enjoyed many years of successful ventures.

Roland Haig Tcherkezian’s dynamic personality, his comedic mischievous manner, his command of and love of languages, his broad life experiences, his stubbornness to achieve - all brought many people to his successes. He put family first, he put work as a necessity and a duty, he was constantly educating himself for renewal and competency. Privately, he was a generous man who committed to fairness, who was open to the needs of others, who was respectful and grateful in spirit - a quiet man inside who clothed his sensitive nature with love of music - ignoring deafness that began with the firebombs he escaped in Pforzheim, Germany in February 1945. He is a century’s record of extraordinary human adventure and stubborn focus. He leaves all better for having known him.

The memorial service to honor his life will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 17, 2023 at St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church, 7000 Park Rd., Charlotte, NC. The family will receive friends following the service in the church fellowship hall.

Memorial contributions, in lieu of flowers, may be made to St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church.

Condolences may be offered at www.McEwenPinevilleChapel.com