John "Jay" Varadian

Cranston: Varadian, John "Jay", 75, of Shaw Ave, died Friday at Rhode Island Hospital, after being stricken at home. He was the husband of Sylvia (Kolligian) Varadian for 54 years.Born in Providence, he was the son of the late Sarkis and Ramella (Agajanian) Varadian.Mr. Varadian worked as a supervisor for the Rhode Island Family Court for the past 23 years.He was a former national delegate and a member of the board of trustees of Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church. He was a member of the Providence "Kristapor" Chapter of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, and was a long standing member of the Armenian Martyrs' Memorial Committee. He was a 1949 graduate of Cranston High School where he was nicknamed "Golden Toe" by Providence Journal sports writer, Dick Reynolds for his expertise in field goal kicking. He was the recipient of the Outstanding Armenian Athlete in 1949 from the Armenian General Athletic Union. He was the President of Jay's Family Footwear in Cumberland Plaza in 1969. He was honored with the "Olympic King Award" by the Armenian Youth Federation in 1970 and in 1999, he was honored at the St.Sahag and St. Mesrob Armenian Church Annual Sports Banquet.He was a past president of the Rhode Island Association of Approved Basketball Officials. Besides his wife, he leaves two sons, Richard J. Varadian and his wife Linda, of Wilton, CT and Sarkis J. Varadian of Cranston, a daughter, Sylvia E. Varadian of Cranston, two brothers, Melkon Varadian and Haig Varadian of Cranston, a sister, Mary Kachadoorian of Leicester, Ma, 4 grandchildren, Richard and Simone Varadian and Sylvahna and Sarkis Menissian. He was the father of the late Stephen J. Varadian and brother of the late Vared Varadian.His funeral will be held on Tuesday at 8:30am from the Russell J. Boyle&Son Funeral Home, 142 Centerville Road, Route 117, Warwick. Services will be at 10:00am in Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church, Broadway, Providence. Burial will be in North Burial Ground, Providence. Visiting hours, Monday 4-8pm. In lieu of flowers, donations to Armenian National Committee of RI, 7 Armenia St., Providence, RI 02909 or Armenian Martyrs' Memorial Committee of RI, PO Box 28549, Providence, RI 02908 or Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church, 402 Broadway, Providence, RI 02909 in his memory would be appreciated.