Stephen celebrated 59 years of marriage with Jean Varseneg Bazoian Berberian until her death on February 3, 2014. He will be greatly missed by his loving daughters, Dr. Brenda J. Berberian and Ms. Debora A. Berberian along with many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
Stephen is pre-deceased by his father, Krikor Berberian, mother, Hripseme Mahakian, and sister, Alice Papazian.
Stephen grew up in a traditional Armenian home in Newark, NJ along with his extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins. In addition to attending school, he was expected to help with chores and to work. He took a job in his uncle’s deli and grill and learned how to make special sandwiches, marking the beginning of his culinary career.
During his senior year in Central High school, the United States entered World War II and was drafting men into the army. He was 17 years old and chose to enlist in the Navy where he thought that he had a better chance of surviving. After many heated discussions with his parents, he was able to graduate early from high school and enter the Navy. Stephen became a Quartermaster Third Class on USS LCT 643, which crossed the English Chanel and landed on Omaha Beach, Normandy, France on D-Day, June 6, 1944. He had many harrowing experiences and some amazing ones. He was imprisoned in the Bastille after taking an unauthorized leave. After several weeks in the Bastille, he was asked by another inmate to join in a jail break. Luckily, he declined and only experienced the wrath of his ship’s captain upon his return.
As a young Navy sailor, he travelled to Paris and London as part of his training. While in London, he met distant Armenian relatives who welcomed him into their home. He was taken to restaurants and nightclubs as well as to their English countryside home. In Paris, he enjoyed cafes and jazz clubs. As he liked to say, he wasn’t going to museums and art galleries at that point in his life.
Upon his return to NJ, Stephen worked in several retail businesses. He worked as a grocer with his father, a butcher, and eventually owned his own liquor business. He met his future wife Jean at an Armenian picnic in NJ. She always said that she would not date the man who was wearing the orange shirt at the picnic. However, she did end up marrying him on October 9, 1955, and they had two wonderful daughters.
The tradition of pursuing higher education was stressed by Stephen and Jean to their daughters, Brenda and Debora. Both daughters went on to become successful in their respective fields, and their achievements through hard work were based on a strong foundation of higher education and family values made possible by their parents.
Stephen was an active member of St. Mary’s Armenian Church in Livingston, NJ and stressed Christian values and Armenian culture in the home. Although Stephen worked six days a week, he took his daughters to weekly Sunday school. He served as Chairman of the Parish council, a member of the Church Building Committee, and Chairman of the Young Peoples Auxiliary. He volunteered to cook for the monthly YPA meetings, offering delicious meals as a means of increasing meeting attendance and raising funds for the church.
His experiences in the Navy stayed with him forever. He was an active member of the Veterans of Foreign War organization. He and his Armenian friends established a VFW post in East Hanover, NJ, where they did charitable work for fellow veterans. Each Memorial Day, Stephen and his fellow veterans distributed “Buddy poppies” outdoors to raise money for the welfare of veterans and their families.
After his wife Jean died, he moved in with his daughter Brenda in North Bethesda. He became a member of St. Mary Armenian Church and was overwhelmed with the warmth and generosity of the Armenian community. He enjoyed the Avak Society luncheon events and occasionally helped in the kitchen.
He enjoyed cooking for his daughters and friends. He was known for his soups (lentil, chicken noodle, beef vegetable) which he always shared with friends and family. He was always concerned about the meals he would prepare for his family on a daily basis, even when he was ill.
From his early years growing up in Newark, NJ to building a new life after the war, Stephen always put others before himself and tried his best to support his family and friends. Whether remembered as a devoted husband and father, and thoughtful uncle and friend, Stephen had a profound impact on his family, friends and community. He will be missed by all.
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