Sarkis Atamian

Sarkis Atamian, 82, died Dec. 27, 2005, at Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage. Rosary and viewing were held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1201 Bogard Road, Wasilla. A funeral Mass was at noon on Wednesday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, with burial following at Sacred Heart Cemetery. The Revs. Leo Desso, Kasper Mallavarapo and Stanley Allie officiated. Pallbearers were Dick Herran, Ron Williams, Rolin Randall, David Irany, Matthew Sequeira (grandson) and Don Black.

Mr. Atamian was born July 12, 1923, in Providence, R.I. He attended Providence College from 1945-1946, the University of Rhode Island (cum laude) from 1947-1950, Brown University (on a scholarship) for his master of arts degree from 1951-1952, and the University of Utah for doctorate studies in 1969.

Mr. Atamian was a veteran of World War II, serving in North Africa, Italy France, and Germany from 1943-1945. He was a field surgical technician, and was honorably discharged in December 1945 with six service ribbons, three battle campaign stars and a presidential unit citation.

Mr. Atamian moved to Alaska in May 1961. He lived in Fairbanks from 1961-1985, and lived in Wasilla from 1985 until his death. He retired in June 1985 from the University of Alaska at Fairbanks, where he was employed as a professor.

Mr. Atamian was involved with the Armenian Youth Federation as a young man, winning track and field events in the Armenian Olympics. He was the Knights of Columbus lecturer for the Wasilla Arctic Madonna Chapter and a member of Safari Club International, National Rifle Association and Egyptian Exploration Society. He was elected to fellow nonresident of the Explorers Club in March 1973, was a founding and charter Member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 1973, a member of the VFW and the American Legion and was accepted for membership in the American Sociological Association in 1961.

Mr. Atamian wrote, &#8220The Armenian Community,” which was published in 1955. He also wrote &#8220The Bears of Manley,” published in 1995, and &#8220The Origins of Tarzan, The Mystery of Tarzan's Creation Solved” (1997). He wrote many articles, including &#8220The Anaktwuk Mask and Cultural Innovation” as the lead article in &#8220Science, Journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science” in the May 1966 issue.

Mr. Atamian contributed articles for the Armenian Weekly newspaper and The Armenian Review throughout the years. He was also a frequent guest speaker or lecturer for community organizations. Mr. Atamian loved entertaining family and friends, hunting, fishing, reading, music, dancing and travel. He conducted several student tours to Egypt, and traveled the world.

Survivors are his wife, Alison Atamian of Wasilla; daughters and sons-in-law, Barbara and Eugene Sequeira of Fresno, Calif., and Lenore and Jim Chevalley of San Francisco; grandson, Matthew Sequeira of Fresno, Calif.; brother and sister-in-law, Harold and Virginia Atamian of Fresno, Calif.; sister and brother-in-law, Stella and Earl Boyajian of Fresno, Calif., and several dearly loved nieces and nephews, all of California.

Flowers are welcome, and memorial donations may be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1201 Bogard Road, Wasilla, AK. 99654. Funeral arrangements are with Valley Funeral Home in Wasilla.