Alice (Terzian) Tavitian, 90, of Whitman, MA passed away peacefully at home, Saturday August 28, 2021 surrounded by her loving family and friends. She was the beloved wife of Gary Tavitian for nearly 65 years.
Alice was the middle daughter of Samuel and Arshalooys (Tashjian) Terzian, Armenian immigrants and Genocide survivors who established the Pleasant View Dairy in Whitman,MA, the town she lived in her entire life. Alice and Gary lived down the street from the farm and had many lifelong friends and wonderful neighbors on Pleasant Street.
A graduate of Whitman High School ‘49, she was proud to be selected for a program at Mass General Hospital to become a certified Orton Gillingham reading specialist. Her group was one of the first to be trained in the state which led to a very rewarding 37-year career in the Holt and Dyer elementary schools helping students with dyslexia and stuttering.
Alice was a lifelong Girl Scout and troop leader for the Brownies and Cadettes for over 40 years. As part of the Girl Scouts, she also became a Wing Scout and learned to fly a plane with the hopes of joining the Marines as a pilot. When her Marine recruiter told her they wouldn’t let women fly at that time, she chose a different path.
Alice was also a devout Methodist, always willing to help those in need. She started the Whitman Food Pantry and volunteered there for over 60 years. People still call their home phone to this day looking for help with groceries. The Town of Whitman declared November 29, 2015 as Alice and Gary Tavitian Day for their tireless efforts to keep people from going hungry. She was also, a dedicated Sunday School teacher for 50 years at her beloved Whitman United Methodist Church, where she also served as Church historian, was a long-standing member of the Women’s Society of Christian Service (WSCS), and enjoyed making and delivering May Baskets for decades.
She loved collecting antiques and Americana, especially old bottles, dolls and political campaign buttons. An animal and nature lover, she was an avid gardener and birder. A proud member of many birding clubs, she started out as a junior member of the MA Audubon Society while growing up on the farm, learning to identify birds and bird calls of the northeast.
She was a huge sports fan and loved attending her children’s and grandchildren’s games. Like her sister, Avis, she was also a diehard New England Patriots fan.
Alice was the devoted mother of Susan Gierej (late husband Edward) of South Dennis, MA and Mark Tavitian (wife Nancy) of Hingham, MA. She was the doting “Nana” to grandsons Alex Gierej and Sam Tavitian. She was the cherished sister to Ruthie Manoogian and Avis (Carl) Sundquist, who all predeceased her. She also leaves behind her brother-in law Ara Manoogian, nieces Robin Sundquist and Diana (husband Alan and daughter Samantha) Marcotte and nephew Eric Sundquist. She was affectionately known as “Auntie Alice” to her many nieces and nephews in California and Canada. She was like a sister to her many lifelong friends, including Elinor Canty and Mary Raiche.
The family would also like to thank her devoted caregivers, Annmarie, Ann, Jen and the women from Cottage Caregivers, for their caring and kindness.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a celebration of life at the Whitman United Methodist Church at 503 South Avenue, Whitman, MA 02382 on Tuesday September 7, 2021. Visitation from 10am to 11am with a service at 11am and burial to follow at Colebrook Cemetery in Whitman.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Whitman United Methodist Church, The Whitman Food Pantry or the Armenian Children’s Milk Fund (part of the Armenian Missionary Association of America at www.amaa.org).