Gary (Garabed) Tavitian September 15, 1932 – November 11, 2023
Gary Tavitian, 91, of Whitman, MA passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday November 11, 2023. He was the beloved husband of the late Alice (Terzian) Tavitian for nearly 65 years.
Gary and Alice were fixtures in Whitman, volunteering together at the Whitman Food Pantry for 60 years and attending the Whitman United Methodist Church, where they were dedicated parishioners and where Gary was a long-time trustee. He was also a Masonic member at the Puritan Lodge A.F. & A.M.
Born in Beirut, Lebanon to Armenian Genocide survivors, Manoug and Araxi (Shahbazian) Tavitian, Gary came to the US in 1956 to pursue the American dream.
He worked in quality control for Walworth Corp. and Symmons Industries, valve manufacturers in Braintree, MA. At Walworth, he was on the Union’s Grievance Committee, given his even keeled, fair-minded and empathetic nature. In retirement, he worked part-time for his good friend Eddie Blanchard at the Blanchard Funeral Chapel, where his warm, outgoing personality brought comfort to those he met.
He loved spending time with his family and neighbors and attending his grandsons’ athletic events. Besides keeping up on world affairs, one of his favorite pastimes was growing vegetables in his garden and working in the yard. As an immigrant and proud American, he lined his backyard with cedar trees (Lebanon’s national tree) and always flew an American flag in the front yard.
Gary was the devoted father of Susan Gierej (late husband Edward) of South Dennis, MA and Mark Tavitian (wife Nancy) of Hingham, MA. He was the loving “Papa” to grandsons Alex Gierej and Sam Tavitian. He was the cherished brother of Hermine (Kourken) Khanjian, Hagop (Mary) Tavitian and Simon (Anna) Tavitian, all of whom predeceased him, except Anna. He was also preceded in death by his beloved sisters-in-law and their husbands, Ruthie (Ara) Manoogian and Avis (Carl) Sundquist. He was affectionately known as “Uncle Gary” to his many nieces and nephews. He also befriended his long-time Pleasant Street neighbors who became family.
Family and friends are invited to attend visiting hours Saturday, November 18 from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM in the Blanchard Funeral Chapel, Plymouth Street (Rte.58 @ the rotary) Whitman. A funeral service will follow at 12:00 PM in the chapel. Burial will follow in Colebrook Cemetery, Whitman.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Whitman United Methodist Church or the Armenian Relief Society of Eastern USA, Inc. (www.arseastusa.org)
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