Obituary of Paul Zaroogian

Paul Zaroogian GENEVA - Paul Zaroogian, 69, passed away Thurs. (Oct. 28, 2010) at Geneva Living Center - South, with his loving family by his side. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Sun. (Oct. 31) at the Palmisano-Mull Funeral Home, LLC. 28 Genesee Street, Geneva. The American Legion Post 435 and the V.F.W. Post 6433 will meet at the funeral home at 7 p.m. for military honors. The Rev. Fr. Gregory Murphy will lead Trisagion prayers at 7:30 p.m. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Mon. (Nov. 1) at St. Michael's Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, 98 Genesee St. Geneva. Burial will follow in Glenwood Cemetery. Contributions may be directed to St. Michael's Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, 98 Genesee St. Geneva, NY 14456, or Hobart and William Smith Colleges, 337 Pulteney St. Geneva, NY 14456. Paul was born Dec. 18, 1940 in Providence, RI, and was a son of the late Sahag and Badzar (Bhadazarian) Zaroogian. He graduated from the University of Rhode Island and served as a Captain in the United States Army. To quote from a special citation from the President of Hobart and William Smith Colleges, he "joined the Saga Corporation at Boston College in 1969 hoping to raise some money for graduate school. Instead, he got hooked on the company's high standards of service and family atmosphere, and made food service his career. He served HWS dining services (as General Manager) under the banner of three different companies- Saga, Marriott and Sodexho, but he always made sure that the HWS community was just as important, if not more so, than his company's bottom line. The Board of Trustees is grateful and proud to have him, a lifelong loyal friend of the Colleges, as a member of our community." Paul was a dynamic member of St. Michael's Orthodox Church for many years leading many of its fund-raising and social activities. He served as President of its Board of Trustees in 2009 and 2010. He was also a student of popular culture and accumulated a very extensive collection of films which he enjoyed at his home on Seneca Lake. He is survived by his son, Sean Michael Zaroogian; daughters, Lindsay Michelle and Ashley Mae Zaroogian, all of Geneva; sister, Ann Bernice Righellis of Watertown, MA; nephew, Peter Righellis of San Diego; nieces, Julie Murtagh and Athena Righellis, both of Watertown, MA, and many good friends who will miss him terribly.