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Charlie was born on June 24, 1926, in Charleston, Massachusetts. The family soon moved to Medford where he spent his childhood. At 17, he joined the U.S. Navy during WW II and spent four years serving in the Construction Battalion throughout the South Pacific. Upon his discharge he resettled in Los Angeles. He attended the University of Southern California and graduated with a degree in chemistry.
In 1958 he met Dorris Soghomonian, the love of his life, whom he married in 1959. They resettled to Orinda where they raised their three children and lived there through their 63 years of marriage. Charlie was a brilliant chemist with 25 patents to his name. He managed a research facility at Stauffer Chemical Company in Richmond, California where he spent a successful 40-year career. He was a devoted and active member of St. Vartan Armenian Apostolic Church in Oakland where he enjoyed a rich social life and was adored by all who knew him.
Throughout his life, Charlie had many unique interests. He was a constant student. He was a beekeeper, much to the dismay of his family and surrounding neighbors. He studied masonry, which resulted in beautiful brickwork in front of the family home. He was an avid gardener, known for his abundant crops of tomatoes. He enjoyed attending Sons in Retirement lunch lectures and even taught several on computers and digital photo editing. Though he and Dorris loved traveling the world, he was happiest in his own home watching a USC football game with Dorris by his side.
Charlie was blessed with many lifelong friends that enriched his life. He was a kind, accomplished, yet humble, man whose company everyone enjoyed. His greatest reward in life was his family who will miss him dearly.
Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Vartan Armenian Church (650 Spruce St., Oakland, CA 94610) in memory of Charles Kezerian or Craig Hospital Foundation (3425 So. Clarkson St., Englewood, CO 80113) in memory of Charles Kezerian.
Reach the reporter at:
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA