Obituary: Norman Gabriel Papazian, 79, Longtime Fairfield Resident

Norman Gabriel Papazian, age 79, whose infectious laugh and quick wit entertained generations of family and friends, passed away on Saturday, October 4, 2014, in Canton, Massachusetts, after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. A longtime resident of Fairfield, Connecticut, he is survived by his children, Maria Badger, and her husband, John, of Norwood, MA; Norman Papazian, Jr., of Andover, MA; and Ellen Papazian and her husband, Kenneth MacBain, of Morristown, New Jersey.

He is also survived by his sister, Elizabeth Bazarian, and her husband, Albert, of Lake Forest, Illinois, as well as his former wife, Rita Papazian, of Dedham, MA, and his five nieces and a nephew. He will be greatly missed by his six grandchildren, Gabriel and Alexandra Papazian; Cameron and Zachary Badger; and Calum and Vivienne MacBain.

Born in Manhattan on August 26, 1935, to Yeprass Sakiz and Maksoud Papazian, Armenian immigrants who emigrated from their native Turkey, Papazian grew up in Bayside, Queens, where he graduated from Bayside High School in 1953. After a few years working for Kodak, he enrolled at Hofstra University, in Hempstead, New York, where he graduated in 1960 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.

Immediately after graduation, he began working for Dun & Bradstreet where he held a number of positions, including Regional Sales Manager, Executive Salesman, and Marketing Accounts Consultant, earning several Presidential Citation Awards, the company’s highest achievement in sales. He worked with Dun & Bradstreet for 35 years, until his retirement in 1995.

Papazian continued to pursue his personal interests throughout his retirement. He loved music, especially jazz and blues, and enjoyed traveling to New Orleans and Boston for jazz festivals. In addition, he spent time reading his favorite mystery authors and solving the New York Times crossword puzzle. He was an avid New York sports fan and passionate about his Mets. He loved biking, golfing, traveling, and spending time with his longtime friends and his neighbors on Rowland Road, where he lived for more than 40 years.

Norman most enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. He was a loving grandfather, and his house on Rowland Road was a frequent, beloved gathering place for family. His grandchildren grew up spending many holidays and summer days there and at the beach with him.

Friends may greet his family on Wednesday, October 8, 2014, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. with a Remembrance Service beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the Shaughnessey Banks Funeral Home, 50 Reef Road, in Fairfield Center. Interment is private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Stamford Counseling Center, Memory Program, One Walton Place, Stamford, CT 06901. To send an online condolence, please visit www.shaughnesseybanks.com.