Narses Gedigian

Narses Gedigian passed away on March 11, 2026, in Canton, Michigan. He was born on December 6, 1934, in Detroit into an Armenian Revolutionary Federation family, the son of Garabed and Miriam Gedigian.

Raised near southwest Detroit, Narses graduated from Dearborn High School. He attended Alma College on a football scholarship before returning home to help his mother run the family neighborhood grocery store. It was during this time that he reconnected with the Armenian community, meeting his beloved wife, Elizabeth Alice Kasbarian, at an AYF dance. They married at St. John's Armenian Church and were blessed with two children and three grandchildren.

Narses worked at Ford Motor Company while earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Corporate Management with a minor in Industrial Psychology from Wayne State University through night school. Deeply committed to his faith and heritage, he became an active member of St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church, serving multiple terms as chairman of the Fellowship Club and as chairman of the Board of Trustees. He was elected to the National Representative Assembly, joined the ARF, served as Chairman of the Gomideh and the Armenian Community Center, and later became director of the ANC of Michigan. After taking early retirement from Ford, he devoted himself fully to Armenian causes with characteristic passion and dedication.

A devoted family man, Narses took his greatest joy in the love of his wife, children, and grandchildren. He was an avid student of history with a remarkable memory for both world events and the details of his own life, often delighting friends and family with his recollections. He is survived by his beloved wife, Elizabeth Alice Gedigian; his son, Narses (Jill) Gedigian Jr.; his daughter, Marianne Gedigian (Charles) Villarrubia; and his cherished grandchildren, Alexa (Matt) Grossenbach, Erik Gedigian, and Ani Villarrubia. He will also be deeply missed by his nieces, nephews, and many friends.