Ara Zarookian
March 31, 1951 ~ July 18, 2022
Ara Zarookian of Fairfax, Virginia, entered eternal life on July 18, 2022.
He was born on March 31, 1951 to Arsen and Vartin Zarookian in Tehran, Iran. Along with his brothers Nejdeh and Tirdad and his parents, he emigrated to the United States in November 1967. After graduating high school and beginning college, Ara enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served between 1972-1973. Following his military service, Ara completed his Associate degree in Police Science from Northern Virginia Community College and in 1977 began his career at the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Department.
In 1979, Ara met and married Yvette Gharemanian and they had two daughters, Talin and Anette. He was a loving and devoted father, always working hard and taking care of his family. Ara enjoyed gardening and used his handiwork and carpentry skills to build a beautiful and elaborate garden where he and his family spent a lot of time entertaining. He also enjoyed grilling and cooking, frequently making his signature kabobs, dolmas and chicken curry for family and friends.
Between 1999 and 2000, he spent a year with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, working with the UNMIK Police. !n 2003, after a 26 year career in law enforcement, he retired from the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Department and moved to Tucson, Arizona where he spent 8 years. While in Arizona, he spent a lot of time with his brother Tirdad and his family and also did some traveling. In 2012, Ara moved back to Fairfax, Virginia and spent the last decade of his life enjoying time with his family.
Ara was loved by many and will be greatly missed. He is survived by his daughters Talin and Anette, his ex-wife Yvette, and his brothers Nejdeh (Sona) and Tirdad (Anita) and their families.
In Lieu of Flowers donations may be made to:
Soorp Khatch Armenian Apostolic Church
4906 Flint Dr, Bethesda, MD 20816
Click HERE for online donations
or
St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church
https://www.stmaryaac.org/
or
Stillbrave Childhood Cancer Foundation
https://www.stillbrave.org/
He was born on March 31, 1951 to Arsen and Vartin Zarookian in Tehran, Iran. Along with his brothers Nejdeh and Tirdad and his parents, he emigrated to the United States in November 1967. After graduating high school and beginning college, Ara enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served between 1972-1973. Following his military service, Ara completed his Associate degree in Police Science from Northern Virginia Community College and in 1977 began his career at the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Department.
In 1979, Ara met and married Yvette Gharemanian and they had two daughters, Talin and Anette. He was a loving and devoted father, always working hard and taking care of his family. Ara enjoyed gardening and used his handiwork and carpentry skills to build a beautiful and elaborate garden where he and his family spent a lot of time entertaining. He also enjoyed grilling and cooking, frequently making his signature kabobs, dolmas and chicken curry for family and friends.
Between 1999 and 2000, he spent a year with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, working with the UNMIK Police. !n 2003, after a 26 year career in law enforcement, he retired from the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Department and moved to Tucson, Arizona where he spent 8 years. While in Arizona, he spent a lot of time with his brother Tirdad and his family and also did some traveling. In 2012, Ara moved back to Fairfax, Virginia and spent the last decade of his life enjoying time with his family.
Ara was loved by many and will be greatly missed. He is survived by his daughters Talin and Anette, his ex-wife Yvette, and his brothers Nejdeh (Sona) and Tirdad (Anita) and their families.
In Lieu of Flowers donations may be made to:
Soorp Khatch Armenian Apostolic Church
4906 Flint Dr, Bethesda, MD 20816
Click HERE for online donations
or
St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church
https://www.stmaryaac.org/
or
Stillbrave Childhood Cancer Foundation
https://www.stillbrave.org/
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My heart goes out to the family♥️. Although I did not know him personally, I know he was a wonderful father to his two beautiful daughters and will be deeply missed. I am praying for peace and support for my cousins whom I love very much. Debbie Garmanian