Armen H. Zemanian

Armen Humpartsoum Zemanian, of Rosemont, PA and Port Jefferson, NY, passed peacefully on January 20, 2024.

 Armen, beloved father and grandfather, was born in Bridgewater, Massachusetts to Filor (Flora) Paparian and Parsegh Zemanian on April 16, 1925.  Having lost his father at a young age, Armen moved with his mother and sisters from a farmhouse in Massachusetts to Manhattan.  He attended Bronx High School of Science (1942), CCNY (1947) and NYU where he received his Master’s (1949) and PHD (1953) in Electrical Engineering.  He served in the U.S. Army, discharged in 1945.

 Armen was a Charter Professor at the opening of Stony Brook University in 1962 and rose to the status of Emeritus Professor.  During his career, Armen was mentor and host to many domestic and foreign students.  He retired at the age of 86 in 2011 having received honors from various institutions including the Institute of Electrical Engineers (Life Fellow), the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences (Academician and recipient of Kapitsa Gold Medal – the highest honorific awarded, 1996), the Armenian National Academy of Sciences, (Academician), Dubna International University (Professor Honoris Causa), and the National Science Foundation (Faculty Fellow). He is the author of 151 journals and articles, 55 conference papers and 6 theoretical books focused on Infinite and Transfinite Electrical Networks and Electrical Network Theory.  

 Armen is survived by his children, Peter (Rosemary) Zemanian, Thomas Zemanian, Lewis (Yoko) Zemanian and Susan (Michael) Drennan.   He is also survived by his 7 grandchildren, Steven, Carolyn, Laura, Ann, Kate, Cormac and Wade, and many nieces and nephews.  He is predeceased by his two sisters Anahid (Annette) Provenzano and Siranoosh (Alice) Shahinian.  

 Armen was an unfailingly kind and positive man.  He was dedicated to his wife and best friend Edna Williamson Zemanian and cared for her through a long and difficult illness until her death in 2011.  He loved reading histories and autobiographies, classic movies and 19^th century literature.  He brought a quiet depth of knowledge into every conversation and enthralled us with his mastery of global issues, politics, ancient history, languages, music and arts.  His wife would state that he was the most interesting man in any room, always presented with a self-deprecating approach accompanied by a love of silly jokes and songs.   

 The family plans no current ceremony but will host a celebration of Armen’s life later this year.  He will be buried at Setauket Presbyterian Church beside his wife of 53 years.