Obituary for Suren Najarian
Dr. Suren Najarian, F.R.C.S., of Toronto, Ontario passed away on Friday, May 12 th , 2023, at the age of 87.
Born on February 2, 1936 in Mosul, Iraq to Armenian parents Ardashes Najarian (Diyarbekir, Ottoman Empire) and Lousanoush Setian (Yozgat, Ottoman Empire), he was the second of five siblings.
Suren showed academic promise from an early age. Placing in the highest percentile of secondary school graduates, he elected to study medicine at university in Baghdad. Upon graduation, he practiced surgery in Basra’s General Hospital, and subsequently Amarra’s General Hospital. Suren then traveled to the United Kingdom to pursue further studies, practicing in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, culminating in his admission to the Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians. His last posting in the U.K. was at the St. Lawrence Hospital in Chepstow, Wales, where he specialized in reconstructive skin grafting surgery.
Suren next travelled to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where he held the title of Head Surgeon at the Lebanese Hospital for four years. It was during this time that he met his wife Nanig, of Bourj Hammoud, Lebanon. They were married in 1977, in Antelias.
Suren emigrated to Canada in 1980, where he joined his siblings in Toronto, raised two children, and worked in ultrasound technologies and in-vitro fertilisation until his retirement.
Suren was happy to serve as a second opinion to friends, family and even new acquaintances seeking medical advice. His disarming personality and warmth often came as a surprise, standing in stark contrast to a medical system that can be cold, impersonal and intimidating. Suren treated everybody he encountered with dignity and kindness, without regard to background. His sense of humour was infectious and reminded others not to take themselves too seriously. He neither dwelt too long on the past, nor lost himself daydreaming of the future: he lived in the present. Ever mindful and grounded, he restored calm where others might panic, and tempered logic with empathy.
Suren knew that the universe provides answers, which was evident through his faith in his friends, his adherence to his moral convictions, his spirituality, and even his consistent habit of playing the lottery. He was an excellent food critic, admonishing others to not restrict their diet, but rather to focus on healthy outcomes and enjoy food in moderation. His calmness and grounded nature served as pillars of strength and support to his family and friends. He was immensely proud of his children, strengthening their character by teaching the value of kindness, and the importance of service to others. He was an avid and introspective reader. He enjoyed music and live concerts, preferred walking, and supported public transportation. He loved warm summers, the sound of a babbling brook, and the taste of a ripe watermelon.
Suren is survived by his wife Nanig; his two children, Araz and Ari; his siblings Vartkes, Stepan and Mako; and many nieces and nephews to whom he was very close.
A visitation for Dr. Najarian will be held on Wednesday, May 17th, 2023 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church (45 Hallcrown Pl, Toronto, ON. M2N 5Z5). The funeral mass will begin at 11:00 a.m, followed by an internment at York Cemetery (160 Beecroft Rd, Toronto, ON. M2N 5Z5) at 1:00pm. The repast will be served at Lara’s Restaurant (106-155 Consumers Rd., Toronto, ON. M2J 0A3) at 1:30p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations are being made to ARS Tro Najarian Memorial Fund. Make cheques payable to Armenian Community Center (ACC) under the note to: ARS Tro Najarian Memorial Fund. Cheques can be given in person or mailed to Armenian Community Center (ACC) of Toronto, 45 Hallcrown Place, Toronto, North York, Ontario, Canada, M2J 4Y4. E-transfer can be made to arstoronto@gmail.com (use code “tronajarianfund”) or online using the link below: