Stephen H. Barmakian

Watertown – Mr. Stephen H. Barmakian, of Watertown, died Tuesday, August 1, 2017 in the E.N. Rogers Memorial Veterans Administration Hospital in Bedford. He was 91.

Stephen was born in Cambridge on July 5, 1926, a son of the late Arootune Kevork and Armenoohi Barmakian. He grew up with his brother Haig in a tight-knit and loving family and the two brothers, although four years apart, were as close as twins.

He was a standout athlete and talented enough on the baseball field to have been signed to a major league contract by the Boston Red Sox. Stephen's plans to work the diamond were interrupted by World War II and a few months after graduating from Watertown High in 1944 he joined the United States Army.

Stephen's older brother and best friend, who he affectionately called 'Haigie', had been fighting with General George S. Patton's Third Army since the liberation of Europe had begun earlier that year.

On the first of February, 1945 Haigie was killed in action fighting with his unit in Germany and the world changed forever for Stephen and his family. It took weeks for the news to come home to Watertown and even longer to reach younger brother Stephen.

Following his discharge from the Army at the war's end Stephen enrolled at Northeastern University and later transferred to Boston University all the while resurrecting his baseball career. He played for a time with the Saint Louis Browns organization.

Until his retirement Stephen worked for the federal government as a public relations specialist. He was a member of Pequosette Lodge AF & AM and had been a life member of The Grand Lodge of Masons of Massachusetts.

He is survived by many dear friends including Joseph Balian and Madeline Ives.

He remained active and independent all his life and was known to walk for miles well into his eighties.

Friends are invited to honor and remember Stephen's life by gathering to visit in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Friday August 4th from 12 noon to 1:15 p.m. before leaving in procession to Ridgelawn Cemetery, Watertown where graveside services will be held at 1:30 p.m.