Thomas Kasparian

| Thomas Kasparian was born on January 13, 1929 in New York City, New York and passed away May 10, 2012 in Taylorsville, Utah. At age 16 he left the city for Tucson, Arizona where he graduated from Tucson High School. He joined the Army Air Force for the college tuition GI bill. After his term of service he attended the University of Arizona, graduating with a double major in German and Mathematics. As a graduation present to himself he hitchhiked across Europe. His first job was at a government installation in China Lake, California, where he began his career as a computer programmer.
After a few years in the desert, he decided to move to Los Angeles to take a job with North American Aviation and where opportunities for finding a wife were better. One Friday night, while looking for something to do, he went to the Lawrence Welk's Aragon Ballroom in Santa Monica. There he met Charmayne Bigler and the rest is history. They were married on November 5, 1955, later sealed in the Los Angeles Temple. After working for North American for several years, Tom joined IBM and moved to Poughkeepsie, New York. There he was part of a programming team who developed the first airline reservation system for American Airlines. After four and a half years in Poughkeepsie, he was transferred to Houston, Texas to assist with the space program. Eighteen months later he was transferred to Salt Lake City where he and his family have lived for forty seven years.Tom was a convert and faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was a faithful home teacher and priesthood holder and was always the first to volunteer when a service project was needed. He was generous with his money to the church, extended family and friends; his service and generosity were felt by many. His kids knew he was a softie and usually could talk him into getting whatever they wanted.He loved to play racquetball and ride his motorcycle, taking many trips around the United States and Mexico. He was a good fix-it-man. If cars or anything around the house needed fixing all it took was to ask him once and it would be done. He took pride in keeping his cars running and his house and yard looking good.
Tom was very proud of his Armenian heritage and passed that pride on to his eight children: Dalene (Dave) Harris, Charisse Evans, Joel (Elizabeth), Kirk (Janice), Darren (Melissa), Audra, Rhett (Becky) and Jessica Gomez. He is survived by his children and his wife, Charmayne; his brother John (Connie);two nieces, twenty-six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
A public viewing will be held on Tuesday, May 15, 6-8:00 p.m. at McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 South Redwood Road. There will also be a viewing Wednesday morning an hour prior to the funeral services at 11:00 a.m. held at the LDS Chapel, 3045 W. Bernina Drive (5837 S.)(From 5400 south, go south on 3200 West to Bernina Drive.) Interment: Valley View Memorial Park, 4335 West 4100 South. For further highlights on Tom's life visit www.mcdougalfuneralhomes.com