Dr. John Sarokhan, M.D., of Wall Township died at home on November 23rd, at the age of 93. He was a respected physician and cancer specialist for nearly 60 years, beloved by his family, friends, colleagues, and patients for his kindness, devotion, and sense of humor.
Dr. Sarokhan was born to Assyrian and Armenian parents in Diyarbakir, Turkey in 1921, near the end of the Armenian genocide. He emigrated with his family to Paterson, NJ, in 1924, where he quickly distinguished himself as an outstanding student and leader. At Paterson Central High School, “Gentleman Johnny” was elected senior class president despite being only 15, and he wrote in his yearbook that his ambition in life was to become a surgeon and bear the burdens of others. He earned entrance into Harvard College, from which he graduated in 1942, and was awarded his M.D. from Boston University Medical School in 1946, while also serving in the Army during World War II as a physician trainee. A pioneering surgeon described by one of his colleagues as “the last of the gentlemen physicians,” Dr. Sarokhan’s overriding concern was the welfare of his patients and the honor of the medical profession. He trained at Memorial Sloan Kettering hospital and was a leader on the staff of several hospitals in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. For his leadership in the field of cancer treatment, he was invited to join the Congressional Medical Project and to visit East Africa, where he collaborated with the Medical Society of Nairobi, Kenya.
After marrying Dr. Armine Papazian in 1980 and starting a family, Dr. Sarokhan moved from Ridgewood to Spring Lake Heights and then Wall Township, where he was a frequent sight on the tennis courts, beaches, and library grounds of the local communities. He was a proud patron of the arts, educational institutions, and patriotic causes.
He was predeceased by his parents Naom and Lucia, his sister Charlotte, and his brother Joseph. He is survived by his beloved wife Armine; son John, daughter-in-law Ashley and granddaughter Sayda; and son Christopher. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and friends whom he loved dearly. John entered his eternal rest in the comfort of the home he built thanks to the wonderful caretakers who were by his side in his final months.
Viewings will be held from 2 to 4 PM and 7 to 9 PM on Wednesday, November 26th at O’Brien Funeral Home in Wall Township. Funeral services will be held at 10 AM on Saturday, November 29th, also at O’Brien Funeral Home, followed by interment at Holmdel Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Dr. Sarokhan’s memory may be made to the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org, 1-800-227-2345).