The Detroit News
Sunday, July 25, 2004
Obituaries
Nerses ‘Nick’ Serkaian, Northville: Armenian radio show’s producer
For nearly 40 years, Nerses `Nick’ Serkaian spent Sunday mornings talking to
thousands of people in Metro Detroit’s Armenian community.
Mr. Serkaian, of Northville, was the longtime host and producer of the
`Armenian Radio Hour,’ which was broadcast at 10 a.m. Sundays on WNZK-AM.
`The program was a celebration of the Armenian community in Detroit,’ said
his son, Stephen. `It truly was a labor of love.’
Mr. Serkaian died of cancer on Monday, July 19, 2004, in Providence Hospital
in Southfield. He was 72.
He was born in Detroit and graduated from the Henry Ford Trade School. He
served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War, and later attended the
University of Detroit.
Before getting into radio, Mr. Serkaian owned his own construction business,
Serkaian Construction, based in Northville.
Mr. Serkaian began working on the `Armenian Radio Hour’ in 1967. The show
was popular among Metro Detroit’s 40,000 Armenians, his son said.
`Every week he announced Armenian community news, like marriages, births and
deaths, and church announcements,’ his son said. `He also would read
advertisements for Armenian-owned businesses. In between, he played Armenian
music.’
Survivors include two sons, Stephen and John; a daughter, Roxanne
McLaughlin; and eight grandchildren.