David John Adzigian

David J. Adzigian, aged 85, passed away peacefully on May 10, 2026, at his home in Grove, Oklahoma. Born on May 29, 1940, in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, the oldest son of Herant John Adzigian and Elizabeth Gallup Adzigian. Dave's life was marked by a profound commitment to service throughout his professional career, in his community, and to his extended family. Dave graduated from Phillips Andover Academy in 1958, entering Tufts University later that Fall where he met his beloved wife Linda the first day of freshman orientation. They were later wed on July 6, 1963 in Stamford, CT. At Tufts, Dave majored in Economics, was an active member of Delta Upsilon Fraternity, quarterback and punter on the football team, a member of student government and many academic and service societies. He was proud to be a midshipman in the US Navy ROTC, where he was commissioned as an Ensign in the USNR in 1962. Dave served two combat tours as helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War, flying long-range combat search and rescue and anti-submarine warfare missions with Helicopter Squadron 4 off the USS Lexington in the Gulf of Tonkin from 1964-67. After his honorable military service, Dave transitioned to a notable career in the defense industry and later in the private sector. He began at Link Flight Simulation in Binghamton, NY, as the Director of Government Marketing from 1967 until 1982. At Link, he was part of the overall team that worked on the flight training simulators for NASA’s space shuttle program, and he led the marketing efforts for the USAF Training Systems. He then moved to Rediffusion Simulation, Inc. in Arlington, TX, serving as Vice President & General Manager until 1989. Following this, he worked at Hughes Training, Inc., focusing on V.P. Acquisition Initiatives until 1995. Dave concluded his professional journey with New York Life Insurance Co. & NY Life Securities in Grove, OK, where he was a respected agent and wealth manager until his retirement in 2015. Beyond his professional life, Dave was deeply involved in his community. He was a member of the Church on the Hill (Thomas Sunday School Class) and held various roles in local governance and community organizations. Notably, he served on the Grove Land Use Planning Committee, Grove City Council, and was later a Trustee of the Grove Municipal Airport Managing Authority (12 years including 6 years as Vice-Chair) and the Grove Economic Development Authority (20 years including 9 years as Chair). He also served as a liaison to the Grove Area Chamber of Commerce and was a supporter of and contributor to the Grove Community Playmakers, NEO A&M College Board of Advisors, and countless other endeavors. His leadership was instrumental in the development of the Grove YMCA, and he was a member of Rotary International for over two decades. He was named the Grove Rotary Foundation Rotarian of the Year in 2012, received the Grove Rotary Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015, and was also a proud Paul Harris Fellow. Dave and Linda greatly enjoyed the deep and lasting friendships made while taking over 70 trips together around the world with Patti Beth and the Good-to-Go Gang, with Dave taking many more after her untimely passing. Dave’s most cherished times were spent in the service of others: through the church, in the greater Grove community, or his family. Dave was known for his intelligence, kindness, and a vibrant spirit that energized those around him. He was a longtime member (63 years) of Silver Bay YMCA, a family Christian Conference Center located on Lake George in upstate New York. He loved the lake, boating and being on or near the water, but most especially the multigenerational gathering of family and friends to make lifelong memories together. His stories were long and legendary, his laugh hearty and sense of humor punctuated with punchlines that could only be referred to as “grandpa jokes”. His hugs were huge and long and full of love. His love and care for his children, grandchildren, and extended family were the epitome of family patriarch. He loved Tufts, his Jumbos, his family and most especially his grandchildren, the men and women of our armed forces, and the city and people of Grove. He relished watching his granddaughters compete in all their sports and being able to attend their many other activities in Oklahoma and in Connecticut. He took every opportunity to lift up the young people of his many communities through the power of education and the opportunities a good education could provide. He had a strong belief in his faith and overwhelming trust in his Lord and Savior. Dave was a passionate and dependable man whose presence, leadership, eagerness to help others, and commitment to service will always be remembered and will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Dave is preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife of nearly 53 years Linda, and son-in-law, Kyle Hasselman. He is survived by his two sons, Mark Adzigian of Medford, MA and his wife Mary; Scott Adzigian of Grove, OK; his daughter, Lynn Adzigian Hasselman of Grove, OK; and his brother, Donald Adzigian and his wife April of Attleboro, MA. He is additionally survived by eight grandchildren: Mark and Mary's blended family of daughters Samantha of Meriden, CT, Madeline and Chloe of Woodbridge, CT, and sons Jacob of Los Angeles, CA, and Alex of Melrose, MA and his fiancée Emma Curtis; Lynn's daughters Katelyn and Allie of Grove, OK; and Scott's daughter Emma of Bartlesville, OK, plus many nephews, nieces, and cousins. Visitation will be held on Sunday, May 17, 2026, from 5:00-7:00 pm at Nichols-Stephens Funeral Service. Funeral services will be held on Monday, May 18, 2026, at 11:00 am at the Church On The Hill (formerly the First United Methodist Church). Refreshments will be served during the interim between the funeral and the burial. Burial will be in Olympus North Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, his family has asked for donations to be made in his honor to the Grove Rotary Foundation Scholarship Fund, https://event.auctria.com/9e7833cc-783c-41d4-bce5-8d40414b5686/ or PO Box 452286, Grove, OK 74345 or the Grand Lake Family YMCA at www.tristatefamilyymca.org/give/ Arrangements entrusted to Nichols-Stephens Funeral and Cremation Service.

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David John Adzigian

May 29, 1940 - May 10, 2026