North Greenbush, NY – Ralph Vartigian, 89, well known former area television broadcaster and Rensselaer County Legislator, died unexpectedly on Saturday, December 12, 2015 at his home.

Born in Watervliet on October 22, 1926, Ralph was the son of the late Sarkis and Alice (Postoian) Vartigian. He grew up in Watervliet, attended Public School # 9 and graduated from Watervliet High School in the Class of 1944.

Ralph joined the Navy at the age of 17 and served for two years in World War II aboard the Carrier, USS Hornet (CV-12) and also aboard LST 1089 as a radioman third class. He was honorably discharged from military service in July of 1946. Upon his return he attended Siena College for three semesters and later attended the Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC. A few of his fellow students included Grace Kelly, Anne Bancroft, Gena Rowlands and John Cassevetes. Ralph made several signal corps films and did one season of summer stock at Skowhegan, Maine.

Ralph’s broadcast career began in 1951 at radio station WSNY in Schenectady. Two years later, when a second television station was about to debut in the Capital District, he became affiliated with WROW, which later was acquired by Capital Cities Broadcasting Corporation, and became WTEN, Channel 10. Ralph was WTEN’s first weatherman, working at the time with Sam Stratton, (later to become congressman) and Geoff David (NY Yankees broadcaster) who did sports. Ralph became known as “Commander Ralph” of “The Good Ship News” program in 1961. It was the nation’s first children’s news program on a commercial station. It lasted for 14 years. During that time, “Commander Ralph” was honored by receiving “The Freedom’s Foundation Award” from Valley Falls, Pennsylvania for a special one hour program on the 100th Anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address”. The award was “for outstanding achievement in bringing about a better understanding of the American way of life”. Ralph also co-hosted “Dialing for Dollars” with John Stewart from 1970 – 1975; co-anchored “Action News at Noon” with Mary Caroline Powers for twelve years from 1975 – 1987; anchored the morning news on TV-10 from 1987-1989, and was public service director during that same period. He later became editorial director and won awards in 1988 and 1989. In 1988 he was awarded the NYS Broadcasters Association Award and in 1989 for a series of editorials on the need for the modernization of the Albany County Airport. That series won him the Associated Press “Best Editorials Division” Award. Ralph retired from broadcasting in July of 1989 to seek election as a Rensselaer County Legislator in the November election. He was successful in his bid for a District Two Seat consisting of North Greenbush, East Greenbush and the City of Rensselaer. He was re-elected four years later for a second term, and was chosen to be the Republican Legislature’s Majority Leader in January of 1996.

In 1993, he was selected by the United States Information Agency to go to Armenia to conduct a three week workshop on the role of television journalism on an emerging democracy following 70 years of rule under the former USSR.

He played a key role in 1995 and 1996 in convincing ENCON and the State Attorney General to not permit the closed Troy Landfill to be capped with controversial construction and demolition debris. Ralph was elected to a third four year term in 1997 despite the fact that, earlier that year, he underwent a six-bypass surgery and did not ring a single doorbell seeking a vote. He always felt that was his greatest compliment from his constituents. He continued as majority leader until his retirement from political life at the age of 75 and the end of his term on December 31, 2001. He was a member of the Legislature’s Rules Committee and was chairman of the Veterans and Youth Committee, and as such, led the Legislature and the local county veteran’s organizations in their monthly “Honor a Vet” ceremonies. He never refused participation in community activities and organizational work.

He was a member of the North Greenbush School Board for nine years; a member of the North Greenbush Zoning Board of Appeals for six years; a former Boy Scout committeeman and a former Wynantskill Kiwanian. He was active in PTA work through the years and was awarded lifetime membership in the NYS Congress of Parents and Teachers. He was president of the Armenian Federation Grounds, and was a member of the North Greenbush Library Board. He served as a trustee of the Parish Council of St. Peter Armenian Apostolic Church in Troy and Watervliet for many years. He was chairman of the parish council and was elected diocesan delegate for 16 years and was a member of the “Diocesan Council” of the Armenian Church of America in New York City. In 1999, he assumed chairmanship of a series of year-long events and ceremonies of St. Peter Church’s 100th Anniversary. One of those events included his parish participating in the annual “Flag Day” parade in Troy that year. He was a member and one time commander of the Sgt's. Simonian-Avakian Veterans Post in Watervliet. He participated in countless area functions and charitable events at which he served as either its master of ceremonies or guest speaker.

Ralph was an avid Boston Red Sox fan, and loved reading and a good cup of coffee. He was the beloved husband for 50 years of the late Ann Osganian Vartigian who died on February 7, 2007. He is survived by his children, Deborah Ann (Curt) Erlandson of New Jersey, David R. (Susan) Vartigian of Troy and Daniel P. (Karen) Vartigian of Latham; his seven cherished grandchildren, Stephen (Ashley), Craig and Evan; Danielle and Andrew; Julie and Timothy and his three great-grandchildren, Ian, Nolan and Skye Schindewolf.

The funeral will be held on Saturday at 10 AM from the Parker Bros. Memorial, 2013 Broadway, Watervliet and at 11 AM in St. Peter Armenian Apostolic Church, 100 Troy Schenectady Road, Watervliet where the Reverend Stepanos Doudoukjian will officiate. Interment will follow, with military honors, in the Albany Rural Cemetery, Menands. Friends are invited and may visit with Ralph’s family, at the funeral home, on Friday from 3 until 7 PM during which the evening service will be held at 6:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Peter Armenian Apostolic Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 196, Watervliet, NY 12189 in memory of Ralph Vartigian.

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