Death Announced of Adrienne P. (Atamian) Dodakian; Pioneer Licensed Medical Technologist in New Britain for Four Decades, Retired to Old Lyme

OLD LYME — Adrienne P. (Atamian) Dodakian, age 87, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer in Middletown, CT on June 2, 2023. The daughter of Armenian Genocide survivor George Atamian and Priscilla (Marzbanian) Atamian, Adrienne was born on November 16, 1935 in Hartford, CT and grew up in New Britain, CT. She earned her B.S. degree from the University of Hartford and became a licensed medical technologist. Not only did she graduate at the top of her class, she was a pioneer in her field and excelled at her new job working in the laboratory at New Britain General Hospital for over four decades. She retired to Old Lyme, CT where she enjoyed hosting and entertaining her many family members and friends. 

Throughout her career, Adrienne was dedicated to addressing the needs of each patient with a fearless and unstoppable drive. In doing so, she helped save many lives. She often found herself discussing complex cases with resident pathologists and other physicians who respected her opinion and depth of knowledge. In one particular case, her analysis of a young patient’s labs led to a shocking discovery that everyone else had missed but that she correctly identified as malaria, saving the little boy’s life as a result. She spared no effort in trying to make others’ lives better and was deeply loved and respected in return. She brought that same unstoppable drive to advancing the Armenian cause and her community. In particular, she became a champion for granting suicide victims Armenian church funeral rites, as modern medical research had established the mental health suffering of suicide victims, which she believed should not disqualify them or their families from receiving the love and blessings of the Armenian church.

Adrienne is survived by her beloved husband, Sarkis Dodakian, her son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Wayne and Lucy Dodakian, her daughter and son-in-law, Priscilla and Van Krikorian, both attorneys, and her daughter Rachel Dodakian, a business owner specializing in animal care.  She is also survived by her four grandchildren, Ani (Krikorian) and her husband, Frank Oliver, Sarah Krikorian, Lena Krikorian, and George Krikorian, and two great-grandchildren, Frankie and Charlotte Oliver.  Her beloved younger sister, Penelope (Atamian) Giragosian, lovingly remembered as “Nurse Penny”, predeceased her in 2006, and she is survived by her brother, George C. (and Maryann) Atamian. She is also survived by several loving nieces and nephews whom she always cherished and treated as her own, Liz Atamian, George (and Kohar) Atamian, Hope Atamian, Corey (and Gina) Mahjoubian, Melanie (and John) Buchaklian, Lisa (and Barkev) Iskikian, and Kristapor Giragosian, and all of their respective partners, children and extended families. She considered her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and all of her nieces and nephews the lights of her life. To her there was no greater joy than being with and helping her family in any and every way imaginable. A brighter light there will never be. She will be loved and missed forever. 

Adrienne was comforted and surrounded by the loving embrace of her family in her final days and hours. The family has arranged a private memorial service in light of the sudden and devastating news of her passing. 

Mom, if love could have saved you, you never would have died.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:

The Armenia Tree Project: https//www.armeniatree.org

The Armenian Relief Society of Eastern USA: https//arseastusa.org 

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals:  www.peta.org

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: https//www.stjude.org

Please share a memory of Adrienne with the family in the online guestbook at www.ericksonhansen.com