Hall of Famer Kevorkian Passes Away

Central Connecticut Hall of Fame football player Arthur Kevorkian passed away on Tuesday, January 17.  He was 93.  Kevorkian was inducted into the CCSU Alumni Athletics Hall of Fame in 1983, and was the oldest surviving member of the 1939 undefeated football team. 

Kevorkian began a long legacy of CCSU football players.  His son Arthur and grandson Kory also played football for the Blue Devils.

The 1939 team is one of only two undefeated teams in school history.  They finished the year 6-0 under legendary coach and athletics director Harrison Kaiser.  Kevorkian and his teammates did not surrender a point in the first five games of the season, and capped the year with a 20-12 win over Montclair State.

Kevorkian was an All-America selection that season, and would become a three-time All-New England selection during his time with the Blue Devils.  He was a team captain in 1946, after returning to the Blue Devils following his three years as a pilot during the war. 

Kevorkian is also a member of the New Britain Sports Hall of Fame.  He was inducted in 2001.  In 2010 he added membership into the Berlin Sports Hall of Fame.

"Central Connecticut Athletics has lost a great ambassador in Art Kevorkian.  Art began a long family heritage of CCSU alumni, the most recent being his grandson Kory, also a member of the Blue Devil football program," Director of Athletics Paul Schlickmann said.  "He remained a loyal fan throughout his life and was a constant presence at Arute Field every fall.  His undefeated 1939 team remains one of the most successful teams in school history.  Art was an exceptional athlete and a member of our Alumni Athletics Hall of Fame, but more importantly was a special person to all those who knew him.  He will always be remembered in the hearts of Blue Devils everywhere.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this difficult time."

CCSU Hall of Fame Bio

Matt Straub Article in the New Britain Herald

New Britain Herald Obituary

Calling hours will be held at Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home, 411 S. Main St., New Britain, from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20, with a prayer service conducted by Archpriest Rev. Krikoris Keshishian at 6 p.m. Funeral services will be held at St. Stephen's Armenian Apostolic Church, 167 Tremont St., New Britain, Saturday at 10 a.m. Burial, with military honors, will follow in Fairview Cemetery in New Britain.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Arthur & Catherine Kevorkian Family Scholarship, c/o Central Connecticut State University, Davidson Hall, New Britain, CT 06051 or to St. Stephen's Armenian Apostolic Church, 167 Tremont St., New Britain, CT 06053.