Master and Commander
Posts: 1305
Location: NE Florida | Subject: Saturday Obits
https://www.facebook.com/ussvi.eternalpatrol/
The above link goes to the USSVI (United States Submarine Veterans, Inc.) Facebook page where their members who have gone on “Eternal Patrol” are noted.
I’ll keep my work here going, trying to get others who were not USSVI members. You’re encouraged to look there as well as here! Obviously, there’ll be some I miss and some I duplicate.
ASSADOURIAN .. .. .. Mr. Leon Haig Assadourian, July 2, 1941 – September 24, 2025
On the morning of September 24, 2025, Mr. Leon Haig Assadourian, age 84, went to be with his Lord and Savior, embarking from St. Augustine, Florida.
Leon was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and his family moved shortly after to a suburb of Philadelphia. He graduated as salutatorian from Sharon Hill High School in 1959. In the early years of his career, he served in the Navy (1963–1965) and then completed his education before becoming an Army Civilian in 1975.
He held a bachelor of science in Physics from the University of Illinois, a master's degree in physics from the University of Pennsylvania, and he finished a doctoral degree in electro physics from The Polytechnical Institute of New York.
He began government service when he was commissioned as an Ensign in the US Navy. He rose to the rank of First Lieutenant. He served for six months on the first nuclear powered submarine, the USS Nautilus. For a semester he taught physics at the United States Naval Academy. For the next year he had shore duty in the District of Columbia under the "Father of the Nuclear Navy", Admiral Hyman Rickover.
His Army Civilian career started in the Fire Control Division at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey. He transitioned during his Army Civilian career from optics to programming ballistic simulations. During this time he served as both an elder and a deacon in the church. One of his last projects was on the Army's guided mortar munition. He retired from the Ground Combat Simulation Team in 2009 at Picatinny Arsenal.
Leon led an active life in retirement. He was passionate about giving in terms of time, talents, treasure, and thoughts within his local churches in New Jersey, Virginia, and Florida, and to various other causes. He diligently maintained contact with family and friends, frequently attending large family reunions.
Leon was preceded in death by his loving wife of 45 years, Beth Assadourian.
He is survived by his loving and devoted children: son Charles "Chuck" Assadourian, of Lebanon, TN; his daughter, Laura Assadourian of St. Augustine, FL; daughter-in-law Dawn Assadourian of Lebanon, TN; his grandsons Tony Banks and Jonathan Assadourian; and his grand-daughter, Sarah Assadourian. His son and a grandson have followed a part of his life path through service in the military.
GRADELESS .. .. .. James “Jim” Gradeless peacefully passed away at his home with his beloved wife Marianne by his side on August 24, 2025.
Jim was born June 15,1936 in Norfolk, Virginia. As a young boy at age 6 Jim decided on a military career. That day in 1942 he had spent in Norfolk watching a military parade of American heroes preparing to go to war. His first enlistment was in 1953 as a paratrooper in the United States Army serving with the 408th Airborne Regimental Combat Team and the 506th, 101st Airborne Division. Following this he made the decision to join the United States Navy where he served on submarines, USS Redfin, USS Quillback, and the USS Cutlass for a period of twelve years. He served in Vietnam in the River Division 511 PBR’s (Patrol Boats) in combat where he was awarded the Bronze Star with “V” for Valor. He served two years as an investigator for Naval Security, Naval Station Key West. He served one year Fleet Maintenance at Submarine Base Groton, CT. He attended various schools and commands followed by retirement in 1974.
He retired to the Outer Banks of NC and started a new career in law enforcement. He started as a dispatcher in 1975 and then patrolman at the Nags Head Police Department. He took a position at the Kill Devil Hills Police Department as a Sergeant. He became Chief of Police there for a little over eleven years. He retired in 1996, after twenty-one years in law enforcement. Jim enjoyed a wonderful and long retirement.
Jim was well known by friends near and far for his captivating and entertaining and often hilarious stories and personal narratives of past military and law enforcement experiences.
He married Marianne Meagher Gradeless in 1978, a loving supportive marriage was maintained for 47 years, together for 49.
He is survived by his wife Marianne, his son James A Gradeless, a sister Jane Gradeless Phillips. Grandsons, Christoper L. Gradeless and family, David K. Gradeless and sister Victoria H. Moore and Granddaughter Kelly Gradeless and family. Niece Linda Hill (Randy), nephews Robert Thomas Phillips (Teresa), James Albert Phillips (Laura Gayle), grand nieces, Erin Holtvedt (John) and family, Courtney Hill (Mark Voller), his grand-nephew Bobby Joe Johnson (Jennifer). Many cousins, friends, and shipmates.
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Saturday Obits
