Obituary of James Ward Vartanian

May 24, 1958 - March 7, 2023 James Ward Vartanian, 64, passed peacefully in his home in Tucson, Arizona on March 7, 2023. He was born to Andrew Vartanian and Marjorie Dolly on May 24, 1958 at Prince Georges Hospital in Cheverly, MD. At the age of 7 his family moved to Chicago, Ill where he was raised and formed lifelong friendships. Jim, also known as Jimbo or Vart, attended Arlington Heights Forest View High-school where he ran track competing in the 120-yard high hurdles which he placed 7th in the state in 75’ 76’ He attended the University of Wisconsin in LaCrosse where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree. After graduating he relocated to Tucson, AZ in 1980. Jim fell in love with the desert, it is here he put down his roots. He was married in 1987 and went on to have three wonderful boys who were his pride and joy, his everything. Together, in 1986, he and his father-in-law started Sunshine Jeep Tours where Jim’s love for the desert and 4-wheeling was apparent. His highlight was sharing the flora, fauna, spiders, and snakes with the visitors, making sure they had a great time as he walked away with a “Clint Eastwood swagger” as a newspaper once commented. Through the years Jim made his mark in the Oro Valley community, he was the Director and President of the Oro Valley Dolphins and a big fan of the CDO Dorados Friday night lights, where you would catch him cooking up Dorado tortillas and hotdogs in the parking lot for pregame. His contributions and support will always be remembered by many. Jim was a hardcore Redskins fan, he enjoyed feasting on Maryland Crab and Ledo pizza. He was very creative; he enjoyed cooking and making new recipes as well as inventing and building things. He was known to be outgoing and enjoyed meeting new people. He loved tradition and taking his boys to Oceanside, California for the past 20 years, with which he formed lifelong friendships. He is preceded in death by his oldest son, Jarret Vartanian, mother, Marjorie Fletcher, father, Andrew Vartanian, stepfather, Ron Fletcher, Aunt Alice Muradyan, Aunt Violet, and his forever brother-in-law David Andresen. He is survived by his sons, Jason and Jake Vartanian, sister Valerie Boarman and brother in law Jerry Boarman, his nieces, Karen Kenny (Boarman) Kristine Frankenfield (Boarman) and nephew, Craig Boarman.