Dudley Moordigian was born on July 24th, 1949 to Betty and Dr. Jacob Moordigian in Fresno California. He died on February 6th, 2022 in Fresno after a long battle against cancer.

Dudley was active in many social groups and loved talking with people wherever he went. His lively personality made many people laugh with his witty remarks and comedic timing. Dudley was very hardworking throughout his entire life. Self-employed for 42 years, he built high performance racing engines, welded, and did fabrication.  When he wasn't working, he still managed to help friends and family who needed something fixed. Many people trusted his knowledge and skills, and often asked for his advice on anything mechanical. He had a quick eye for detail and strove for perfection in everything he did in life. In his leisure he enjoyed; building and flying R/C airplanes, visiting with friends and family, barbecuing, having a 'snooze' on the couch, appreciating the arts, and going to the swap meet.  Dudley was personable with just about anyone he encountered. No matter the age he greeted you with a smile. He loved animals and had many dogs and befriended cats that he met. He lived a very full life, on his own terms. He was loved by many and will be missed greatly.

He is survived by his wife Helen, daughters Angela, and Dr. Bernadette Moordigian. Visitation will be on February 16 ^th from 5-7pm at Yost and Webb. Funeral services will be at St. Paul Armenian Church on February 17 ^th at 10am. All attendees must be vaccinated and wear masks.  In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Paul Armenians Church or Nancy Hinds Hospice.

EULOGY

Good morning, I am Fr. Derek Thomason.  I am an Anglican priest and it is my privilege and honor to present Dudley's eulogy here today.  Now, I know that many of you are asking yourselves what this Anglican priest is doing here at St. Paul.  I want you to know that I understand your concern and I promise that I will answer that question this morning.  But first, I'm going to ask you to put that question aside while we honor Dudley and reflect on his very rich and colorful life.

Dudley Moordigian was born in Fresno, California July 24, 1949.  His parents divorced when he was just three years old.  He was raised in Fresno and he spent his upbringing visiting all of his extended family.  Family was important to Dudley.  He loved his cousins very much and throughout his entire life he always looked forward to visiting with them.  He spent time with his father, who took him on many fishing and hunting trips.  His father died when Dudley was 19.  He was a student at Fresno City College at the time and he went on to study at Fresno State, as well.  He worked three jobs in those days in order to keep the family home and the building where his father's practice was located.  He learned how to work on cars at the garages he worked for and he aways loved cars.

Dudley loved spending time in Sanger with his father on the family's ranch.  He often shared his memories of his grandmother making cracker bread and how much he loved watching the butter melt on the fresh bread.  The ranch was important to his father who would also go and tend to the property after seeing patients all day.  Dudley carried on this tradition, and continued to go to the ranch, bringing his family to help pick the pomegranates that Helen would make into jelly.  Every year, he would pick the olives from the ranch, and he cured them, just in time for Thanksgiving.  The ranch was very important to Dudley, as well as, the family history which included his cousin, Harry Moordigian, who's ranch was across the street.

Dudley graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1967.  Where he was active in various theater productions, and he lettered in football and wrestling.  He continued to be an active Rough Rider through the Reunion Committee which met monthly.  He enjoyed seeing his classmates and planning the next reunion and other events.  He helped to raise money for the scholarships and liked picking the recipients.  He looked forward to football games between Fresno High and Roosevelt.  He joined a slow pitch baseball league for men 50 and over, with his long-time friend Kenny Folden and he played for several seasons.  His family would watch him play, and Bernadette would bring her friends to cheer him on.

Dudley and Hellen were married for 42 years.  They loved watching old movies together and shopping for antiques.  As a couple, they were both devoted to helping their families in whatever capacity was needed.  Dudley loved taking the family to Santa Cruz every summer to the beach and boardwalk.  He loved riding the rides and having fun.  He and Helen went on many long trips to Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.  Believe it or not, Dudley did not trust new airplanes and he refused to fly in anything built after world war two!!!  He had a fabulous time on a cruise to Mexico with Helen.  He talked about dancing and being able to relax and be carefree.  Together Dudley and Helen both worked on restoring and adding 1500 square feet to their home.  He taught his daughters about the building process.  He was obsessed about finding tile and other components that would reflect the original part of the home.

Dudley was a dedicated father, and would attend all of his daughters', Angela's and Bernadette's, sports and school events.  He was active in helping both daughters learn, and would assist in homework even if they didn't want to do it.  He made learning fun, especially if you had to learn lines for a play.  He always had 'notes' on how to improve.  He would randomly quiz the girls because he wanted them to be ready.  He was intent on teaching his daughters to be self-reliant and taught them all he could.  He taught Angela how to drive at Madera Speedway, and Bernadette how to drive stick, in the Cedar Lanes parking lot.  Many family memories were shared at Cedar Lanes as his father, and cousin Harry, would eat there daily.

As a family, late night trips for clam chowder after football games at McLane High School were shared.  His dedication was not only to his own children.  He and Helen would often drive other kids home after the games.  He helped with various fundraisers at McLane and the boy's basketball team, well after his own children graduated.  He truly did care for others, and selflessly gave his time and energy for everyone.

As a family the Moordigians would attend the Fresno Falcon's hockey games every week.  Dudley outbid Fr. John Morton, the Catholic priest at Sacred Heart for season tickets.  After all, there were four Moordigians and what was a single priest going to do with all those tickets.  The family looked forward to the games… and the fights!  In the Summer, the family would get ice cream and park the car across the runway at the airport at night to look at all the lights and planes.  It was a simple outing, but perfect.  Dudley loved the Winter Olympics and watched many of the events, including luge, and figure skating.  He also appreciated art and would spend time carefully evaluating each piece at museums.  He discussed the materials used, and enjoyed critiquing…well, just about everything.  He also dabbled in photography and other art throughout his life.

Dudley was a self-employed businessman, and created Dudley Moordigian Racing Engines in 1980.  He was dedicated to his work.  Not just working on engines, but also welding, and fabricating.  He not only built engines but also repaired parts for various companies, including Lockheed Martin.  In his spare time at the shop, he worked on his Hot Rod that he had hoped to finish and cruise with Helen around town.

Dudley built his own stock car that he raced in Bakersfield.  He stopped racing once he had a family of his own.  He pivoted his passion for racing into a lifelong career.  He was very active with officiating races at Madera Speedway.  He was quick to help others who were injured or who's cars caught on fire.  He loved his time at the speedway and spent many weekends surrounded by race cars.  The INDY 500 was an important day in the Moordigian household.  Dudley looked forward to all the delicious appetizers that Helen would prepare while he shouted at the T.V. regarding what was wrong with the cars, or mistakes that drivers would make.  He would get so excited that the dogs would bark at him!

Dudley was an active member of the Fresno Radio Modelers Club.  He would spend months building radio controlled airplanes at home.  He would start with the plans and balsa wood, and would intricately piece together the plane.  He would eventually take it out to fly with the other RC enthusiasts on the weekends.  Dudley helped on various articles and restoration projects which appeared in the Model A Restorers Club and Model A News.  He also wrote articles for Model A Ford Club of America.  He participated in being a judge in the Model A Ford organizations.  He built an engine for an "Orange Crush" car which won an award at the Oakland Roadster show.  And his work also featured in Rodding USA, Issue #49.

Dudley was a caring person who was always available to help those in need.  Even if he was tired from a long day of work.  Neighbors would call and need something fixed, and he would go right over to fix the problem.  I even heard the story of a city bus driver who one day happened to hit something on his route and damaged the mirror on the bus.  He eventually pulled over and told his passengers that he was going to use the phone.  He went and told Dudley what he had done and that the mirror was hanging off the bus.  So Dudley put on a work shirt with his name on it, took his welder over and repaired the bus.  When the driver got back onboard one of the passengers said, wow they sure fixed that quick.

Dudley loved animals and had many family pets over the years.  He cared for stray cats at his shop, and would also greet the dogs at his work, or any home he visited.  He nursed an injured squirrel and cared for a lady bug that wouldn't leave his kitchen.

Later in life, Dudley started to attend church at St. Paul regularly.  He worked on learning the Armenian language to better understand the service and his culture.  He loved the social aspect of talking with others after the service.  He gained a lot of peace from Father's sermons.  He would often talk about who was present, and what food they had during the fellowship.  The lemonade was his favorite.  He came to help the Lunch Committee which raised funds for the church.  A fond memory for Helen and Bernadette is Dudley coming to help the crew with cooking the kebabs.  He also looked forward to attending bingo.

He was so pleased to have won several turkeys and a convection oven.  Dudley looked forward to picnics put on by the Armenian Church.  He loved the food, and the warm weather; but most of all, talking with friends and family for hours.

Dudley's passing comes as a shock to many of us.  Dudley wanted to keep his health private.  He never wanted people to worry about him, and he had hoped to overcome his illness.  When talking with friends and family he always wanted to ask how people were doing, and focus on the positive.  He didn't want to burden others with what he was going through.  This was true, even during his last conversation with Helen and Bernadette.  He asked, "What's new with you guys?" Even during his cancer treatments, he made friends with the staff and patients.

Now, I told you at the beginning that I would eventually explain what on earth I, an Anglican priest, am doing presenting Dudley Moordigian's eulogy here at St. Paul.  Well, I was one of those cancer patients Dudley befriended while we were going through radiation together seven years ago.  We met in the little waiting room where patients would come in, change into gloomy hospital gowns and sit quietly until we were called to undergo our treatments.  I always wore my collar because I wanted to remind my fellow sufferers of our loving God.  Dudley always wore bright, crazy colorful pajama pants and he did not sit quietly. He talked with everyone as he tried to brighten things up.

Dudley's efforts to lighten our spirits at the cancer center were contagious.  One day I went out and bought the brightest, most colorful, craziest pajama pants I could find and I wore them to the next session.  But then Dudley showed up with a pair that was even wilder.  So I had to go back to the store and buy a crazier pair.  Well, eventually, we became the brotherhood of the crazy pajama pants at the cancer center.  Dudley saw me though a very difficult fight with cancer.   We encouraged other patients and I think we even lightened the spirits of the medical staff who faced a steady diet of sick and often dying patients.  I love him and admire him deeply and that's why I am here today7.

Dudley truly was a social butterfly who would spend hours on the phone talking with friends from all over the U.S.  Wherever he went, he would run into someone he knew.  He would always stop and talk with them.  Many of us will remember Dudley's sense of humor.  He was extremely witty, and quick to make us laugh or smile, especially if we were sad about something.  He had nicknames for many of his friends.  He was a no frills, down to earth person.  His humor remained intact till his death.  He made the nurses laugh with his jokes…he always had a way of reframing the negative into something positive.  He was loved and respected by many people, and truly will be missed.