Armen Marouk

Dr. Armen Marouk, 83, passed away on Friday, July 27, 2012, at his home in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. He was an Armenian-American, born on March 12, 1929, to Seneg and Virginia Marouk in Hartford, Connecticut. Armen was the middle child, with two brothers: Edward Vasken Marouk of Fresno, CA, and John Ara Marouk of Los Angeles, CA. He was preceded in death by his parents and his younger brother, John.
Armen attended Fresno State University, where he received his undergraduate pre-med education. In 1956, he completed medical school at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, receiving a degree as a Doctor of Osteopathy. He then did his residency in Neurological Surgery at LA County Hospital, which, at that time, was a 9,000-bed facility. He received his fellowship in 1964 from The Osteopathic College of Surgeons.
In 1959, Armen married Dorothy Helen Rowe from New York. From this union, five children were born: Keith Armen and Paula Marouk of Coweta, OK, Dr. Robert Ian and Kristen Marouk of Chandler, AZ, Dr. Colin Aram and Debbie Marouk of Broken Arrow, OK, Dr. John Sarkis and Jacqui Ann Marouk of Tulsa, OK, and Denise Jean and Troy Witzansky of Sapulpa, OK. Dorothy preceded him in death.
In 1990, Armen married Jackie Dellaine Lewis of Sand Springs, OK, and they had one daughter: Amy Elizabeth Marouk of Tulsa, OK. They were blessed with fifteen grandchildren: Ian and Beau Marouk, Bryce and Tristyn Marouk, Christopher Marouk, Cassandra Marouk, Emily, Ethan, Andrew, and Annsley Marouk, and Zachary and Olivia Witzansky. He also had two nieces and one nephew: Andrea and Luke Shepard, Sam and Zarrin Marouk, and Elizabeth and Doug Coe. Armen was a member of the Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church in Fresno, CA.
Dr. Marouk was a respected neurosurgeon in Tulsa for 52 years. He opened his practice, Armen Marouk DO Inc., in 1960, which later became Neurosurgical Specialists of Tulsa. He was the first osteopathic neurosurgeon in Tulsa and served as the director of the neurosurgery training program at Oklahoma Osteopathic Hospital (now known as OU Medical Center) for 36 years. Over the years, he trained and graduated eight residents: Dr. Ken Stover, Dr. David Carr, Dr. Rodney Routsong, Dr. Steven Fletcher, Dr. Gregory Wilson, Dr. John Marouk, Dr. JD Duncan, and Dr. Tim Heilman. Armen thoroughly enjoyed teaching and was quite proud of his residents. He also taught many interns and residents during their neurosurgery rotations at Oklahoma Osteopathic Hospital.
Dr. Marouk was one of the founders of this hospital and served as chief of surgery for a three-year period. He was also a program inspector for many neurological residency programs around the country. Armen received many accolades over the years, and in 2002, he was the first recipient of the Dr. Raymond Ruberg Award for outstanding teaching excellence and a lifetime of service in osteopathic neurosurgery. He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Osteopathic Association. He was a past president of the College of Surgeons of the American Osteopathic Association.
Armen loved learning and was an avid reader, constantly educating himself. He had several hobbies, including golf, gardening, and astronomy. He was very independent, quick-witted, and had a presence that drew people toward him. He was sweet, lovable, and always a comedian. He always had a big smile and an infectious personality that energized everyone he came into contact with. He will be fondly remembered and missed by so many.