- Date Of Birth: February 25, 1929
- Date Of Death: June 3, 2018
- State: Michigan
Aram Martin Gavoor was born on February 25, 1929 in Cambridge, MA. His proud parents were Aram Gavoor born in Keserig in the Kharpert Province and Haigouhi (Agnes) Asoian Gavoor of Andover, MA. He was named Aram for his father and Martin for his paternal grandfather. A non-Armenian neighbor couldn’t pronounce Aram and just called him “Sonny” and because of his blondish hair, light complexion, and outgoing disposition, the name stuck. Everyone has called him Sonny or Uncle Sonny ever since.Sonny was a student in the Watertown Public Schools from Kindergarten through high school. He graduated from Watertown High School in 1948. He was involved in the full breadth of school activities. He exhibited both acting and singing skills by performing in the Senior Play and as a member of the Watertown High School Choral Group. Most did not know about Sonny’s acting and singing talents because he was known much more for his athletic skills. He was a star letterman excelling in both football and track. In his senior year, he was awarded the Most Valuable Player in the 1947 Belmont – Watertown rivalry game on Thanksgiving Day in which he scored five touchdowns even though two of them were called back. Perhaps even more special was being part of the 1948 track team that won the State Championship, the first ever for Watertown. The Watertown track coach, Arthur Perkins, left a lasting impression on Sonny who eventually followed in Coach Perkins footsteps to become a talented track coach in his own right.
