Alison AtamianSarkis Atamian, the son of immigrant parents, who miraculously escaped the genocide of the Armenians by the Turks after World War I, was born in Providence, Rhode Island. Upon graduation from high school, he served in the United States Army in four cmpaigns during World War II: Italy, France, Germany, and North Africa. Following the war, Sarkis received his cum laude education at the University of Rhode Island, Brown University, and the University of Utah. After a brief stint with Civil Service, he moved to Alaska and joined the faculty at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. There he served for two terms as head of the Department of Sociology and Psychology. He had membership in many professional societies, including the Egypt Exploration Society, and guided student tours to the Land of the Pharaohs. He kept active membership as a Fellow of the Explorers Club. Sarkis passed away in December 2005, after approving the manuscript for Douglas Avenue. He was happily married to Alison C. Betts, a former student, who, he says, was really an angel in mortal disguise. Alison, who was heavily involved with Sarkis in writing and developing his books, attends book signings and other promotional activities. Read More Read Less