Kyle Peter Dean Malkasian, a native of California, was born in Santa Rosa, CA. As an “Army Brat” he resided in Germany and Ft. Devons, MA. He also resided in Albany, CA, Houston, TX and recently returned to his childhood home in Berkeley, CA. After a valiant effort by medical personnel to save his life, Kyle passed away from a heart attack at age 33. He was the beloved son of Jana (Dremann) Malkasian-Wick, Frank Edward Wick of Houston, TX, and Lt Col Mark Dowell Malkasian, Retired of Osprey, FL; loving brother of Matthew Malkasian and Amanda Malkasian of Houston, TX, and Alexa Malkasian of Long Beach, CA; Uncle “extraordinaire” to Mila June and George Henry of Houston, TX; beloved grandson of Jane (Matthews) Dremann of Berkeley, CA. He was predeceased by maternal grandfather George Henry Dremann, great grandparents Arthur and Minnie Matthews; paternal grandparents Nishan and Grace (Dowell) Malkasian and great uncle Zaven Bedros Malkasian.
Kyle graduated from Stratford High School, Houston, TX, in 2002, where he played tuba in the Marching Band until the athletic coaches recruited him for football. He worked as a Life Guard for the Jewish Community Center as well as security for various bar/restaurants in Houston, Denny’s as a waiter, and Coldwell Banker United as a weekend Receptionist while attending Houston Community College, graduating from the University of Houston in 2013 with a B.S. in Kinesiology and a double minor in Nutrition and Health. He held an ACE National Certification as a Personal Trainer and he worked as a Trainer and General Manager for Pro Fit Gym in Houston, TX. He moved to California in 2013 where he worked for Safeway as a Residential/Commercial Delivery Driver. He recently began driving for Martha’s Gourmet delivering fresh meals to the elderly and those too busy to prepare their own meals, while at the same time working part-time for the Central Bay Area YMCA-Albany as a Personal Trainer in their Health and Wellness Department—a position he loved and hoped would become full time.
Kyle enjoyed his years in the Boy Scouts, attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. He was a Camp Strake staff counselor and Life Guard for several summers. He attended Philmont and the National Jamboree. He enjoyed hiking and camping and was reacquainting himself with Muir Woods, Tilden and Briones Regional Parks, and the Sierras in California. He enjoyed watching and participating in athletics, especially baseball at Memorial Ashford Little League (MALL) and football, playing center and offensive line for both Stratford High School and later for the Houston Firewalkers. He umpired for several area Little Leagues for 6 years. Kyle was a member of the Cy Fair Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and held a Technician level Ham Radio Operator’s License. He had recently taken up cycling—riding to work and home daily. He enjoyed reading for pleasure, authors such as Baldacci, Patterson, Cusler, Flynn, and Clancy.
While in college he took a bowling class and enjoyed it so much he joined a league at the Albany Bowl, Albany, CA—his team, made up of Kyle and three other men about twice his age, whom he greatly respected, just won the first half of their season.
Kyle never met a stranger that didn’t soon become a friend. He was quick to laugh and slow to anger. He was kind, generous, always giving of himself and his time, and for all his 6’4”, 290 pounds, a loving, gentle giant of a man, a young man who will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
Memorial Services celebrating his life will be held at 10:00 AM on Thursday, May 18, 2017 at All Souls Episcopal Parish, 2220 Cedar Street, Berkeley, CA 94707. A reception will follow in the Parish Hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to the Sam Houston Area Council, BSA in Kyle’s memory, 2225 N Loop W, Houston, TX 77008, where a scholarship has been set up to assist deserving scouts to attend National /International Jamborees. Please contact Jim Rees at 713-659-8111 with any questions.
Private interment will be at the Sunset View Cemetery, 101 Colusa Ave., El Cerrito, CA 94530. Condolences may be mailed to the Malkasian and Wick family c/o Sunset View Cemetery, PO Box 187, El Cerrito, CA 94530.