Atomic Torosian, 1949-2017
Atomic Torosian passed away on Friday, July 7th, 2017: a date that his family will never forget. He was born on November 5th, 1949 to Toros (Ted) and Rachel Torosian in Fresno, CA. He was history’s first Atomic, and the nurses reluctantly wrote his name on the birth certificate. He was the oldest of six children, who all grew up on a humble farm in the San Joaquin Valley.
Atomic was an athlete in every sense of the word – his shotput record at Sanger High has remained untouched for half a century – and he was a star football player through high school, Reedley College, and Fresno State.
In 1970, Atomic married his sweetheart and lifelong love, Charlene Agajanian, in a traditional Armenian ceremony. They were married for 47 years and had a son, Wyatt. They did everything as a family, from dinners to travel to home projects. A legend of California’s produce industry, Atomic’s tireless work took him to all 50 states and around the world. He loved hunting, fishing, history, and the finer things that life has to offer.
This was not his first death. In 1996, Atomic was declared dead from a heart attack at altitude as his plane made an emergency landing at McCarran Airport, where his heart was restarted after 3 attempts. Nor was this his first brush with death – he survived bullet wounds, falling in an ice lake, and quintuple bypass surgery. In other words, he lived up to a name like Atomic.
Atomic is survived by his mother and his five siblings: Arlene, Max, Tara, Ted, and Christine, his wife, son, and extended family and friends. Atomic joins his father, uncles, and beloved friends in death.
Now he belongs to the ages.
A memorial service was held at Noon on Friday, July 14th at People’s Church in Fresno.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Fresno State in support of student athlete scholarships:
The Bulldog Foundation, P.O. Box 26267, Fresno, CA 93729-6267
To contact the Bulldog Foundation directly: (559) 278-7160
Please designate your gift in memory of Atomic Torosian.
Donations may also be accepted online using this link: https://fresno.donornetpac.com
Worked with Atomic in the late 70’s in Parker Arizona, I sold honeydews. He was always pleasant, hard working, and very knowledgeable. Great strategies. I express my sympathies to Atomic’s family, his wife and son.
I traded with Atomic when I was a Produce VP at Vons and then later I did some work with this company got to Norm even better. It was fun to work with and he had passion for the produce business like no one else I have met. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family
Atomic was a gentleman, a mentor and a very patient human being. He had a positive outlook in life and on the produce industry. He gave me my first break and allowed me dream. Thank you all for allowing me to share some life moments with him.
As a business writer I had the pleasure of interviewing Atomic twice at his Fresno office and on several other occasions. He was unusually candid on the record, and even more revealing off the record. Newer technologies like big data, smartphones and artificial intelligence grab the headlines. But for my money we’re still living in the Atomic Age. There was nothing artificial about him.
Atomic was one of the people that you try to emulate. I`d known Atomic for close to 30 years . We would talk almost everyday during the grape season comparing notes and buying and selling to each other. During that time, I think he only got upset with me twice that I can remember, but then we would turn around and say something funny to each other and break out into a belly laugh. He was always a gentleman and had very good control of his emotions.I`ll never forget the day his brother Ted had asked me if I ever considered going out on our own. He said that Atomic had offered to back us financially as we started Custom Produce. I believe I would not be where I am today if not for him. I miss him and our daily conversations.
I’m sorry to have not known earlier about Atomic’s passing. I met him years ago on my farm in Hill City Idaho. He shot his first antelope in my field with my .223 rifle. I’m sorry I lost touch with him. I feel blessed to have known him and want you to know how special he was. Thanks for listening , and my best to all of you. Jim Rice
Atomic Torosian is considered the best lb for lb shotputter Sanger High School of all time. Atomic told me (most humbly) in a shot-putter blog was only 5’11’ 165 lbs when he put the iron ball an incredible 58′ feet in 1968 which is a shotput record that still stands over 50 years later.
Just looked up Atomic on the web and found this. My interface with him was playing two football games against Reedley in 1968/69 as a member of the Porterville Pirates. He ran back the opening kickoff for a touchdown in both games! Our yearbook has a photo of me looking like I am making a great diving sideline tackle on him during one if those run-backs. Truth is he ran thru my tackle like I wasn’t there! Sad to find he is gone.