RACINE – Ardis A. Cherkinian, 93, passed away at Wheaton Franciscan All Saints on Saturday, August 22, 2015. Art was born in Racine on May 20, 1922 to Hyrabed and Varvar (nee, Salbashian) Cherkinian. He married the former Ann Stapanian on June 16, 1956. After graduation from high school, Art attended the University of Wisconsin Extension in Racine. After working for several companies, Art and George Hoffman helped Roger Hill found Electronic Systems Corporation of America (ESCOA) which was later named Gettys Manufacturing Company. In his words, when they started,' the three of us did everything from putting products on the drawing board to actually going out and building them.' The company grew and thrived. In 1981 Gould, Inc. purchased Gettys and Art retired three years later. Shortly after, he founded Incon Systems, LTD. where he worked until retiring for good in 1997. Art was a lifetime member of the Racine Yacht Club. He was a passionate sailor having begun sailing there when he was 13 years old. Art was also a 32nd Degree Mason and a devoted lifelong member of St. Mesrob Armenian Church. Survivors include his wife, Ann Cherkinian; daughter, Nancy (Richard) Hardesty; grandsons, Gregory and Matthew Hardesty; sisters-in-law, Mary Stapanian and Emma Louise Cherkinian; nieces and nephews, Harry and Michael Cherkinian, Roselyn (Paul) Mikaelian, Stephen Stapanian, Juliette (the late Robert) Apkarian, Martin (the late Adrienne) Stapanian and Marylis (Robert) Rigdon; and his cousin, Janet Cherkinian. Art is also survived by other relatives and many dear friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Mardiros and Serma Stapanian; brother, Harry Cherkinian; sister Vartine in Argentina, sister-in-law Vartine Cherkinian, brothers-in-law and sister-in-law, Myron Stapanian, Mike (Sophie) Stapanian and Jackie Stapanian; niece Mariza Crabtree; and cousins, Sarkis (Mary) Cherkinian, and Jack (Sherry) Cherkinian.Funeral services for Art will be held at St. Mesrob Armenian Apostolic Church, 4605 Erie Street, on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Yeprem Kelegian officiating. Interment will follow at Graceland Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited to meet with the family at the church on Tuesday evening from 4 until the 7 p.m. religious service, and on Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Mesrob Armenian Apostolic Church.