“Big Al” Kerkian, one of Summit County’s unique and memorable characters, passed away unexpectedly in Akron on May 12, 2015 at the age of 69.
Alan Aram Kerkian, a giant of a man in so many ways other than his 6’6” stature, grew up in Bath, OH and Newburyport, MA. He graduated from Revere High School and The University of Akron. He was a star football player at both institutions, where he played on the defensive line. He was the first player ever to be drafted by the NFL from The University of Akron when he was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys.
After his football career, Big Al returned to Ohio and was active the rest of his life in the business community. He was truly a visionary, an innovative and creative businessman who started ventures in the 1970s that survived, in one form or another, to this day. He created Wineberry Deli in Bath, where he met his future wife and business partner, Susan, and later opened a second and third location in Akron. These morphed into Sarah’s, a highly successful restaurant and nightclub in downtown Akron. He created Sarah’s in the face of much naysaying from people who told him he’d never get customers to come downtown at night. They were wrong. He subsequently opened Satchmo’s downtown. And finally, he launched Gasoline Alley in Bath, a wonderful gathering place with great food and drink, and Corkscrew Johnny’s in Richfield, a successful retail business.
Big Al lived his life to the hilt and made a host of friends along the way.
He leaves behind his wonderful wife, Susan Johnson. He leaves three children, Sarah, Arami and Jonathan, son-in-law Graham Curtis, and grandson, Xavier, whom he adored. He had four siblings, Gail (Don), Jean (Mike), Ann (Jeff) and Glen (Susan), sisters-in law Mary Catherine (Kurt) and Sally (Rob) and brother-in-law Ned, along with nieces and nephews Zack, Jen, Abby, Krissy, Nate, Jeff, Katy, Hannah, Annie, Katie, Robby, Tony, Olivia and Rachel and their spouses and children.He was preceded in death by his parents, Virginia and Aram, and his brother, Roy.
His family and friends will forever miss this larger-than-life man, as funny as he was generous, who left a legacy they will never forget. “The summer wind came blowin’ in from across the sea…”
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to one of Al’s favorite local organizations, the Bath Township Fire Department or the Revere Schools Foundation. He’d also like for everyone to be an organ donor.

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