FOWLER, Calif. (KFSN) — Family members are remembering Kalem Kazarian, a Fresno County contractor who died earlier this month after summiting Mount Whitney in Sequoia National Park.
According to a family member, Kazarian was heading down the mountain when he slipped and fell. His loved ones say they want him to be remembered as a man of faith who dedicated his life to helping others.
Kazarian had set a goal of summiting California’s 12 mountains that rise more than 14,000 feet above sea level. He had already completed 10 of the peaks, known as the “Fourteeners.”
His brother, Karnig Kazarian, said Kalem had a passion for the outdoors and mountaineering.
“He just loved being up high. There’s even a note of him recently that says ‘I just love being this high. I’m so happy,'” Karnig Kazarian said.
The 52-year-old was an experienced hiker on Mount Whitney. One of the last photos found on his phone showed him standing at the summit of the mountain, which rises more than 14,000 feet.
His brother said the tragedy occurred during the descent.
“That’s when he, we don’t know the exact details, but that’s when he slipped and fell,” he said.
Beyond his love of the outdoors, Kalem was a husband, father, brother and son. He also served as president of Impact Construction, where he combined a lifelong interest in building and creating.
His brother recalled signs of that passion from an early age.
“One day, my dad was looking for Kalem and he was looking all around and he was up in the tree. He was a young boy. But he made it all the way up there. He made a rope across the way. He had all this stuff going on in these trees,” Karnig Kazarian said.
Family members described Kalem as deeply rooted in his faith.
“He was Christ-centered,” Karnig Kazarian said.
They said he devoted time to serving others through his church and volunteer work. According to his brother, that service extended internationally.
“He also did some work with Habitat for Humanity in Yerevan or in Armenia,” Karnig Kazarian said.
A lifelong Fowler resident, Kazarian also made an impact on local youth.
“He was an Eagle Scout. He became an Eagle Scout while he was at Fowler and he became a Scout Master for the Local Troop 390 in Fowler,” Karnig Kazarian said.
While his family continues to grieve, they say the influence he had on others will endure.
“He’s already left an impact and he continues to leave an impact,” Karnig Kazarian said.
Kazarian was also featured on the television show “Go Big or Go Home.” A GoFundMe has been established to help support his family.
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