On Monday, September 22nd, Steve Magarian passed away peacefully with his family at his side.
He was 82 years old. He survived by his wife and daughters. They wish to express their deep appreciation to all community members who have sent condolences.
Steve Magarian was born in Fresno on October 13, 1942. He graduated from Roosevelt High School and began his law enforcement career in 1966 at the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office as a reserve deputy. In 1968, he was hired as a regular deputy and worked assignments in the jail, courts and on patrol. While working full-time, he earned a bachelor's and master's degree from Fresno State.
Steve worked his way through the ranks before ultimately being elected as Fresno County’s 23rd Sheriff in 1986. Sheriff Magarian served three terms, beginning in 1987 and ending in 1999.
Some of his many accomplishments included: Overseeing the completed construction of the Main Jail and North Annex Jail, launching the department’s Air Support Unit, implementing a computerized field reporting system and forming the Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium (MAGEC).
Through his retirement, Steve stayed connected with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. He served as a great mentor to former Sheriff Margaret Mims and several others. He most recently partnered with Sheriffs Zanoni and Mims to create the Fresno Sheriff’s Memorial, a project scheduled to open to the public at our Area Two Substation this October.
“Steve put up a fierce battle with cancer. We now know he is no longer suffering and is in a better place. Steve was a great man who cared for his family and our agency. His life may have ended, but his legacy here at the Fresno County Sheriff’s will be forever remembered by all of us,” said Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni.
