Sarasota Herald-Tribune, FL
Dec 29 2006
Venice councilman was a problem-solver
By PATRICK WHITTLE
VENICE — More than a longtime Venice councilman or tireless public
servant, John Kalajian will be remembered as a man who cared about
solving problems in his community, his wife said Thursday.
"If there was a challenge, John always had a creative way to meet the
challenge," said Sarabeth Kalajian.
Kalajian, a Venice City Council member from 1978 to 1987 and a local
volunteer, fundraiser and community leader for many years, died Dec.
27 of cancer. He was 61.
Family members and former public officials and co-workers remembered
Kalajian as energetic, idealistic and motivated. During his time in
Venice, he served on the boards of a host of community organizations,
including the founding board of the Community Foundation of Sarasota
County. He also worked as a government relations consultant.
Stewart Stearns, president and CEO of the Community Foundation,
recalled a meeting when Kalajian worked for a drug education program
for youths. Kalajian put a chair in the middle of a circle of 60
youths and said: "Here, Stewart; here’s where you sit," Stearns said.
"I said ‘Why did you do that to me, John?’ He said, ‘Stewart, you
needed to learn as much as they did,’" Stearns said. "John expressed
a real deep concern for kids."
Kalajian’s path to Venice was circuitous: The son of ethnic
Armenians, he emigrated to Boston from Germany at age 4. The
Kalajians originally planned to move to California, but ended up
settling in Boston when John’s father became ill. In 1974, John
Kalajian moved to Venice to work as a nurse anesthetist.
Some Venice residents recognize Kalajian for helping to build the
Centennial Park Gazebo and to refurbish the Venice Fishing Pier. Ed
Taylor, a former City Council member who served with Kalajian,
remembers him as "just a real straight shooter."
"All of us were enamored of John’s patriotism and his commitment to
the city," Taylor said.
Kalajian is survived by his wife, Sarabeth, a son, Matthew Kalajian
of Charlotte, N.C.; a daughter, Jill Kalajian of Tampa; parents Paul
and Araxi Kalajian of Boston; and sisters Karen Kalajian of Windham,
Maine, Alice Hunter of Philadelphia and Audrey Kalajian of Arlington,
Mass.
A service for Kalajian is planned for 1 p.m. Jan. 2 at the Selby
Botanical Gardens Great Room by the Bay.
The John L. Kalajian and Sarabeth A. Kalajian Fund for Children’s
Literacy at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County Inc. is
accepting memorial contributions.
The address is P.O. Box 49587, Sarasota, FL 34237. Contributions can
also be made to TideWell Hospice and Palliative Care, 5955 Rand
Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34238.