KARNIG DABANIAN: ENGINEER WAS INVENTIVE IN GLASSBLOWING
by Joe Rossiter, Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press (Michigan)
February 10, 2007 Saturday
Feb. 10–A fascination with creative design and a keen eye for beauty
were hallmarks of Karnig Dabanian.
A former mechanical engineer turned glass artist, Mr. Dabanian died
Thursday of renal failure at Oakwood Southshore Hospital in Trenton.
He was 84 and lived in Brownstown Township.
"He was a gifted inventor and talented artisan," his wife of 40 years,
Judith Dabanian, said. "The craftsmanship and imagination he displayed
in his artwork was pleasing to both the sight and touch."
Mr. Dabanian developed an eye for glass art during a trip to England.
After taking courses in glassblowing, he went into business full time
Together with a partner and two art students, he opened a private
hot glass studio in an abandoned poultry shop along Cass Avenue in
Detroit and named it Poultry Glass.
He crafted decorative glass bowls, vases, paperweights and other
designs. Born in Highland Park, Mr. Dabanian graduated from Detroit’s
Cooley High School in 1940 and served in the Army Air Forces during
World War II. After his discharge in 1945, he attended what was then
Wayne University and graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering
in 1948.
During his career, Mr. Dabanian worked with several companies,
including General Motors Corp. and Curtiss Wright in Utica before
becoming chief design engineer at Cox Instrument Co. in Detroit in the
’60s until his retirement in 1978.
In addition to his wife, survivors include daughters Lynne
Dabanian, Irene Berenson and Lisa Estensorro; two sisters, and five
grandchildren.
Visitation is today at 10 a.m. followed by funeral services at
11 a.m. in St. John Armenian Church, 22001 Northwestern Highway,
Southfield. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit.