JOHN S. BOGOSIAN, FORMER OWNER OF THE CAMERA SHOP, IS REMEMBERED BY FRIENDS, FAMILY
By Solomon D. Leach, sleach@delcotimes.com

The Delaware County Times, PA
March 28 2007

Email to a friendPost a CommentPrinter-friendly John S. Bogosian,
founder and former owner of The Camera Shop chain based in Broomall,
died March 21 at the age of 79 after battling a rare neurological
disease known as multiple system atrophy. Bogosian was a well-known
entrepreneur in Delaware County. In 1957, he founded The Camera Shop
Inc., a photo specialty retail business, and expanded the business to
100 stores in five states before selling the company to Ritz Camera
Centers in 1999.

Bogosian formed Visual Sound Co. in 1967 to provide audio-visual
equipment and computers for local businesses and schools, which is
now run by Bogosian’s children, Karen and Paul Bogosian.

The enterprising Newtown Square resident also served as chairman of
the Workforce Investment Board at its inception in 1999, and was a
longtime member of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce.

"He had a tremendous interest in both the Chamber of Commerce and
Workforce Investment Board," said Francis J. Carey, executive director
of the Workforce Investment Board and the county’s Office of Employment
and Training.

Carey recalled Bogosian’s low-key approach in managing organizations,
which translated to his success in the audio-visual field.

"He was certainly a gentle man, but he was also certainly a very
effective business person," Carey said of Bogosian.

Additionally, Bogosian served as a Chamber of Commerce representative
at the 1986 White House Conference on Small Business, and the chamber’s
small business center was named in his honor because of his dedication
to smaller employers.

Jack Holefelder, 25-year president of the Delaware County Chamber
of Commerce, said Bogosian brought him on board to focus on reaching
out to small businesses in the county.

"Getting to know John over those years, he will be a tremendous loss
to the community," Holefelder said Tuesday. "His business sense and
sense of community makes him one of those leaders that comes along
not too often."

Holefelder called Bogosian one of the most outstanding entrepreneurs
in the county’s history. "He took one camera shop and turned it into
a major force in the camera industry."

Jack Crunkleton, who began working with Bogosian in 1959 and served
as manager and general manager of several camera stores, remembers
his co-worker’s business foresight.

"John just had a drive to basically want to continue to succeed in
business, and whenever he saw an opportunity he just took advantage
of it," Crunkleton said.

Paul Bogosian, director of operations at Visual Sound and president of
Bogosian Realty, said his father had great faith and prided himself
in being personable. Karen Bogosian was the head of advertising for
the Camera Shop and is now president of Visual Sound.

"What made him so successful was he took every phone call. He spoke to
everybody," said Paul Bogosian, Haverford High School baseball coach.

In addition to his son, Paul, and daughter, Karen, John Bogosian
is survived by his wife, Marjorie, another daughter, Joanne Ikeler,
a brother and two granddaughters.

A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. at The Armenian Martyrs
Congregational Church in Haverford.