NISHAN AGHAJANIAN, 92, TAILOR TO HOLLYWOOD STARS
The Morning Journal, OH
09/12/2007
OBERLIN — Nishan M. Aghajanian, 92, of Oberlin, died Saturday,
Sept. 8, 2007, at Community Allen Medical Center in Oberlin, after
a brief hospitalization.
He was born Dec. 18, 1914, in Arabkir, Turkey.
Six months later he lost his father, Musegh Aghajanian, and two uncles
in the Armenian Genocide of 1915. He, his mother, Mary Aghajanian,
and his grandmother moved throughout Turkey and Aghajanian left
school. Aghajanian went to work in 1927 as an apprentice tailor in
Istanbul, making mostly hand-sewn custom garments and at age 16 he
and a partner opened their own tailor shop. It soon became one of
the busiest in the city.
Aghajanian and his family moved to San Francisco in 1936 and then
to Los Angeles, where he worked for Irene, a designer for Hollywood
stars, at Bullock’s Wilshire. He, his mother and grandmother relocated
to Oberlin in 1938 and he opened a shop in the former Martin’s Inn
building which later was in the Oberlin Inn Block for many years
and drew customers from as far away as New York, Pittsburgh, Detroit
and California.
He enjoyed classical music, the arts, history, nature and
bird-watching, and ballroom dancing and entertaining at his home. He
had been a member of the Suburban Club, an Oberlin dinner-dance club,
and Wildcat, an investment club of local businessmen.
In retirement Aghajanian continued making custom suits, skirts and
coats for his family.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, A. Alice; sons Edmond,
of Westlake, and Nishan, of Chevy Chase, Md.; daughters Lisa of
Lexington, Mass., and Paula of Oberlin; sister, Anahid, of Beachwood;
and six grandchildren and a nephew and a niece.
Friends may call Thursday, 6 to 8 p.m., at Cowling Funeral Home, 228
S. Main St., Oberlin. Services will be Friday at 11 a.m. in Christ
Episcopal Church, 162 S. Main St., Oberlin. The Rev. Brian K. Wilbert,
rector, will officiate. Burial will be in Westwood Cemetery, Oberlin.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Gregory of Narek Armenian
Church, 678 Richmond Road, Richmond Heights, OH 44143, or to the
Armenian General Benevolent Union in care of St. Gregory’s Church.