Cover photo for Zaven K. Tachdjian's Obituary
1947 Zaven 2022

Zaven K. Tachdjian

November 18, 1947 — May 27, 2022

White Plains

Beloved husband, father and grandfather, Zaven Khatchik Tachdjian, 74, of Rye Brook, New York, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, May 27, 2022, after a brief hospital stay. He was the husband of Gladys Karioty Tachdjian.

Born in Palestine, he was the son of Khatchik Tachdjian, Armenian Genocide survivor, and Alice Malikian Tachdjian. Zaven immigrated to Beirut, Lebanon as an infant with his sisters Adrine Malikian (deceased), Ankine Dadian, Arpine Bathiche and Yeran Tachdjian. Growing up in Beirut, Zaven was fluent in Arabic, French, English and Armenian. He graduated from the American University of Beirut (AUB) with honors, earning both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Following his graduation, Zaven worked his way to Associate Engineer for Dar-Al-Handassah in Lebanon, where he was instrumental in building hospitals, airports, hotels, schools and other properties across the Middle East and North Africa. Upon immigrating to the United States, Zaven took on various engineering roles in New York City and Westchester, NY. He then went on to found and run his own business, Stone & Powers, building luxury homes in Westchester, NY and Connecticut until he retired.

For 40 years, Zaven was a devoted parishioner of St. James Armenian Church and later, St. Gregory the Enlightener Armenian Church in White Plains, NY, serving the church and community faithfully. He held multiple leadership positions within the church, including a decade long service as Parish Council chair and chairing the committee to construct a new church. Zaven served as the design and construction coordinator for the St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, also holding a position on the board. Additionally, his services to the Eastern Diocese were many and varied, including positions on the Diocesan Council and Board of Trustees. He represented the Eastern Diocese during the Ecclesiastical Representative Assembly at Holy Etchmiadzin in Armenia. Recently, he utilized his professional expertise as an engineer to play a leading role in the Diocesan Center Needs Assessment. For a time, Zaven served in a voluntary capacity overseeing the facilities management of the St. Vartan Cathedral and Diocesan Center in New York. Zaven was generous with his time and knowledge, and was a friend and advisor to many in the community. He received numerous awards and recognition for his service, and he was particularly honored to be awarded the St. Nersess the Graceful Medal by the Catholicos in 2008.

As a proud Lebanese-Armenian, Zaven was passionate about maintaining a connection with both countries and improving the lives of Armenians in the Middle East. Zaven was on the board of the Armenia Fund, a non-profit dedicated to humanitarian efforts in Armenia. Additionally, he was elected President of the Board of Directors of the Karagheusian Foundation, which serves socially and economically vulnerable Armenian communities in the Middle East, Armenia, and Karabagh through many channels, such as the construction of hospitals, healthcare clinics, orphanages and other critical institutions. As President of the Foundation, Zaven was integral in the construction of multiple healthcare clinics throughout Lebanon and Armenia.

Zaven is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Gladys, his daughters Karol, Peggy, and Kelly and sons-in-law Laurence London, Christopher Batty and David Smith. Zaven was also a devoted grandfather ("Baba") to Laila and Levi London and Owen and Lucas Batty. He was looking forward to welcoming his fifth grandchild this summer.

His funeral service will be held on Friday, June 3, 2022 at 10:30 AM at St. Gregory the Enlightener Church, 1131 North St, White Plains, NY10605. The burial will be private. There will be a viewing and wake held on Thursday from 5 PM - 8 PM at St. Gregory the Enlightener, with a brief service at 7 PM. In lieu of flowers, loving donations in memory of Zaven may be made to St. Gregory the Enlightener,1131 North St, White Plains, NY10605. Contributions will be used to establish an endowment fund in Zaven's memory to provide scholarships to Armenian youth which will help them strengthen their Armenian identity.
To send flowers to the family in memory of Zaven K. Tachdjian, please visit our flower store.

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Greenwood Union Cemetery

215 North Street, Rye, NY 10580

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