Obituary of Kenneth(aka Kegham) Kradjian

Mr. Kegham (Kenneth) Kradjian, a leading businessman and citizen of the Binghamton community, died Wednesday morning, May 30, 2001, at Wilson Memorial Hospital, Johnson City, N.Y. He died after a brief illness. Mr. Kradjian, an Armenian, was born in 1903 in Hadjin, Turkey, formerly part of Ancient Armenia. A survivor of the Armenian Genocide of 1915, he immigrated to the United States in 1923. Arriving with no money and unable to speak English, he worked hard in the local shoe factory, Endicott-Johnson. After a few years, he and his brother had saved up enough money to acquire a dry cleaning operation, Ballard & Ballard Dry Cleaners, located on the west side of Binghamton. He had tremendous love and pride for his adopted country; he attended Binghamton Central High School Citizenship Classes, and soon became a United States citizen. Prior to his arrival in this country, he had been a student at the prestigious Armenian Getronagan College in Istanbul. As the dry cleaning business prospered, Mr. Kradjian, along with his brother, and later with their respective sons, established various real estate development companies which built and managed apartments, supermarkets, office complexes, and hotel and motel operations. Mr. Kradjian's vision and entrepreneurial efforts played a key role in helping to stimulate Broome County's economic growth during the past 50 years. During his life, Mr. Kradjian was an active member of the Masonic Temple and the Kalurah Shrine. He was an accomplished horseman, and as Captain of the Shrine Patrol, proudly led his fellow Shriners in their annual parade. Mr. Kradjian had a life-long passion for horses; he kept several horses on his farm in Vestal and rode them daily up until two years ago. Even after reaching an agreement with The State University of New York whereby Mr. Kradjian's property was acquired by the state he was granted exclusive rights to ride his horse on the University grounds. Students came to refer to the familiar figure trotting on horseback across the rolling hills as "The Man on the Horse". Mr. Kradjian's other hobbies included hunting, fishing, and gardening. He was also an expert backgammon player. Mr Kradjian was one of the founders of St. Gregory The Illuminator Armenian Church in Binghamton. He was an active supporter of the parish throughout his life. He also was a supporter of several Armenian organizations: The Endowment Fund of the Armenian Church, The Armenian General Benevolent Union, St. Nerses Seminary, and the Armenian Assembly. In 1998, Mr. Kradjian received a special medal of recognition from the Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin I, for his generous support of the Armenian Church and its mission. In addition, Mr. Kradjian, along with his brother, sponsored over 40 immigrants from their native Hadjin and other countries so that these young students could come to this country, be guaranteed jobs, and offered the same opportunity that they had been given. Mr. Kradjian is survived by his wife, V. Sonig Kradjian, whom he married in 1995. In 1991 he was predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Haigouhi, the mother of his four surviving children; Alice Janian and her husband Henri, Palm Desert, Calif, Ara Kradjian and his wife Naima, Binghamton, Astrid Dadourian and her husband Haig, New York City, and Diane Robinson and her husband Lewis, Paradise Valley, Ariz. In addition, Mr. Kradjian is survived by nine grandchildren, Lisa and Monique Janian, Leslie Barmakian, Jeanine Hovsepian, Melanie Dadourian, Eric and Brian Kradjian, David and Elyse Robinson; and eight great-grandchildren. Other surviving relatives of Mr. Kradjian are his brother, Arsham Kradjian, Binghamton; sister, Mrs. Vehanoosh Gechijian, Arlington, Mass.Funeral services will be held at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church, 12 Corbett Avenue, Binghamton, on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. Rev. Fr. Mikael Devejian, Pastor and the Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan will officiate. Burial will be in Vestal Hills Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the J.A. McCormack Sons Funeral Home, 141 Main Street, Binghamton, Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. The Vestal-Otsiningo Lodge 435 will hold services at 8 p.m. followed by a wake service. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in memory of Mr. Kradjian may be made to St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church, 12 Corbett Avenue, Binghamton, N.Y. 13903.