HARRY KALAJIAN

Well done, good and faithful servant.Harry (Haratouin) Kalajian - our beloved father, dear husband, grandfather, uncle, brother-in-law and friend to many - died on October 5. Harry was born on April 11, 1932 to Hovagem Kalajian and Zabel Sahakian Kalajian, a survivor of the Armenian genocide. He joined older sisters Mary and Sona, living in a modest family-owned hotel in Dearborn that catered to Ford Motor Co. factory workers. After his father's sudden death, 9-year-old Harry worked hard as a Detroit Free Press paperboy to help his mother and sisters survive during WWII. It was during these years his sense of responsibility and taking care of family became the driving force throughout his life. At Cass Tech High School, Harry learned how to draft, a skill that enabled him to help pay his way through Wayne State University, earning both a B.S. in mechanical engineering and an M.S. in industrial engineering while he lived at home and worked full-time. A chance meeting in his 1950 senior year psychology class gave him not only his first love, but best friend and mate for life. Once Elaine Alma Wieck from Ferndale caught his eye, Harry's heart was won. After a year of service in the U.S. Army, they married in 1957 and together raised children Karen, Kathryn and Jim on Leamington Drive in Farmington Hills. Harry was as loyal as they come and once he began his career as an engineer at Michigan Bell, he stayed a "Bellhead" for 38 years, retiring as an executive vice president at Michigan Bell and Ameritech. His career was marked by long hours but also lifelong friendships. Harry's true happy place was retiring to Old Mission Peninsula in Traverse City, where he and Elaine bought a home on West Bay as a place for friends and extended family to gather. Grilled shishkebab, drinks around the fire and mandatory Tiger or Red Wings games were just a few of his favorite Up North activities. It was not uncommon to find Harry watching the stock market, eating pistachios, and reading the day's news ... all at once. Harry's family was his pride and joy. He loved his kids and grandkids beyond words, wrapping them in bear hugs, dispensing sage financial advice and writing countless encouraging notes. All felt his love, near and far, and will always treasure his infectious laugh and chronic malapropisms. Harry's Armenian heritage was an overarching influence on him at a very young age, when St. John's Armenian Church supported him through educational scholarships and also during the difficult years following his father's death. He remained a loyal and faithful son to St. John's, where his extended family still belongs.FAMILY MEMBERS Harry is survived by his wife Elaine, daughters Karen (Steven) Stuehrk; Kathryn (Rodney Pulgini) Kalajian; son Jim (Becky) Kalajian; grandchildren Susan (Andrew Plunk) Stuehrk; Katherine (Josh) Talo; William Kalajian; Claire Kalajian; and many beloved extended family members including nephews and nieces. ARRANGEMENTSVisitation with the family will be at St. John Armenian Church 22001 Northwestern Hwy, Southfield, MI on Tuesday, October 13, from 10am until time of funeral service at 12noon. You may view the service live on ZOOM; the meeting I.D. is 906 841 3133. The password is 29440. Later, Harry will be laid to rest at the Peninsula Township Cemetery (Traverse City), in an Armenian graveside Committal service with military honors, which is open to friends and family on Thursday, October 15 at 4:00pm graveside with a Celebration of Life gathering at Jolly Pumpkin immediately after from 5pm to 7pm. MEMORIAL DONATIONSThe family encourages in lieu of flowers donations to either St. John Armenian ChurchSt. John Armenian Church (https://abundant.co/stjohnarmenianchurch/ILOF), , or Peninsula Community Library www.tadl.org or Mid-Michigan Honor Flight www.midmichiganhonorflight,com CONDOLENCESPlease click on "Share a Memory" and leave a condolence/remembrance, photo, or video here. Click on "Tribute Wall" to view them.

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