HOUSTON, Texas — Samuel V. Hagopian died on August 10 at the age of 89. He was born in Niagara Falls, NY to the late Movses and Satenig Hagopian.
Upon his return from serving in the US Army as a medic during World War II, he met and married Barbara Simonian of Buffalo, NY. During their 67-year marriage, they had four children, Natalie, Suzanne, Celeste, and Samuel Jr.
Samuel had several businesses throughout his lifetime. Upon moving to Houston in 1978, he owned and was president of Commercial Exterminators, Inc. After retiring in 1991, he and his wife traveled abroad extensively. He was a boating enthusiast, enjoyed the fine arts, backgammon, Shakespeare, and the opera. He was a 32nd degree Mason.
At the age of 14, he was the youngest violinist in the Niagara Falls Philharmonic. He was proud of his Armenian heritage and was a board member of several philanthropic Armenian organizations.
He was preceded in death by his parents and by his sister, Mary Jamgochian.
Sam is survived by his wife Barbara; daughter Natalie and husband Arman Manoukian, and their children Nicole Keshishian, Jason (Raffi) and Kristine Manoukian, the late Aaron Manoukian, and their grandchildren Isabella, Raffaella, Krikor and Arman Aaron; daughter Suzanne and husband Michael Azarian, and their children Leslie and Alex Karapetian, Michael Azarian Jr., Adam Azarian, Alexander Azarian, and their grandchild Theodore Karapetian; daughter Celeste and husband Michael Ayjian, and their children Michael-Aaron Ayjian, and Simone Ayjian; son Samuel V.(Jr.) and wife Anahid Hagopian, and their children Samuel V. Hagopian III, Tamar Hagopian, Leila Hagopian, and Ava Hagopian; and many nieces and nephews.
