Zaven Mahdesian

Born in Troy, NY, the son of immigrants who worked in the shirt factories (Makroohi, mother; Misak, father), he was raised in the small Armenian neighborhood where he didn?t learn English until age 4. During the Depression he delivered groceries to attend Albany State, where names ending in ?ian were rare, earning both his BA and MA there. He later commuted from Troy to NYU where he was awarded his PhD. His first teaching position was high school math at Greenport High School where he met and married English teacher Mabelle Schuler. They relocated to Great Neck where again he taught high school math until he left to work for the Army during WWII. He was an expert on the breach mechanism of the 155 Howitzer, solving problems in arsenals in Watervliet NY and San Francisco CA. After the war he returned to Troy to teach high school math, later becoming principal of schools 1 and 14. In 1954 he became the first principal of Carle Place High School and in 1957 the first superintendent of Half Hollow Hills where he led the district during the growth years. Retiring from public education, he became a professor at St. Johns University and later Dean of Summer Sessions. His last teaching position was high school math at St. Anthony?s, fifty years after he began his educational career. Along the way, he opened Travel Fair travel agency, traveling extensively throughout the civilized world with Mabelle. He was a dedicated Mason for 70 years, serving as master of Apollo Lodge in Troy and Jephtha lodge in Huntington. He organized and was charter president of Half Hollow Hills Rotary Club. He was also an active and dedicated member of Old First Presbyterian Church in Huntington. After a wonderfully full and productive life, he now joins Mabelle and Janet in eternal rest. Devoted husband of the late Mabelle Schuler Mahdesian for sixty-eight years, loving father of Raymond C. (Deanna) and the late Janet E. (Robert Lopez). Adoring grandfather of Nora (Aamar Shazad) and Bryan Mahdesian. Predeceased by his Brother George; Brother-in-law of Marry Ann Mahdesian; Uncle of Michael (Beth), Susan Vanderlin, Steven, Great uncle of Sarah Nannini (Jay), Kyle, Todd and Davis Vanderlin. Other relatives include Anahid Berberian (Greg), Marjorie Massey (John), Laura Balekdjian (Richard) and younger generations.

Zaven Mahdesian

June 24, 1914 - February 5, 2010