Ralph Kazanjian

November 21, 1925 - February 23, 2023

Ralph Kazanjian was born to Armenian immigrant parents, Ardemis and Iknadios Kazanjian in Fresno, California on November 21, 1925. He was the youngest of seven siblings: Anna, Elish, Stella, Penny, Eddie, and Vard. Two years later the family moved to San Francisco in a Model A Ford, driven by Eddie, Ralph’s 12 year old brother.

Ralph attended Marina Jr High, Polytechnic High, and Galileo High School. He joined the Merchant Marines until he was drafted by the army. He was in the 5th Infantry Regiment and saw active duty from 1944 to 1946 in Germany where he received several medals including the Bronze Star for bravery. Ralph was an honor guard at the Nuremberg Nazi Trials. He always said that he was profoundly affected by the arrogance of the Nazis who were on trial for the Holocaust. This experience influenced the way he treated people for the rest of his life. He equated the Nazi’s extermination of six million Jews, the abhorrent practice of slavery in the United States, and the Turks annihilation of 1.5 million Armenians, as some of the worst major global crimes. He hated injustice and bigotry.

After World War II, he went to City College where he earned an AA degree. While there, he met George Rustigian who became a lifetime friend. George introduced him to the Armenian community in San Francisco, and the Triple X Armenian Fraternity. George and Ralph were born on the same day, same year, and celebrated their birthdays together every year.

Ralph was a fraternity member for over 70 years and enjoyed the friendships of all his fraternal brothers.

During the late 1940’s he attended the California

College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland. In 1950, Ralph and his good friend John Crane rented a loft in North Beach with the intention of designing furniture, and store interiors. Shortly after, Ralph was asked by his brother Eddie to join him as a partner in opening a pawnshop on Fillmore Street in San Francisco. They took in clothes, jewelry, tools, radios, stereos, fishing tackle and guns. In 1964 they opened a second pawnshop, Midtown Loan Office on Sixth Street which was sold in 2007. Ralph was a pawnbroker for 55 years and served on the state executive board of CLSDA, Collateral Loan & Secondhand Dealers association of California. He was an active member on the South of Market Association and the Urban Renewal program contributing ideas and financial backing to make 6th Street and South of Market a better live/ workspace. He was instrumental in getting a mural painted on Jesse Street at 6th Street which was never tagged or graffitied.

He wanted to hold a worldwide competition for Graffiti art to be displayed on buildings throughout the entire city. The city did not approve his proposal.

Ralph was interested in the arts, loved visiting museums throughout the world, and he had an unquenchable thirst for life.

In 1961 he married Elise Shabas the love of his life. Four years later their first daughter Anna was born, and her sister Christina followed in 1966. The family lived in San Francisco until they moved to Millbrae in the 1970’s. Elise and Ralph moved back to San Francisco 20 years later. Ralph was an active member of St. John Armenian Church for over 60 years. During that time, he chaired the Mr. and Mrs. Club, acted as basketball coach, and helped with the annual Food Festival.

He had a great sense of humor and was a gifted “people person”. During his career as a pawnbroker, he was well loved by his customers, all of whom he treated with great dignity. He treated everybody equally. He was genuinely interested in the people he knew, and loved all the members of his family. To him, family was everything.

He is survived by his wife, Elise, his two daughters, Anna and Christina, his grandson Nick, and many cousins, nephews and nieces.

The family would like to thank Ralph’s Kaiser team for all their loving concern and care; Dr. Lapasia, Dr.

Tavakoli, Dr. Jana Svetlichnaya, Dr. Raskoff, and Dr. Chung. Our gratitude also goes to Pathways Hospice.

The family also thanks the team of wonderful care givers; Rita Humansky, Raquel Herrera, Juan Cortez, Gordo Cortez, and

Adil El Moutaa.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. John Armenian Church, 275 Olympia Way, SF, 94131; Southern Poverty Law Center; and the

ACLU.