David L. Aposhian

FUNERAL HOME

Keefe Funeral Home - Cambridge

2175 Massachusetts Avenue

Cambridge, Massachusetts

David Aposhian Obituary

David Lee Aposhian, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, died on Saturday, January 13th, 2018. He was 62 years old. A prolific and esteemed designer and developer, David had been building in the greater Cambridge area for over 25 years. His homes are easily recognized by his signature style of dark green trim, red cedar shingles, and lush landscaping. He is survived by his son, Solon Wayne Aposhian; his daughter, Ahna Wayne Aposhian; his sister, Christine Aposhian; and his father, Hurair Vasken Aposhian. There will be a private gathering for family and friends on Sunday, January 28th.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Cambridge Chronicle from Jan. 23 to Feb. 1, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for David Aposhian

Sponsored by Keefe Funeral Home - Cambridge.

13 Entries

pamela winters

August 31, 2020

My husband Harry and I now live in the house that David built and lived in with his family in the '80s...We have been here since 1994 and enjoy our home and garden which David designed. It is a tribute to him and his lovely sense of design. So sorry he passed so young.

phoebe field

February 14, 2020

I still miss you David, thank you for everything, always. I love you my friend. What a profound impact you had on this world.

Stephen Deschenes

October 2, 2018

I am so sorry for your loss and my belated condolences in just finding out about David's passing. We were good friends when we were together at Harvard and even moved furniture together one summer to help with tuition payments. I do remember commenting that his sense of humor made pianos light. Over the next 30 years we had dinner occasionally and while we had been out of touch recently I was looking him up to connect on my next trip back to Boston. I admired his energy, creativity and wide ranging intellect and interests. We discussed poetry, history and politics all while huffing and puffing our way up some back bay stairs with a 600 lb Steinway on our backs. He was a good man and I will miss him.

Steven Cooper

April 27, 2018

I am so sorry to learn of David's departure. I offer my belated condolences. I was thinking of David just today, and decided to view his extraordinarily beautiful houses on the web again, only to discover he is gone. He'll never be forgotten by those who once knew him as a friend.

I knew David about the time he started a moving business, then bought his first house in Cambridge, intending to renovate. He told me, "I'd never picked up a hammer before." But he unquestionably taught himself well.

I recall visiting from Maryland, and seeing that first house both before and during renovation. Even David's first effort at design produced superb results. A junky old disaster became a beautiful, upscale interior.

Not without effort, though. David explained to me, "I reinvented the staircase," as his first attempt to build one failed to match the dimensions of the house, requiring him to tear the thing out and build another. David told me, "You have to love building"; and he sure did.

David also seemed to have an inborn instinct for business. I was quite skeptical when David told me the neighborhood was about to blossom; but he was right. The old, rundown, working class neighborhood a few blocks from Harvard became gentrified; David made good money; and, having taught himself the mechanics of construction, moved on to his next project.

He told me that on his long walks around Cambridge, he'd periodically see a "For Sale" sign on a place that triggered an idea for construction. In those early days, he had to be extraordinarily careful in selecting sites. "If I make a mistake, I'm ruined," David told me.

I don't know whether David ever did the physical work of construction again, but the experience he gained on his first house gave him the judgement that enabled him to organize and supervise the building work of others.

David and I almost did a deal together, as he was looking at a Cambridge property with two houses on it, and was short some financing. David was to get the larger house, and I'd own the smaller one next door. Sadly, the deal fell through, as someone else picked up the property. Nevertheless, David sparked an enthusiam for real estate in me. I'm not a builder by trade - I don't have the necessary hands-on experience - but I trace my ownership of rental property to David's inspiration.

David had a great eye and wonderful design capabilities. Periodically, over the years, I would get on the Internet to look up and admire the buildings he achitected and built. I'd show his buildings to friends as examples of what urban design should be.

I kept meaning to look David up and say, "Hello", these many years later. Or stop over in Boston on of my frequent flights to or from Europe, so that I might visit. Instead, I can only reiterate my condolences. David's buildings stand as testament to his talent and taste.

Dorothy Limouze

March 3, 2018

My deepest sympathies to David's family. I met him when I came to Baltimore for my senior year of high school. When I set out for New England Conservatory, David went to Harvard. We went our separate ways, but I was able to see him a few times in Boston perhaps 15 years ago. He gave me a nighttime tour of some of the homes he had designed (one family got rather nervous at the noises outside!). He was a brilliant and wonderful person, and I am very sorry for your loss.

February 8, 2018

I knew David on and off for over thirty years, and arranged financing on quite a number of his developments. I deeply admired his passion and creativity, his care about creating spaces in which people could flourish, and his willingness to go deep into the details to to make his vision real.

Over the years I also listened as he talked with great affection about his family, and I send them my deepest sympathy.

Tim O'Donnell

January 30, 2018

As the days and weeks pass, and as you return to life's routine, may you continue to feel comforted by the love and support of family and friends.

Ellen Kolton

January 27, 2018

As someone who bought one of the iconic Aposhian homes two and a half years ago in Watertown, I send my sympathies to his family. I love this house! The day we moved in, David was weeding the "over-planted" garden, filled with double-blooming irises. He also left us a home-baked baklava and a bottle of wine.. I am so sorry to hear of his death.

Richard Gonci

January 26, 2018

My wife an I shared our first home together in his first development at 109 River Street 25 years ago. A modestly sized loft. We flourished under his roof, literally. Though we subesquently moved on to bigger quarters to build a family, we retained always fond memories of our first home designed by David.

Pamela Emerson

January 22, 2018

Deepest sympathy to David's family, and family of friends, which are many. Despite his personal struggles, he was unfailingly generous as and when he was able to be, both personally and in the sphere of politics, especially local politiics. I will miss him sorely.
~ Pam Emerson

Megan Matthews

January 22, 2018

My condolences to the family. May you find comfort from the "God of all comfort" 2 corthinthians 1:3,4

Robert P Reardon

January 22, 2018

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. The thoughts and prayers of many are with you at this time of sorrow. Please accept my deepest sympathies.

Michael Sullivan

January 22, 2018

To the Aposhian Family

Please accept my deepest sympathies. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Sincerely,

Michael Sullivan

Showing 1 - 13 of 13 results