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Russell Janigian Obituary
He is survived by his beloved wife, Mary (Eddy); his brother Richard and sister-in-law Catherine; his many nieces and nephews, and a circle of close friends who will miss him dearly. He was predeceased by his parents Elijah and Satenig (Malkasian) Janigian.
Russell was a native San Franciscan. He graduated from Lowell High School in 1957. In 1961 he received a B.S. in Biology from San Francisco State University, where he later earned his teaching credential, a Masters Degree in Counseling and a Marriage, Family, and Child Counselor credential.
Russell worked with the San Francisco Unified School District for 40 years. He taught Biology and Life Sciences at Benjamin Franklin Junior High School, Aptos Middle School, Mission High School, and the public charter school Gateway High School. He also worked in the District Curriculum Office mentoring teachers, and developing and overseeing curriculum implementation. After retiring, he worked as a consultant to schools and educational foundations. He was a talented educator, and was well-respected by both colleagues and students.
Russell enjoyed his interactions with young people. He loved learning, and sparked this love in the young people around him by posing questions and constantly encouraging an exchange of ideas. Russell had a unique way of listening that valued each young person.
Russell and his wife Mary loved to travel, and took many trips when they retired from teaching several years ago. He loved to hike, and along with their dog, Poppy, spent many hours on the trails of Mt. Tamalpais and walking on the beach.
The funeral will be Saturday, October 25 from CALLAHAN & FAY BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 61 Myrtle St., Worcester with a Mass at 10:00 AM at St. Mary's Church, 640 Main St., Shrewsbury. Interment will be in St. John's Cemetery, Worcester. If you wish, donations can be made in Russell's name to the American Cancer Society, 201 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94105, or on line at www.cancer.org. For directions and online condolences please visit
www.callahanfay.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Russell Janigian
Sharon Wong
October 21, 2008
Mary, my deepest condolences on the passing of Russell. I remember meeting him when you and I worked together at MLKing. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.
David and Rina Huang-Faletti
October 21, 2008
Our condolences are with you Mary. We enjoyed our times with both of you. Russ was always supportive and interested in our projects. Lots of love and prayers.
Mehdi Msadek
October 21, 2008
Russ was a man that immediately made an impression on me. He was a man of talent, wisdom, and experience; yet humble enough to be always curious and thirsty for more knowledge- even if it was acquired from a much younger person.
Russ expressed intrest and took everyone seriously, welcomed them and treated them equally no matter where they've come from, what age they were, or ideology they might have.
Russ was one of those few people that never made the conversation about themselves, it was always about the other person. He asked questions about other's lives and made them feel important.
I can go on forever even though I only knew Russ for five years.
I remember him trying hard to get my dad involved in a conversation we had at the Shafers. My dad did not speak English and Russ did not speak French yet somehow with mixing both languages, a bit of body language, and just enough curiosity, willingness and effort, Russ was able to have a conversation with my dad and get him involved, and better yet not make him feel bad! And that's what Russ was all about, making us feel good about ourselves without coming across as trying to do so.
You are one of a kind, my friend.
Rest in Peace.
My deepest sympathy goes out to you Mary. Hopefully you get enough strengh from your memories, your family, your friends...and poppy!
Shelly and Coleman Romalis
October 21, 2008
/The news of Russell’s death was so shocking to us, and an enormous loss. Here are a few thoughts to share:
We’ve lost a wonderful friend who lived in this world in the most positive of ways. Russ was curious about the details of everything…food, neighborhoods, people, politics. He got such pleasure out of preparing and serving food for his friends and so much amazement and delight sharing ideas and company. His eyes would sparkle and crease up with smile lines as he asked about and considered stuff that he was interested in knowing about—which was just about everything. You could see the wheels in his brain churning and chewing on some new piece of information he had come across, and wanted to know what you thought about it. He was a scientist--methodical and careful, but always on the lookout for new possibilities.
Russ was one of the kindest and most generous men imaginable. When we first met Russ and Mary, we looked at each other in amazement at our good fortune in finding two such fabulous people. Over the many years that we’ve been friends, there’s not been one moment in which we didn’t appreciate how rare and precious they are. Russell’s enthusiasm for everything: people, culture, friends, olives, whisky, was a model for us. And, luckiest of men, he found in Mary a magnificent life partner, and fulfillment in their love and respect for each other.
We met Russ and Mary many years ago (can’t remember exactly) when we started to housesit for them and their beloved golden, Tamber, on Mt. Tam. Since we spend a lot of time in the Bay Area we became good friends, meeting their friends and family, sharing many dinners, joys and sorrows, and dog stories over the years. Our dog, Molly, baby sat numerous times by the Janigians, kept trying to squeeze into their bed until she was banned by Russ to another room. Russ and Mary passed through Toronto (our home city) a few times, and we had the opportunity to take them to the Greek area which Russell was so delighted with, we thought he’d be buying a house right in the vicinity of the many restaurants! The last time we heard Russ’ voice is when he phoned us from Winnemucca, Nevada, when he and Mary were driving home from the East Coast. The Basques restaurant that we all like is there and we mused about meeting there one day. Coleman and Russ had long conversations over how best to cook a brisket; and we all laughed together at the ironies and pleasures of life.
Mary, we cannot know how hard it is to lose someone who you’ve shared your life with so intensely and to its fullest. The only comfort to all of us who consider both of you as good friends and often like “family,” that Russell’s life made such a positive difference to so many people. He appreciated so much of life’s joyfulness and passed it on to those he loved.
Christopher Palm
October 21, 2008
Nice to have known Russ.
Chris Palm,
Retired Science Teacher,
Herbert Hoover Middle School.
Sandy Lehane
October 21, 2008
Mary, it's been years since you worked UCSF and The Child Study Unit, but you never forget those who made an impression on your life.
I am so sorry to read of your husbands passing.
Herb & Joanna Seidell
October 21, 2008
Dearest Mary. Our deepest sympathy to you and your family. Russ always made me laugh. His sense of humor was infectious. May he be in your heart and mind always. Wisdom and peace be with you.
Laura Frakes
October 21, 2008
Mary, My deepest sympanthy goes out to you at this most difficult time. Though it is hard, take solice in the many happy memories you have.
Laura
Len Poli
October 21, 2008
Russ, you well be sorely missed! We often take for granted our friendships and only realize too late how they have touched and enriched our lives. You will always be in my thoughts. I will dwell on the good times we had together; our trip to Europe; our teaching experiences, our trips and vacations and your love of learning, communicating and life. You have positively touched so many lives. Rest in peace, my friend
Cherrie Boyer
October 21, 2008
Russell Janigian: A Life Well Lived, a Life Well Loved
Russell played many roles during his life. Namely he was a devoted and loving husband, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, friend, and teacher. To me, he was simply Russ, my buddy with whom I shared many rich interactions with over the last 20 years including our shared love for food and football. He and Mary along with the Shafers are known to my Louisiana family as my California family. I have numerous fond memories of Russ, but what I most cherish and will always remember are the many wonderfully delicious meals I had the good fortune of enjoying at and with the Janigians. Frankly, to call meals at the Janigians’ anything other than a feast would be a gross understatement. Aside from being delicious, the feasts were well-orchestrated and bountiful. We all know that it was mostly a team effort between Russ and Mary, but we also know that Russ was passionate about food. He thoroughly enjoyed and always appreciated a good meal. For him food was a total experience. If a meal was prepared for him he wanted to know how the dish was prepared, the history of, and the social and cultural context of the dish if it was a family recipe. He taught me about Armenian and Mediterranean dishes and I taught him about some of my favorite Creole dishes. It was always such a treat to share such meals with Russ. I am certain that each one of us have a fond memory of a meal shared with Russ or a favorite dish that you shared in common. I think I introduced to Russ one of favorite New Orleans dish --jambalaya. I remember after making the dish at one of our shared meals, he contacted me for the recipe and came to my office that would take him several extra miles out of his way while going home. Over the years, Russ mastered (I am certain with Mary’s influence) and even surpassed my jambalaya recipe -- it became one of his many signature dishes. I refused to make it for him anymore.
I do not want to give the impression that food was all Russ cared about; he was so much more. When I think of Russ many descriptors come to mind, including words such as integrity, kindness, goodness, and a thirst for knowledge. In my opinion, the highest compliment one can give another person is to say he or she is a good person. Well, I can say emphatically; Russell Janigian was a GOOD MAN. He was genuine, compassionate, and thoughtful. He was eager to share in his family and friends’ successes, but what I loved and appreciated even more about Russ was his willingness to listen to and inquire about difficult life circumstances we were confronted with. He genuinely cared and was always empathetic.
Moreover, when I think about Russ I think of his love for young people. There was no mistaking his love for his nieces and nephews (Dana, Maggie, Chris, Cody here in California, and a host of young Eddy’s back east) and many of his adopted nieces and nephews (Elizabeth, Julia, Jessica, and Daniel) as well as some of my nieces and nephews who got to know Uncle Russ over the years. I am not sure if I can fully explain it, but when you saw him interact with the young people in his life you knew you were witnessing something special. There was such easiness in the way he communicated with them—I am sure they knew without a doubt that he was always trustworthy, yet forthright, and non-judgmental. I imagine this is what many of his students also knew and loved about Russ.
There is so much more that can be said about Russ, but mostly I want to convey that my life has been enriched immensely by knowing Russell Janigian. I am blessed beyond measure to have been able to call him friend for so many years.
Cherrie B. Boyer, PhD
Charles Haig Kazarian
October 21, 2008
Russell was a great human being that had the unique ability of making everyone feel they were welcomed and valuable. He was gracious, wise and a truly wonderful man. Our prayers are with Mary, Richard, Kathryn and Dana.
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:1-3)
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