Jack Shahbazian

1927 - 2021

Jack (Hagop) Shahbazian

Scottsdale - Jack (Hagop) Shahbazian passed-away on Friday May 28, 2021 at the age of 93 after a long and fruitful life. He was born in 1927 to Armenian Genocide survivors Garabed (Charles) & Maritza (Sirian) Shahbazian who immigrated to America from historic Western Armenia. Jack spent his childhood and much of his adulthood in Detroit and Birmingham MI. In 1977 Jack moved his family to Scottsdale AZ to semi-retire into a new and rewarding phase of life with his beloved Virginia.

Jack and Virginia (Gaujanian) crossed paths as children and met again at a wedding in 1948; they danced the night away and immediately fell in love. Jack and Virginia married in November of 1949 and during their 56 year marriage were blessed with four children and 4 grandchildren. Jack was the first to admit he married his "better half"; Virginia was the light of his life. After moving to Scottsdale they were inseparable, working together as a bus driver (Jack) and bus aide (Virginia), volunteering as theater escorts and being avid casino visitors … Virginia and her nickel-slots while Jack played Keno and patiently waited to enjoy the buffet dinner.

Jack was a self-made man. He became "head of the family" as a young teenager after the untimely death of his father and operated the apartment house business belonging to his mother. Eventually Jack teamed with his partner Harry Zartarian and together they purchased and then operated the Addison Hotel on Woodward Avenue in Detroit until 1976. While working in Detroit, he and a group of Armenian business owners would regularly meet for lunch at Greenfields restaurant on Woodward. For many years, Jack served in the St John Armenian Church Men's Society Usher corp.

Jack was a loving husband, excellent provider and strong role model for his children. He was a good neighbor and valued the friendships formed in the McCormick Ranch subdivision in Scottsdale. Especially after Virginia's death in 2005 … Carson's company (and internet) and Jonathon and Rachel's kindness and watchful eyes were greatly appreciated.

Quite the sportsman, Jack frequented the local YMCA regularly. Whether in Highland Park in his early days in Detroit with his long time friend & handball partner Ted Souphis or at the Scottsdale YMCA. As an athlete in his early days in Detroit, Jack is remembered by many as the long-time catcher on the St John's Men's Baseball team. Able to catch slow and fast pitch, one pitcher was quoted to say, "Jack could catch the HEAT". In Scottsdale, Jack made many friends playing racquetball all the way to his 90th birthday, and continued to enjoy going to share a cup of coffee and catch up on the news until his recent decline in health. Jack enjoyed word and board games and spent many hours on his Kindle and playing backgammon with his family and friends on his father Garabed's ornate board.

Jack is preceded in death by his Parents and Sister Elizabeth & (Brother in law) Jack Mamassian. Jack will be greatly missed and is survived by his daughter Nevar (Tom) Mitchell of Maricopa AZ, and sons Charlie (Mary) Shahbazian of Kenosha WI, James (Diane) Shahbazian and Jack (Sandra) Shahbazian of Gilbert AZ, grandchildren Robert Shahbazian, Sona Shahbazian, Mathew Shahbazian and Raffi Shahbazian all of AZ and his Brother in law Mike Gaujanian of Ypsilanti MI, as well as cousins, nieces and nephews.

Jack will be laid to rest next to Virgina at the Paradise Memorial Gardens in Scottsdale. If you'd like, please donate to your favorite charity in Jack's honor.