Charles Mosesian

MOSESIAN, Charles Passed away on July 27, 2010 in his home in Watertown, MA. He was 97. He was born in Kharpet, Turkey on October 11, 1912, to Krikor and Anna (Kurkjian) Movsesian. The family managed to survive the Armenia Genocide. Mosesian married Dorothy Sooserian in 1940 and has two daughters, Charleen and Elaine. Mr. Mosesian came with his family to America when he was 16. Within a few years he opened Euphrates Bakery, named for the beloved river of his homeland, in Watertown where he made traditional Armenian bread. Historically this large, round, hard flatbread with sesame seeds was baked in clay ovens or in the earth. Mr. Mosesian both designed and built sophisticated modern conveyor belt equipment to mass produce the bread. His hands-on approach to marketing had him delivering bread door to door in predominantly Armenian neighborhoods. The business expanded to fill the breadbaskets of upscale restaurants around New England. Eventually, he created a small cracker that he called Euphrates Waferettes, sold in supermarkets. The demand for the Waferettes became so great that Burry Biscuit Co. of Canada bought the rights to produce them in the late 1950's. He also produced a frozen pizza using a flash-freezing device and sold that company as well. In the 1960's, with others from the Watertown business community, Mr. Mosesian was a founder of the Coolidge Bank and Trust, the first bank chartered in Massachusetts to give free checking accounts. From his banking experience in lending to real estate developers, he moved on to condominium development. He built the first high-rise condominium in Watertown and eventually built over 800 units of housing. Philanthropy was always a large part of Mr. Mosesian's life. He established The Charles Mosesian Family Foundation in order to fund worthy causes. Through the years he supported numerous schools and organizations. In 2000, Mr. Mosesian gave the lead donation to start the Arsenal Center for the Arts in Watertown. The 384 seat Charles Mosesian Theater was named in his honor, becoming the permanent home of The New Repertory Theater. In 2009 Archbishop Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church (Eastern) presented Mosesian with an Encyclical and the Medal of St. Gregory the Illuminator from Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians for his support for The Saint James Armenian Church. Mosesian also supported the Armenian Heritage Park on the Greenway in Boston and was a Life Member of the Armenian Assembly of America. Mr. Mosesian is predeceased by his wife, Dorothy. Survived by 2 devoted daughters, Elaine Mosesian of Boston and Charleen and her husband Peter Onanian, of Weston, MA., his granddaughter, Charleen Onanian Janian and her husband Mark Janian, of South Natick and his beloved great grand daughter Sabrina Janian. He is survived by his sister Mabel Depoian of North Hollywood, CA, and predeceased by his brother Gasper Mosesian of Belmont, MA. Mr. Mosesian is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews. The burial was private. On Thursday, August 12th, 12:00 pm there will be a Memorial Service at the St. James Armenian Church, 465 Mt Auburn St, Watertown, MA, followed by a Celebration of Life at The Charles Mosesian Youth and Cultural Center directly next to the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Mr. Mosesian to The St James Armenian Church, 465 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown MA, 02472, The Arsenal Center for the Arts., 321 Arsenal St., Watertown, MA or The Armenian Assembly of America, Washington, D.C., 1334 G St. NW, Washington, DC 20005 USA.