Levon Daghlian

Daghlian, Levon
BERNE - Levon "Lee" K. Daghlian Jr., of Berne, N.Y., passed away on November 30, 2025. He was 86. He was born on February 16, 1939, in Boston, Mass., to Lucine and Dr. Levon K. Daghlian of Belmont, Mass. He attended Belmont High School, where he played hockey and football. He was active in the Armenian Youth Federation. Lee graduated from Boston University, where he studied political science. He worked as a stockbroker for a time and in the late '60s, moved to Los Angeles and started a family. There he was part of a small group that attempted to start a movie company, and to fund it, a mining outfit. Neither endeavor took. He headed back east to the Albany area, where he lived for the rest of his life. For many years, he resided in Old Chatham, where he served as a volunteer fire fighter and a weekend bartender at Jackson's Old Chatham House. He also ran a collection agency in downtown Albany, where he first became involved with the state legislature, which eventually led to working for the minority leader of the New York State Legislature. In 2008, he retired from his role as Director of Public Information for the New York State Board of Elections. In retirement, he could often be found on the golf course.
Lee loved a good steak, a stiff drink, and the Boston Red Sox. He loved the Sox so much, that in 2016, he suffered a stroke during one of their playoff games and refused to go to the hospital until the game was over. He recovered fully. He liked to smoke a cigar and look out into the woods on his deck in Berne with his dog by his side. He enjoyed jazz and classic movies, especially westerns, especially Clint Eastwood films. He was fun to have a beer with. He was previously married and was divorced for many years at the time of his death.
He is survived by daughters, Pam Daghlian (Alan Paciorek) of Portland, Ore., Kathleen Daghlian of Buffalo, N.Y.; sister, Sylvia Mesrobian of North St. Paul, Minn.; and nieces and nephews, Scott Mesrobian of Champlin, Minn., Sheree Mazzarese (Dave) of Stillwater, Minn., Michael Kinum (Thessaly Bullard) of Delmar, N.Y., Debbie Rondeau (Carlton) of Woodstock, Conn.; and neighbors, Jim and Lesley Willsey and their daughter of Berne, N.Y., who were like family to him. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Rosemarie Kinum; and brother-in-law, John B. Kinum of Glenmont, N.Y.; brother-in-law, Sam Mesrobian of St. Paul, Minn.; and his three beloved dogs, Bear, Mozart, and Sam.
Lee did not want a Memorial service but if you would like to honor his memory, donations can be made in his name to Mohawk Hudson Humane Society.