Richard Hratch Tashjian

Richard Hratch Tashjian, a well-known artist, passed away peacefully on October 21, 2025, at the age of 99 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Born on June 27, 1926, in Dorchester, Massachusetts, Richard lived a life rich in creativity, love of nature and devotion to the fine arts. Richard served honorably in the United States Naval Reserve during World War II from 1944 to 1946, where he was an aerial photographer. Following his military service, Richard pursued his education with fervor, graduating from the Museum School of Fine Arts in Boston in 1950 and further enhanced his skills in design under the tutelage of Professor Gyorgy Kepes at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology School of Visual Design Architectural Center in Cambridge. Throughout his career Richard established himself in the field of advertising art. He worked for The Boston Herald and Stone and Webster Engineering Company before opening his own art studio and gallery in Watertown, Massachusetts, where he shared his talent and passion with the community for many years. His artistic contributions were widely recognized. In 1975, he received the A.S.A. Ara S. Boyan Award in Humanities for his role in Living Arts and in 1990 he was honored with a commemorative medal in Theodosia, Crimea, Russia as a visiting artist celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Hovhaness Avazovsky. Richard was deeply devoted to his heritage and community. He was the founder of the Armenian American Artists Association of America and travelled widely to exhibit his work across the Armenian diaspora and beyond. His paintings can be viewed in galleries in Santa Fe, NM, Los Angeles, CA, the Armenian National Gallery in Yerevan, Armenia, the Minas Avetisyan Museum in Jajur, Armenia and the Armenian Library and Museum of America in Watertown, Massachusetts. A native of Watertown, Richard captured the landscapes of New England and later traveled extensively to Armenia, Crimea, Russia and France. In 1983 he lost his first wife, Gladys Zevart Tashjian after 35 years of marriage. He later married Aelita Tashjian, with whom he shared many years. The couple eventually relocated to Santa Fe, NM where Richard found renewed inspiration in the vast western landscapes and continued to paint for many years. Richard is survived by his wife, Aelita Tashjian; his son, Steven Tashjian, and his wife Della, along with their children, Steven and Nicholas and; his daughter Diane Keverian and her husband George, and their children Niari, Hagop, Ani, and Lori and; his daughter Pearlene Varjabedian and her husband Harutiun, and their children Lara and Aram. Richard is also survived by his great grandchildren Kaley Rose Tashjian and Michael Nazaret Kibarian A private memorial service will be held in Santa Fe, New Mexico where he will be laid to rest.