Gilbert Papazian Sr.

Gilbert Papazian, Sr.

Sept. 23, 1929 - May 3, 2013

Born in San Francisco to Walter and Zabelle Papazian; siblings Gloria, Jackie, Barbara and Arnold. Nephew to Oscar and Pulitzer Prize winning author William Saroyan. A 1946 graduate of Lincoln High School, Mr. Papazian was an All-State Defensive Lineman and member of the legendary Night Owl Fraternity. Entering the produce business in 1948, he soon bought Lucky Strike Farms from his father, beginning a successful career as a distributor of fruit and vegetables that spanned 60 years and earned him the nickname "The Lettuce King." A prominent member of the Olympic Club and avid golfer, Mr. Papazian served as Secretary of the club as well as Chairman of the Country Club at Lakeside. An enthusiastic wine collector in his early years morphed into a passion for collecting fine art, where he was a frequent participant at auctions in New York - a city he considered his second home. Mr. Papazian married Margaret (née) "Dinjian" in 1958, a 55 year marriage that produced three children, Gilbert "Gib" II, Elise Teresa and Christopher Lee. A proud member of the Trojan Family (all three children graduated from USC), Mr. Papazian served on numerous boards at the university as well as lectured on subjects ranging from Gerontology to business strategies. A voracious reader of non-fiction, Mr. Papazian maintained a lifelong fascination with the study of history and human conflict. Though not overtly religious, he prayed to St. Teresa daily - owing to an epochal experience in 1949 that remains a mystery. Mr. Papazian is also survived by five grandchildren, Gilbert "Nick" and Kathryn Alice Papazian, Ariana and LilyRose Papazian and Oliver Pritikin. The family respectfully asks that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to Mills-Peninsula Hospital Foundation, 1501 Trousdale Ave., Burlingame, CA 94010.