Thomas T. Amirian Jr,
February 27,1943 – May 16, 2024
Thomas T. Amirian Jr, of Brookline. Beloved son of the late Thomas T. Amirian Sr and Marguerite (Norian) Amirian. Brother of Adrianne Amirian.
Tom was born in Boston, but the family moved from a one room apartment to a ten room house in Brookline when he was 1 ½ years old. He started taking piano lessons from Mrs. Gladys Ondrecek when he was 6, was awarded a Paderewski gold medal in piano performance when he was 17, and performed with the Brookline High School orchestra where he made lifelong fond memories.
Tom also sang in the choir at Trinity Church in Copley Square from the age of 8 when his mother introduced him to the boys choir. When his voice started to change he sang in the adult choir until he was 23. The rich musical program of that church influenced him profoundly and in college he studied music theory and composition and took up the organ, which he became proficient at, taking classes at Boston University and New England Conservatory.
Tom was also interested in radio programming, and went to the Northeast Broadcasting School after the BU and NEC years.
After his college years Tom worked in his father’s consulting engineering office until his father closed his office to take a job in Maine where construction was booming. Tom worked as a church organist for a while. Tom sang in the choir of the Saint James Armenian Church under Dr Arra Avakian for a while, and in the Erevan Choral Society for a few years under the direction of the Rev. Oshagan Minassian.
Tom’s many interests filled his free time. He was an avid photographer. He made friends in the film world. He discovered international folk dancing, to which he introduced his sister. He was introduced to Boston Symphony Orchestra performances by Mrs. Ondrecek, who took him to hear a violin solo performance by her sister, Ruth Posselt. After that, he became a regular, starting with open rehearsals, then progressing to season’s ticket of performances up to his death. He went in-person on Thursdays, and recorded Saturday broadcasts.
Tom’s love of music was broad, and he amassed an amazing collection of records and CDs
In his later years, he was his mother’s primary caretaker, starting when she was 94 until her passing at the age of 100.
Tom’s own health declined suddenly in September, 2023. He had an operation, after which he needed rehabilitation, and nursing care which he received at Belmont Manor in Belmont.
He will be missed by his devoted sister, who was with him almost every evening at the nursing home, and his many cousins.
Funeral services will be at Saint James Armenian Church, 465 Mount Auburn Street, Watertown on Thursday, May 23 at 11:00 a.m. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Visiting hours will be at the Aram Bedrosian Funeral Home, 558 Mount Auburn Street, Watertown on Wednesday, May 22 from 6-8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the National Association of Armenian Studies and Research, 395 Concord Ave, Belmont, MA 02478, the Armenian Students Association, 333 Atlantic Ave, Warwick, R.I. 02828, or Saint James Armenian Church, Watertown, MA 02472.
Burial will be at the Mount Auburn Cemetery in the family plot, Cambridge