Obituary of Harry Dadoyan

Hratch Harry Dadoyan was born in July, 1935 in Aleppo, Syria to Kevork and Valentine Dadoyan, the first of three sons.  Kevork’s mother Sara survived the Armenian Genocide of 1915.  She and her 4 sons went underground until they escaped to Syria in 1923.  Sara and her sons were the only members of their extended family of 130 people to survive the genocide.

Hratch went to the Zavarian elementary school and then to Lycée Français.  After high school, instead of going to college, he worked at his father’s towel and blanket factory to support the family and to help his younger brothers go to college.  After the factory closed, he worked in the Syrian electric company in the finance department.  He later taught English in a Catholic nun’s all-girl’s school.  Soon after, he started his first business with 2 friends importing paint from Holland.

His office was above a doctor’s clinic where he met his future wife, Marie Apkarian.  They emigrated to Toronto, Canada in 1967.  In 1969, their daughter Hourig was born.  In September 1969, they left Canada and moved to New Jersey.

He worked for an Armenian owned drapery factory which led to him starting his own drapery business in 1972 which he continued to run until he retired in 2017. 

In 1973, their son Alex was born. 

In his younger years, Hratch enjoyed playing tennis and competitive bicycle racing including racing from Syria to Lebanon.  In his later years, he enjoyed watching tennis and horse racing.  He was a big history buff and could recall detailed facts, names, and dates of historical and political events.  He was fluent in several languages and conversational in a few more.  He even learned a little Korean in recent years because of the large Korean population in Palisades Park where his business was located.

Hratch prided himself on never being sick and never going to the doctor.  He was not a fan of medicine, so in mid-2017, when he started feeling sick, he was reluctant to get checked out.  By the time he went to a doctor in Spring, 2018, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastasized rectal cancer.  He passed away peacefully at home with his wife Marie by his side.  He is pre-deceased by his father and mother.  He is survived by his wife Marie, daughter Hourig, son Alex & daughter-in-law Amy; his brothers Arsen & Berge and their wives, children, and grandchildren; and an extended family of Dadoyan and Apkarian cousins.

The family will receive their friends on Thursday 7:00 - 9:00 PM in Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Chruch. All are asked to Assemble Friday in Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church, Ridgefield at 10:00 AM.   For condolences, directions, or information call (201) 944-0100 or www.frankpatti.com