Man Ran Landmark Rug Store

Debra Dominguezlund, Albuquerque Journal – KRTBN
Published: Jul 03, 2007

He was a genocide survivor,a historian,a gifted tenor and opera
singer,a successful salesman, Orientalrug expert, a good friend and a
fun-loving family man.

That’s how those who knew him will remember William Knadjian, who ran
Knadjian Oriental Rugs at 1418 Central SE for more than 50 years.

Knadjian died in his sleep Friday, after a battle with kidney failure
and problems with his pacemaker, daughter Patricia Knadjian said
Monday. He was 93.

"He always said if a person dies in their sleep, not to be sorry
because they were blessed to die what he called a ‘King’s Death,’ ”
she said. "That’s how he always said he wanted to die. He got his wish.

"He was so wonderful with people, and they just loved coming into his
store because of it," said his daughter, who had helped him run his
business since 1980. "He loved talking to them about rugs, he loved
talking to people about the history of certain rugs, he loved his
family, traveling and visiting national parks, skipping off to Las
Vegas just to have fun — he simply loved living."

Knadjian also sang regularly at church services, Masonic and Shriner
services, and weddings.

"My father was such a mellow, easygoing guy," said his daughter, adding
that he asked her to take over the store in November because of his
illness. "He wanted to keep it going as long as we could.

"I suppose his business was such a success because he always said a
person should enjoy what they’re doing, whatever it is," she said. "And
he did. He really did."

He was preceded in death by his brother, Jack, with whom he was in
business for many years.

A native of Urfa, Turkey, Knadjian moved to Albuquerque in 1954 from
California to open his carpet business.

But life wasn’t always about carpets and living out the American dream
for Knadjian, who once said the first 10 years of his life, growing up
in a ravished land in Turkey, was "hell."

Although he was barely 2 when the Turks began to systematically erase
from the Ottoman Empire all Turkish-Armenians, Knadjian never forgot
the horrors around him.

Starting in 1915, and continuing for eight years, more than 1 million
Armenians died at the hands of Ottoman Turks.

In 1916, the Turks sent Knadjian, his mother and his four sisters on
one of the genocide’s notorious "death marches."

The idea was to starve women and children by forcing them to walk long
distances without food. Along the way, Knadjian’s two older sisters,
then teenagers, were raped and killed, he said in an interview with the
Journal.

Memorial services for Knadjian will be held at 11 a.m. today at French
Mortuary, 1111 University NE. Memorial contributions may be made to the
Shriner Hospital’s Burn Unit, New Mexico Regional Burn Center, 2211
Lomas NE, Albuquerque, 87131.

Besides Patricia Knadjian, Knadjian is survived by his wife of 57
years, Zabelle; daughter Janis L. Knadjian of Wyoming; and many other
family members.