Singer’s treasures auctioned: Visalia woman sang with Sinatra but left
no heirs, so her estate is being sold.
Erik Lacayo, The Fresno Bee – California – KRTBN
Published: May 20, 2007
A front yard was transformed Saturday into an auction stage where
bidders tried to get their hands on relics of a bygone era.
An estimated 300 people showed up, with 200 others watching online, to
bid on the estate of a local entertainer who shared the stage with
legends such as Frank Sinatra.
Evelyn Tashjian died in relative obscurity on Oct. 25 in Visalia. She
was 85.
She was born in Cutler and became a singer during the Big Band era of
the 1940s.
The widowed Tashjian had no children and left her estate to be divided
among 11 beneficiaries.
Some items in the collection included high-quality china, crystal and
glassware, paintings, original sheet music, vintage magazines and
recordings of President Franklin Roosevelt’s fireside chats.
"She was quite the collector," said neighbor Brian Cline.
Cline said he lived next to Tashjian for about 19 years. Saturday’s
auction took place in front of her home on Woodside Avenue.
Cline described her as a private person who would talk about her life
only once in a while.
"We really didn’t know a lot about her," he said. "She would give you
bits and pieces."
Brian’s wife, Patsy Cline, said Tashjian would have appreciated the
recognition she has received recently.
But Patsy Cline said she didn’t know how Tashjian would react to
strangers handling her collection.
"What’s sad is she never wanted anybody to be touching her things,"
she said.
Tashjian still enjoyed singing in the twilight of her life, Patsy
Cline said.
While her voice was a little more raspy than in her younger singing
days, Tashjian sang "The Lord’s Prayer" seven years ago at a wedding,
Patsy Cline said.
Patsy Cline said she had hoped to bid on some of her neighbor’s items,
but "my problem is I can’t afford it."
Steve Parker, an auctioneer and appraiser with Fresno-based Cobb Ranch
Auctions, said Saturday’s auction had a good turnout.
"It’s nice to know the Valley appreciates one of its own," he said.
Parker said a lot of Tashjian’s World War II-era memorabilia was
expected to fetch a good price.
Advance bids were placed online for original sheet music of Disney
movies "Peter Pan" and "Cinderella," in which Tashjian sang, Parker
said.
Margie Davidian of Visalia said she attended the auction because her
parents grew up with Tashjian in Cutler.
Davidian said she was impressed with Tashjian’s crystal collection and
planned to bid on some Armenian records.
Davidian said her mother attended Tashjian’s funeral, where a
recording of her singing "The Lord’s Prayer" was played.
Said Davidian: "She sang at her own funeral."
The reporter can be reached at [email protected]_
(mailto:[email protected]) or (559) 622-2421.