Edward Krikorian Jr., 79, Was Island Entrepreneur

Edward Krikorian Jr. of Oak Bluffs died Wednesday, Dec. 15 at Mass. General Hospital in Boston.

He was born in Paterson, N.J. on Feb. 4, 1925, the son of Anna Moore Krikorian and Edward Krikorian Sr.

He joined the United States Navy during World War II in 1942 and was in the Navy for four years. Part of that time he was stationed at the Martha's Vineyard Naval Air Station. He also spent better than two years aboard a destroyer, the U.S.S. Harry E. Hubbard, DD-748 in the Pacific.

Eddie was responsible for the plaque installed at the Martha's Vineyard Airport commemorating Richard Holden and William Ping, who lost their lives while serving their country in 1944.

While on the Vineyard he met and married Gloria Smith Rogers in 1943 and they had three children. After the death of his wife he married Shirley Peters in 1949.

He was an entrepreneur of sorts. He owned a commercial fishing vessel, a shoe store, bought and renovated the Lamppost, built the present day Ocean View Restaurant and his last and most successful venture was Island Wide Realty which he owned for twenty years and which is presently known as Century 21.

He was an avid sports fan, he loved playing and watching. He started the first football team on the Island, which grew into a semi-pro football team.

Eddie was a familiar sight walking his beloved American Eskimo dog, Kodi, around his home on Lagoon Road.

He was a man with a positive attitude and a wonderful sense of humor who will be sadly missed by his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Shirley Krikorian; his 98 year old mother, a resident at Windemere Nursing Home; a son, Edward Krikorian 3rd of Florence, Ore.; two daughters, Lynn Watkins and her husband, Walter of Morongo Valley, Calif. and Ann Chook and her husband, David of Palm Desert, Calif.; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; two nephews, John and Edward Niemic and a niece Patricia Duncan. Also he has two aunts and several cousins living in New Jersey.

A funeral mass was celebrated in Our Lady Star of the Sea Church by Father Michael Nagle and interment was in Oak Grove Cemetery in Oak Bluffs with military honors provided by the Veteran's of Martha's Vineyard on Saturday, Dec. 18. Donations may be made in his memory to a charity of one's choice. Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs. Visit www.ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book and information.