James Renjilian Obituary

http://www.amaa.org/AMAA%20News%20-%20Aug-Sept-Oct%202002%20-%20Vol.%20XXXVI,%20No.%204.pdf

AMAA NEWS, AUG/SEPT/OCT 2002 23
O B I T U A R I E S
James Renjilian
James Renjilian,
long an active and
vibrant member of
the Armenian community,
died on
May 21, 2002 in
G e r m a n t o w n ,
Maryland of complications
from a
stroke. He was 64.
Born a refugee in Athens, Greece on December
17, 1937, Jim emigrated to the United
States with his mother, Verjin Giragossian
Renjilian, in 1939. His father, the Rev. Mihran
Renjilian, had come to the U.S. some months
earlier with Jim’s older siblings Armen and
Anne.
Reunited in the U.S., the Renjilians lived
first in Washington, D.C. but eventually settled
in Troy, N.Y. where Rev. Renjilian led the
United Armenian Calvary Church. There, Jim
attended Troy High School and Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute.
After serving as an intelligence officer in
the Army, Jim attended George Washington
University law school. Following a brief stint
with General Electric in the Boston area, Jim
worked as an attorney at the United States
Patent Office in Washington, D.C. He remained
with the Federal government throughout
his career, serving at the Securities and
Exchange Commission, the Federal Home
Loan Bank Board, and the Department of Energy.
Jim’s life is warmly remembered by family
and friends for four overarching themes: his
devotion to family; his commitment to community;
his pride in his Armenian heritage; and
his dedication to his Christian faith. He was
also known to many as a particularly avid collector
of toy soldiers, having amassed hundreds
of figures that he displayed prominently in his
home. Finally, he enjoyed a reputation as a
keen and passionate observer of political affairs.
Jim’s many community and civic interests
included serving as an elder of Southminster
Presbyterian Church and, later, Rockville
(Md.) Presbyterian Church. He was also an
active adult troop leader in the Boy Scouts of
America. In addition, Jim played a prominent
role in the Armenian Assembly, where he was
especially focused on achieving official recognition
from the United States government
of the Armenian Genocide.
Funeral services were held at Rockville Presbyterian
Church, Rockwville, MD on Friday,
May 24, 2002 followed by the interment at
Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington D.C.
Memorial contributions were made to the
AMAA.
Jim is survived by his sister, Anne Kalfayan,
of Marco Island, FL; his brother Armen
Renjilian of Albany, N.Y.; his son Christopher
Renjilian of Potomac, MD; his daughter Julia
Luther of North Bethesda, MD; and his son
Timothy Renjilian of Atlanta, GA. He also
leaves behind three granddaughters whom he
dearly adored.
Additional information about James
Renjilian can be found on the Internet at
www.lifefiles.com.