M. John Demirjian Of Quogue Dies August 22

M. John Demirjian

M. John Demirjian of Quogue died on Wednesday, August 22, at Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead. He was 79.

He was born on May 24, 1933, in Evanston, Illinois. His parents, Puzant and Nevare (née Kalustian) Demirjian, were immigrants whose families had survived the Armenian genocide during World War I.

Mr. Demirjian graduated from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology. He was drafted into the armed services, but received a 4-F exemption due to a serious head injury suffered playing high school football, which also accounted for the stunning white streak in his hair.

In 1957, following a brief stint in the study of medicine, Mr. Demirjian switched his professional focus to Wall Street, and joined the investment bank of L.F. Rothschild & Co., Inc. He loved the work and, rising rapidly through the ranks, was named manager of municipal bond trading in 1960. By 1972, he was a general partner, and in 1975 became the director of international operations, establishing many important relationships with European, Middle Eastern, and Japanese financial organizations, agencies and funds, including the Vatican, the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority, the Monarchy of Lichtenstein, and numerous central banks. He was named an administrative partner at Rothschild in 1985. In 1989 he joined Bishop Rosen & Co. where he served as a financial adviser until his retirement in 2005.

Mr. Demirjian was an avid golfer and a member of the National Golf Links in Southampton and the Quogue Field Club. He was also an active member of the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, where he served as a trustee and elder. Upon the retirement of the Reverend David Read in 1991, Mr. Demirjian established a scholarship fund in Dr. Read’s name, which awards $10,000 each year to an outstanding seminary student.

In his retirement, he continued to analyze the financial markets in the context of world events, poring over six newspapers a day. He was always elegantly dressed, usually with a cigar in hand.

A warm, gregarious bear of a man, he was much beloved by family and friends alike, survivors said.

He is survived by his second wife, Nancy Mullan-Demirjian; and three children, Andréa, Gregory, and Alexis.

A funeral service was held on Saturday, August 25, at the Church of the Atonement in Quogue. Memorial donations to a charity of the donor’s choice are requested by the family.