Richard M. Simonian

Richard M. Simonian, a prominent attorney and founder and partner of the law firm of Simonian & Murray, passed away peacefully on June 8, 2018 at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.
Dick was born in New York City, and lived most of his adult life in Boston and Worcester. His law firm focused on the representation of lending institutions, commercial enterprises, real estate developers and closely-held businesses throughout Massachusetts. He was also a skilled and knowledgeable investor and administered many trusts for his clients, as well.
Dick graduated from Classical High School, Worcester in 1949; Magna Cum Laude from Harvard in 1954 and Columbia Law School in 1958. He spent his junior year at the Paris-Sorbonne University where he enrolled in French Studies and learned to speak French fluently. He was a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association, the Worcester County Bar Association, a Trustee of the Armenian Museum of America, in Watertown, Massachusetts and a Director of Sage Bank in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Dick's legal skills were on display when he represented the Executor of the Estate of Sarita Kenedy East and successfully rebuffed a challenge to her Will by the decedent's relatives. The drama and intrigue of the case inspired the publication of a non-fiction book recounting the history of the case and the events leading up to it.
Dick was very active in the Armenian community in Worcester, Boston, Washington, D.C. and Armenia. He was a major supporter of the Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief and was actively involved with individual orphans and their pursuit of higher education. He also worked tirelessly to have the United States and other countries recognize and acknowledge the Armenian Genocide.
His family would like to thank his colleagues, business associates, clients, many friends, his law partner, Michael Murray, long-time members of his office: Pat, Linda, Mary, Geannie, Denise, Doreen, Karen and Ray; and Dick's loving companion, Mila Kalaydzhan for their support, dedication and love particularly in these last few years.
Dick's parents, Avedis and Rose Simonian, and a sister Jean Benglian, predeceased him. He leaves his sister, Carolyn Moberly of Worcester; a brother Edward Simonian and Edward's wife, Karen, of Mystic, CT; two nieces, Ani Benglian, of Burbank, California and Jennifer Albury, of Boca Raton, Florida; four nephews, John Benglian, and his wife, Karen, of Shrewsbury Massachusetts; Myles Moberly of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; Brigham Moberly of Worcester and Stephen Simonian of Boca Raton along with a number of great- nieces and great-nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Armenian Church of Our Saviour, Worcester, the American Cancer Society, or a charity of your choice.


Family and friends are welcome to visit with Dick's family on Thursday, June 14th from 9:30 until 11:30am at the Armenian Church of Our Saviour, 87 Salisbury St., Worcester. A funeral service will take place at 12:00pm. Burial will follow at Hope Cemetery.

Arrangements are in the care of Callahan, Fay & Caswell Funeral Home, 61 Myrtle St., Worcester. To place an online condolence message please visit: