Andre Assalian

COLONIE - Andre Assalian, born June 16, 1939 in Cairo, was an Armenian immigrant to the United States by way of Egypt and Canada. He was proud to call New York “home” for almost 60 years.  He died at home in Colonie on July 5, 2022.

Andre was so grateful for the opportunities he had, the life he built, his professional success and above all, his family. He married Anne Assalian (McCullough) in Montreal in 1964 following a chance meeting in Cairo. However an unlikely pairing;  an Armenian from Egypt and a young, Irish nurse from Queens, they were at each other’s side for 58 years.

They raised four children while Andre advanced in his career as an educator and school administrator living in Queens, Smithtown, Greenville, Saratoga Springs and The Beltrone in Colonie.

Andre was an extrovert, supreme host and bon vivant! Always extra food and room at the table. He loved bringing people together and sharing Armenian favorites like dolmas, spanakopita and his recipe for Armenian Easter bread that won him first place in a cooking contest. He made a mess in the kitchen, over-used spices, and likely had the world’s largest collection of yogurt containers.

Andre loved connecting with people. He wanted to hear their stories and he wanted to tell you his; especially about the Armenian people, the trauma of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 when more than 1 million Armenians were slaughtered at the hands of Turkish forces while survivors  fled to various countries, as his family did, settling in Egypt.

The most important fact that Andre wanted everyone to know is that Armenians were the FIRST people to accept Christianity.  The FIRST!

He was an activist and donor for Armenian causes, always current on news and politics and loved debate.  He was accepting of all people and had no tolerance for intolerance.  He loved to travel, especially the many trips to visit family in Montreal.

He was quick to show off his dancing skills. Always the first one on the dance floor and the last one off. No conga line, cha cha slide, macarena or middle eastern dance was spared his moves. He knew all the classics – waltz, tango and rumba and his wife, Anne, was his favorite partner.

Besides English, he was fluent in French, Spanish, Arabic and Armenian.

A natural communicator, Andre was never shy of public speaking, yelling, clapping or cheering loudly at entertainment events or his kids’ or grandkids’ school activities much to the supreme embarrassment of his family.

Survived by his wife, Anne, their four children Therese (Michael), Denise (Brian), John and Andrew (Coleen), grandchildren; Ben, Elizabeth, Charlotte, Annabel, Mei, Joey, Nico and Leo and his cherished extended family in Montreal. Andre was recently pre-deceased by his brothers, Pierre Assalian and Antoine Assalian with whom he shared a lifelong bond.

Andre’s legacy will live on through gatherings with good food, wine, dancing and his favorite cocktail, a gin martini.

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Peter’s Armenian Apostolic Church, 100 Troy Schenectady Road, Watervliet at 11AM on Thursday July 14, followed by interment at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Colonie.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Andre’s memory can be made to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network at pancan.org/donate or 1500 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 200, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266.

Online remembrances can be made at www.cannonfuneral.com