Mary Frye

WE LOVE YOU

AND

WE WILL MISS YOU

DEARLY

REST IN PEACE

Massachusetts National Cemetery

Section 41 - Grave 795

In Memory

Andrew James Gostanian

7-17-1924 - 8-19-2005

Andrew James Gostanian was born in Boston on July 17, 1924 to Garabed “Charlie” Gostanian and Meline (Zarmanian) Gostanian. When he was 4 years old, his father died. As was the custom, his father’s brother, Dickran, affectionately called “Amo,” married his mother and raised him and his two siblings. Andy attended Boston Public Schools. He had perfect attendance and made the Honor Roll throughout his entire school career. He was a Lieutenant in his high school’s Drum and Bugle Corp. Andy enlisted in the U.S. Army right from high school and served during WWII. He saw service in the Rhineland, Northern France and Central Europe and was the recipient of the European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon. Upon returning home, he enrolled in Bentley College, but left after two years to help his father run the family business, a variety store called Richard’s Spa, located on Blue Hill Avenue in Roxbury. It was there that he met his future wife, Marie, to whom he was married for 55 years. Andy and Marie had six children, Milena, Donna, Linda Susan, Louise, Joyce, and Andrew Jr. He moved his family from Roxbury to Hyde Park, where they lived for 33 years. After Amo’s death, Andy became the proprietor of Richard’s Spa until it closed in 1976. He also worked for the U.S. Postal Service, first at the South Postal Annex and later at the Hyde Park Annex. He was a member of their Bowling League and won many trophies. In 2001 after 37 years with the “P.O.” Andy retired. He moved from Hyde Park to Weymouth in 1993, then to East Bridgewater, where he lived with his wife for the last 5 years. With his family beside him, Andy died Friday, August 19, 2005 in the South Shore Hospital in Weymouth after courageously battling several illnesses following hip replacement surgery performed in May.

Andy was one of the most selfless persons around. He didn’t ask much for himself. He lived a simple life end enjoyed his life. He had a strong work ethic, putting in long hours at both the store and the post office without ever complaining. He worked hard for his family and took pleasure in their happiness and whatever good fortune came their way. He loved his children very much and was very proud of all of their accomplishments, no matter how great or small and he let them know how he felt.

Andy was an ardent collector of old coins and in his later years enjoyed giving away one of his “lucky” coins to those he considered special to him. He was a young man during the swing era and loved big band jazz, especially that of Benny Goodman. He was an excellent dancer. Andy was musically and artistically talented. During his retirement, he rediscovered his interest in sketching and produced several fine drawings.

Andy had a great sense of humor and he liked to tell jokes and laugh. One of his favorite movies was “The Pink Panther.” He delighted in making his family and friends happy and would often perform for them card and other magic tricks. They weren’t just the typical “quarter behind the ear tricks, but “amazing” ones, such as the one in which he swallowed a lit cigarette that he later recovered from behind the observer’s ear. He would sometimes leave a note with a clue that would lead to a secret place where he had hidden a Kennedy half-dollar by the beds of the younger children. A small act, yet one way that he let his children know that he was thinking of their happiness.

Andy was a passionate Red Sox fan. Everyone who knew Andy also knew that he loved going to the racetrack. If there is a racetrack in the afterlife, Andy is there right now having the time of his new life.

Andy (surrounded by Charlie, Danielle and Drew) is survived by his wife, Marie E. (Earle) Gostanian; 1 son, Andrew J., Jr. of Marshfield and spouse Lynne (Pasqualucci); 5 daughters, Milena L. Gostanian-Cox of Brookline and spouse Gerard Cox, Donna M. Cullinane of Plymouth and spouse Steve Cullinane, Linda Susan Yasunaga of Honolulu, HI, Louise A. Berger of Hyde Park and Joyce M. Anderson of Orange, CA and spouse Brian; 13 grandchildren, Anthony G. Cox, Gregory E. Cox, Deanna M. DiSanto, David M. DiSanto, Michael Kozo Yasunaga, Mika Annette Yasunaga, Charles A. Berger, Stacy M. Berger, James R. Berger, Leanna C. Henry, Robert G. Gostanian, William A. Anderson, and Danielle M. Gostanian; 3 great grandchildren, Lena M. Berger, Robert B. Gostanian, and Giovanni J. Arroyo; 1 sister, Marguerite Cronis of Hudson; 9 nieces and nephews; and, the Baharian family, his cousins. He was the brother of the late Nicholas Gostanian.