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Saigon Kid: Peter Shahpazian Passes Away

by Admin

Peter Shahpazian passed away by surprise on January 24, 2013 of a heart attack. According to his wife, Donna, it came as a surprise even though his health had been declining.

Obituary: Peter Francis Shahpazian

Peter Francis Shahpazian, 67, of Cumming, GA passed away Jan. 24, 2013. Born in Boston, Mass., Jan. 29, 1945, he was preceded in death by his parents, Vunagun and Margaret Shahpazian.

Peter was a partner of Matson, Driscoll and Damico LLC, a forensic accounting firm, for more than 30 years.

He grew up all over the world, from Greece to Vietnam, from New York City to Kansas City. He finally settled in Cumming in 1975, where he and Donna raised their family. He was a fun loving, gin drinking, amazing person.

He is survived by his wife, Donna Shahpazian of Cumming; daughter, Meredith Shahpazian of Cumming; son, Michael Shahpazian of Cumming; sister, Nancy Leland of Sarasota, Fla.; sister, Barbara Shahpazian of Baltimore, Md.; mother-in-law, Kathryn Wagner of Surfside Beach, S.C.; and his nephews.

Memorial services will be held Friday, Feb. 1, at 2 p.m. in the McDonald and Son Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation will be at 1 p.m., one hour prior to service.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations in Peter’s name to the American Heart Association at www.heart.org.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.mcdonaldandson.com.

McDonald and Son Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Published in Forsyth County News from January 28 to January 31, 2013

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3 comments to Saigon Kid: Peter Shahpazian Passes Away

  • Frank

    Oh my gosh! This is hard to deal with! Too many too soon! Donna, Suzy Q and I are so sorry. Please, if you read this, we feel so sorry for you.. I am having trouble right now. What a great guy! Donna seeing you and Pete and your two kids at the reunion in Phoenix was so special. Barbara and Nancy, we also hope you are doing good. OH! my Gosh!! Really?

    After I wrote the above..I cried a little. I then call K.J. Miller. I was so glad he answered the phone. I told him about Dini and Pete. We talked for several minutes and I felt better.

    Kurtz is the last one of the infamous ACS Water Tower of “The Eyes of … are upon you.” Pete and Jim are now gone.

    ACS Water Tower

    Pete was a “cut-up” in school. He was always fun to be around! When ever I hear the following songs I think of Pete…



    The second song was really for Pete and how he liked looking at the French girls (actually all the girls) at the Cercle.

    My father died 20 August 1962 from his WW II injuries. My mother and older sister Jane were at Clark Air Force Base where he was operated on when he died.. My little sister Mary (she was 10 years old at the time were in Saigon). We did not even consider that it was that serious. I was taken totally by surprise. My father was four days being 52. The morning of his death, a priest and my father’s boss were at our door. (I stopped out front of that house in 2009 and found it difficult). I knew instantly what had happened. They asked me if I should tell my sister, and I said yes. Mary sat on my lap, but I could not talk. Finally the priest (Father Crawford was on vacation, so it was a priest I did not know). I was pretty upset. Nancy Shahpazin, Pete’s older sister was working that summer for USAID. She got a hold of me in the morning and stayed with me all day….until my mother and sister Jane arrived in a C-130 from Clark that afternoon on the Military side of Ton Son Nhat. I have always, since that day, considered Pete’s older sister my “angel”. She got me through that first day that was so difficult..

    Again, I am not just plain sad because I lost someone from high school, but their whole family played a part who I would become…for who (for better or worse)I became, I guess I can blame Pete and Dini for my short comings..HeHe!!. . Dini and Pete were both a little younger…not by much..than me!

    Bob, Your Blog is great, but it reminds me of Ton Son Nhat Airport, where we had tears of “sorrow” and tears of “joy’!

  • marie-colombe (perry) wright

    My heartfelt condolences to the Shapazian family…
    Barbara, my thoughts are with you. We must get together some time, as I am in the DC area, and I guess you are in Baltimore?…
    Be well,
    Marie (Perry) Wright

  • Suellen Oliver Campbell

    Pete was one of the most fun guys I have ever known. He was younger, but we all got along so well that age did not make much difference in Saigon.
    My dad always called him,”Peachie”-Pazian, and Pete was so fun-loving and a good Saigon friend.
    I tried to reach out to him when I first connected to the S.Kids, but never made the connection. I am sorry that I did not have the chance to let him know how often I have thought of him all these 50 years. His smile was most contagious, and he was kind and caring.
    My sincerest condolences to Donna and his family. Peace be with you all.
    Suellen

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