Albert Nazar Bilezikjian

He was one of four sons. He had an older brother Andrew and also two other brothers, John and Ed, who both died very young from illness.

At 10 years of age, Al went to Aleppo, Syria, for 1 year with his brother Andrew and mother Nectar. They returned back to the U.S. and then moved to Los Angeles in 1935. After finishing school at Hamilton High School in Los Angeles, Al enlisted in the Army Air Corps, as a ball turret gunner in July of 1943 at the age of 18. He served 2 years in the military and was discharged in 1945 as World War 2 had ended.

Al then went on to mechanical school in Los Angeles and got a job at the Los Angeles Police Department. He got a job transfer to the Los Angeles City Fire Department as a promotion. At that time he also started building and racing Hot Rod cars with his cousin Harold.

Al got into sailing around age 30 and bought a sailboat, a sloop, with his cousin Noris Baronian, and they named the boat "Moa". It was docked in San Pedro and they would sail often to Catalina Island and he also participated in the "Ensenada Sailing Race" for 2 years in a row on his friend's boat.

Al worked at L.A. City Fire department for 34 years, first as a mechanic and then got promoted to Supply and Maintenance Supervisor, a job that he loved so very much. He made many wonderful work friends there and went on many deep sea fishing trips with his work mates out to the Channel Islands off of the Southern California Coast.

In 1959, he was set up on a blind date with Irene Mgrublian by her aunt Adele Yacoubian, and on February 14th, Valentine's Day, in 1960, Al proposed to Irene and they got engaged. They then married on June 25th, 1960.

Daughter Lynne, their only child was born on November 25th 1961. She was so very loved by her parents.

During Al's work at the Fire Department over the years, he and Irene would take many trips to Las Vegas with his boss Clarence and his wife Kim, for gambling and fun. Oh, how they enjoyed those getaways together.

Al retired from the Fire Department in 1983 at the age of 59, and he and Irene decided to buy a newly constructed house in Laguna Niguel, to move closer to the beach and also be closer to his brother Andrew and wife Alice, who had previously also moved down that way from the Los Angeles Valley area. He told Irene to pick out whichever land lot she liked and she chose the highest lot on the street with the best views of the mountains. He called that house the one with the "forever view".

Al and Irene went on cruises to Alaska, Canada and Mexico and also enjoyed an amazing 5 week escorted tour through all of Europe. They both also devoted many hours a week volunteering at the Laguna Niguel Senior Center serving meals and helping wherever they needed extra hands. They met many kind friends there as well and also went there weekly for outing and events over many years.

Retirement from the Fire Department didn't last long for Al and shortly after he started working part time as a security guard for Unisys Corporation, which again, was a job he loved, and also made so many friends there. He worked there for around 25 years, well into his 80's, until he retired from there to help start caring for Irene.

After Irene's passing in 2013, Al moved in with daughter Lynne and her family. He loved being with them and they loved having him there.

He was walking and active and going out every day of the week up until his final days. He was very blessed to live a very long, happy and healthy life and passed away at the age of 99 on February 15th 2024.

He never had one enemy, never spoke poorly about anyone, never asked or wanted for anything and was always willing and ready to offer a helping hand to anyone that asked. He was the kindest, most gentle and happy person, who was such a pleasant addition to living with Lynne and her family, all these years.

His loss is immeasurable but his memory and spirit will never leave any of his loved ones. He was simply one of a kind.

Al was predeceased by his father Haig, mother Nectar, brother Andrew and his beloved wife of 52 years, Irene, whom he all loved dearly. He is survived by his daughter Lynne, son in law Bill, grandson Blake, granddaughter Corrie and numerous nieces and nephews.

We are ever so very grateful and blessed to have had him in our lives for so many years.