Joseph Bogosian

Joseph Bogosian, 79, passed away peacefully Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. A one-of-a-kind individual, Joe was a successful small business owner and a loving husband and father whose eccentric personality left an impression on all who knew him.

Born in Detroit to Armenian immigrant parents, Kasar and Ovsanna Bogosian, Joe attended Southwestern High School in Delray before starting his career as a pastry chef. He developed his skills at Ranier Pastry Shop and later, La Bonbonniere, before starting his own business.

In 1971, Joe opened Josef’s French Pastry Shop and operated it with his wife, Eileen, for 36 years until they retired in 2007. Josef’s, on Mack Avenue in Grosse Pointe Woods, grew into and remains a staple of the community, garnering accolades including AAA Michigan Living’s Best Bakery in Michigan. Through baking, Joe and Eileen helped metro Detroit celebrate weddings, birthdays and the joys of a simple croissant.

While his persona as "Chef Josef” illustrated his entrepreneurial and creative side, Joe also was known for his big heart and taking it upon himself to look after others who needed it, whether family, friends or community members who had fallen on hard times. Though college was not an option for Joe, he was proud that all four of his children earned college degrees — and some, advanced degrees — from the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Central Michigan University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of California, Los Angeles.

Joe appreciated and celebrated the unique and different in this world. He was a lifelong collector; his various collections reflected this spirit of curiosity and learning. Forever a character, his eccentricity will be remembered through countless anecdotes shared among family and friends. These include: greeting visitors wearing an 18th-century hat or other prop from his “antique” collection; testing his second career as a comedian, laughing especially hard at his own jokes (his wife often reminding him to keep his day job); demonstrating authentic train whistles in his driveway to the surprise of the neighborhood; and waking his children on weekends to the music of Nigerian drum artist Babatunde Olatunji.

His spirit lives on with his wife of 41 years, Eileen (nee Roach) Bogosian; sister, Nan; twin brother, John (Lou); sister, Rebecca (Reed); sister-in-law, Nancy; children, Josef, Daniel (Jeanette), Elissa (Kyle) and Lauren (Zachary); grandchildren, Joseph, Louis, Katherine and Emma; and an extended network of family and friends. Joe was predeceased by his parents; sister, Vicky (Gene); and brother, Jevon.

Visitation will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, at A.H. Peters Funeral Home, 20705 Mack, Grosse Pointe Woods, with a memorial service at 3 p.m., followed by a dinner and celebration of life.