Claire Piankian

Claire Piankian died peacefully on October 12, 2024 at the Calvary Hospice Hospital, Bronx, NY with family by her side.

Claire Keghouhi, née Encababian, was born in Sivas in Turkish Armenia on August 17, 1919. She and her family, which included her father Karekin (a prominent photographer), her mother Serpouhi, her brother Richard, and sisters Kay and Astige escaped the strife and genocide in Turkey, moving to Constantinople before leaving for America where they settled in Manhattan.

Claire and her husband Albert had two children, Dianne and Robert. Circumstances dictated that she work to support her family while her children were still in elementary school. With her always indomitable spirit, she secured employment at the Fred Marcus Studio in Manhattan, a high-end wedding and portrait photography studio, remaining there for more than five decades. She and her children became part of the Marcus family. Later, when Dianne married Bruce, his family warmly welcomed Claire, including her in every family event. She eventually became his family's matriarch.

Claire managed to provide her children quality time before the phrase was even coined. In order to accomplish this, she often brought home black and white photographs to retouch or hand color in the evening. Somehow, she made everything work, sacrificing nothing except having time for herself, as she always made sure her needs came last, not first.

Claire was fearless, an eternal optimist who saw light where others saw darkness, and never complained, even when diagnosed with two different cancers. She was a giant of a person who let nothing stop her. She obtained a driver's license in her forties and not long after, purchased a used 1955 Chevy, eventually working her way up to a new and very fast Butternut Yellow Chevrolet Camaro.

She shared her Armenian culinary talent by bringing food to relatives in nursing homes. She baked desserts and through her church, served lunch to men at a homeless shelter. When Claire wasn't giving her time to those in need, she enjoyed trips to Mexico, the Caribbean, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Venezuela, sometimes traveling with family. She made many friends along the way.

Claire was filled with delight when she became a grandmother. Her grandsons David and Andrew became the joy of her life and she was the joy of theirs. She was an ever-present part of their lives from the moment they were born.

Claire lived a full life, devoted to her family, full of warmth and love which she radiated, bringing pleasure to those around her. Throughout her life, the people and passions that were important to those she loved were always important to her as well.

Claire had a superhuman ability to hold a calm, loving and welcoming space for others regardless of circumstance; to let them feel seen and heard. She allowed those she knew and loved to feel that they were enough, and she accepted them exactly as they were.

She will be greatly missed, and wonderful memories of who she was as a person and how she made us feel will keep her alive in the minds and hearts of those who were fortunate enough to have known her.

She is survived by her children Dianne and her husband Bruce, Robert and his wife Esther, her grandchildren Andrew and David and his wife Tiffany, her nieces Debbie, Valerie, and Janette and her husband Robert.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Project Save which has helped catalog and preserve the photographic history of Claire’s family and thousands of other Armenian families for generations to come.  On the donation page there is a box to "Add special instructions to the seller" where you can note the donation is in honor of Claire Encababian Piankian. Click here to view the Encababian family archive.  

The beauty you see in me is a reflection of you. - Rumi

Any chance you have to do something fun, I hope you take it. We only have one life you know. - Claire

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. - Maya Angelou