Zeroogian/Tapozian

Hovsep Zeroogian was born in Kotni, one of the Koch-Hisar villages of Sepastia, in 1885. He married his first wife Oghi, and the couple were blessed with twin boys (names unknown). Hovsep first immigrated to the United States, traveling on the SS Niagara from Le Havre in France and arriving in New York in June 1913 to join his brother Oskian who was living in Whitinsville. During the Armenian genocide, which began in 1915, Hovsep’s wife Oghi and twin sons were killed. In 1920, Hovsep returned to the old country and was living in Smyrna where he met Vartouhi (Rose) Tapozian who was born in Smyrna. Hovsep and Vartouhi were married in Smyrna on December 22, 1920; within a few months, they left Smyrna to emigrate to the United States, traveling first to Greece and then arriving in Boston in March 1921 on the SS Caronia.

The family primarily lived in Whitinsville, except for a brief time before their youngest child was born when they lived in Needham, Massachusetts. But by the time their youngest was born, the family was back in Whitinsville, where Hovsep worked again as a moulder at the Whitin Machine Works.

Hovsep and Vartouhi had 5 children, all born in Massachusetts:
* Anahid (Ann), born in October 1921, married Nishan Merigian in 1940 and moved to the Springfield area; Ann had two children, Robert and Mona, and passed away in December 2012.
* Victoria (Vicky), born in December 1922, in Whitinsville. Vicky married Setrak Akillian and moved to the Boston area; Vicky had two children, Vickie and Kathy. She passed away in January 2013.
* George, born in November 1926 in Whitinsville. George married Bienvenida Ramirez when he was stationed in Panama and had 5 children – Oscar, whom he adopted, George Jr., Michael, David and Mary Linda. He passed away in August 1985.
* Florence, born in January 1928 in Whitinsville. Florence never married and had no children. She passed away in November 2004 and is buried in Pine Grove Cemetery,
* Paul (Butch), born in February 1935 in Whitinsville. Butch never married and had no children. He passed away in March 2017.

Hovsep passed away in 1957 and is buried in Pine Grove Cemetery. Vartouhi passed away in 1962 and is buried with Hovsep.

This family history was developed by two of George’s children, Linda Bieber and Michael Zeroogian. Further information about their father’s life and their fond memories of visits to Whitinsville are included in Documents within this collection.