Mr. Leon George Shahnasarian

Leon was born October 21, 1923 in Krasnodar, Russia to Anna and George Shahnasarian. In August 1953, he married Mariam (Saharian) Shahnasarian. She survives as well as son George Shahnasarian, 3 grandchildren, Tania(Andrew) Forsman, Alissa (James) Shahnasarian Hudson, and Alexandra Shahnasarian and Great Granddaughter Ella and Great Grandson Cannon. Also a Brother –in-law and a sister-in-law along with nieces and nephews. Leon lived in Riga, Latvia, finished high school, and attended college. Then he went with his family to Germany in 1944. After the war, he went to Engineering college in Eslingen. Leon came to Providence, Rhode Island in 1950 and worked in a factory and as a draftsman. Afterwards, he started a business with his father called Instamatic Corporation, introducing Dometic Recreational Vehicle Refrigerators to the United States. Leon loved to play sports and musical instruments by ear very well. He played golf at Elcona Country club in Elkhart Indiana. Leon helped his church, the Armenian All Saints Apostolic church and received the highest order of the church, the Knight of Gillicia. Leon was also inducted into the Recreational Vehicle Hall of Fame. He was champion of table tennis in Elkhart and nine time North American champion of Novus and went on to the Olympics in Australia, representing the United States. He received the medal for sports of Latvia. He loved Purdue and went to almost all the football games. Leon loved sports cars to the end. His father was the general manager of the distributorship in Latvia that included most of the cars from around the world at the time. In the late seventies, Leon started the electric car, Elcar, in the United States, but it did not go far. Leon was the loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend to many. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Armenian All Saints Apostolic Church, 1701 Greenwood Rd, Glenview, IL 60026, 847-998-1989 or the John Purdue Club Student Athlete Scholarships, Mackey Arena, 900 John R. Wooden Drive West Lafayette, IN 47907-2078, 800-213-2239. Visitation Saturday 10:00 a.m. at Muzyka & Son Funeral Home, 5776 W. Lawrence Ave. until Funeral Service at 11:30 a.m. Interment Irving Park Cemetery.

Mr. Leon George Shahnasarian

October 21, 1923 - November 10, 2014