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Raffy Timonian
Raffy Timonian, SJS alumni (class of 1980), says: “My life has been an interesting voyage. The good, the bad, the interesting, the educational and the hurtful all made me who I am today…”
After graduating with a Business Management degree from BUC and operating the first Armenian/ Lebanese FM radio station, Raffy started a ladies fashion wholesale distribution company in his hometown Antelias (Raffina). A year later, he and his father joined forces and combined the operation into one retail outlet in Jal el Dib (Maxilara).
Raffy and Nina got married in February 1985, and Tina was born in March 1986. She was 3 months old when they moved to Monrovia, Liberia in West Africa where they stayed 2 years. Liberia was a great experience for Raffy who opened “Elite Boutique” which became one of the leading fashion stores in the city of Monrovia.
In 1988 the political situation in Liberia was getting worrisome, so Raffy came back with his family to Lebanon where he resumed his work in Furn El Shebak (Maxi Lara) and opened a new store in Jdeideh (Christina).
Due to the deteriorating situation in Lebanon, Raffy and Nina decided to have their second child in the USA. For that, they all traveled to California where Christopher was born on 1/1/1990 in the city of Riverside. On the day they were supposed to come back to Lebanon, January 29, 1990, all hell broke loose in what became known as “Harb El Elgha” so Raffy decided to stay in California for the safety of his family. Before he knew it, he owned and managed a wholesale restaurant supplies company in Colton, CA. The next 3 years were very trying for him. He was working 18 hours, 7 days a week.
In 1993, Raffy and his family returned to Beirut. Lebanon was booming and Raffy was busy between his manufacturing facility in Dora, the store in Hamra, and the one in Furn el Sheback, ending up most of the days in Jdeideh. Things were good.
But even though their main residence was in Douwar, Lebanon, Raffy and his family were visiting the USA constantly.
Jason, Raffy and Nina’s third child, was born in Wellsville, NY in May of 1996.
In 1996, Raffy got involved in the establishment of the SJS Alumni Association and became elected as its first President. He worked with a group of sincere and dedicated people, who, he says, made his 2-year term very successful.
In 1997, in an attempt to widen his family’s economic base, Raffy started a sports café in Jdeideh. The infrastructure improvements of the main road of New Jdeideh made it very hard for people to reach the cafe, so he had to shut down after 2 years of constant struggle.
In 1999, Raffy moved back to California with his family and joined J&B Manufacturing Inc., a full glazing company operating in Oceanside, San Diego. He started as a salesperson, got promoted to General Manager after 6 months and is now the Vice President for Sales & Marketing.
Raffy adds: “In May of 2006, we moved to a new home on a hilltop in Oceanside about 5 miles east of the Pacific Ocean and 4 miles from work. The kids are doing very well and are a source of great pride. Tina is in Loma Linda Medical University pursuing her education in Emergency Medical Care. Chris is a Senior attending Carlsbad High School and Jason will be graduating from 5th grade this year.
I consider myself very lucky. I have a beautiful, loving wife and three great kids.
My parents are well and continue to pray for me. I managed to travel and experience different cultures and lines of work. On a purely personal level, I am a proud member of a worldwide fraternity that promotes the “Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man”.
All in all … I am grateful to everyone who helped me improve my life with a word of advice or criticism, a loving gesture, a helping hand, an idea, a prayer, a song, and what not…
May God continue to bless Lebanon.”
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