Elisa Tufenkjian Khachian (1935-2024)
ELISA (TUFENKJIAN) KHACHIAN, 57 AE, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Saturday, October 26, 2024 at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Bridgeport, CT. She was 89. Elisa was predeceased by her husband Richard Khachian who died in 2005 and her sister Gloria Tufenkjian (2018) and brother Armen Tufenkjian (2020).
Born in Worcester, MA to Hrag and Mihran Tufenkjian (Armenian Genocide Survivors), she met her husband Richard on a blind date at the Avon Theater on Thayer Street in Providence, RI while a student at RISD and Richard a student at Brown University. Shortly after Elisa’s graduation, the young couple married and lived in Cambridge, MA while Richard completed his Harvard Law degree and Elisa taught Elementary School Art for the Cambridge school system. The couple raised their family in Fairfield, CT where Elisa thrived in the art community—becoming a prolific and accomplished watercolor artist. She was a friend to all she met.
A long time member of Art/Place Gallery in Fairfield, CT, Silvermine School of Art in New Canaan, CT and the Westport Arts Council, Westport, CT, just to name a few. A freelance artist, Elisa won numerous awards and was published in many art books. She was commissioned by CR Gibson card company in Norwalk, CT for multiple greeting cards throughout her career. Her dream to travel to Europe and paint with a group of artists came true when her children were grown. There was room for all her grandchildren in her studio—she never stopped teaching and making art. Elisa celebrated her 50th RISD reunion with her granddaughter, Christine Quinn, RISD 09 IL, with a table at the famed Alumni/Student Art Sale on Benefit Street. She leaves behind 4 children and their spouses along with 11 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Her legacy is the art she leaves behind for all to cherish and enjoy!
