Person:John Andikian (1)

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John 'Andy' Andikian, Jr., Wholesale Deli Professional
b.28 Oct 1930 Boyle Heights, Los Angeles County, California
d.16 Oct 1991 Los Angeles County, California
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  1. John 'Andy' Andikian, Jr., Wholesale Deli Professional1930 - 1991
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Name John 'Andy' Andikian, Jr., Wholesale Deli Professional
Gender Male
Birth[1] 28 Oct 1930 Boyle Heights, Los Angeles County, California
Death[1] 16 Oct 1991 Los Angeles County, California
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About Andy Andikian

John "Andy" Andikian was born 28 October 1930 in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles County, California, son of John Andikian (1904-1999) and his wife Mary Katchadourian (b. abt. 1910), both immigrants from Armenia. He later described the area that he was born in as "so poor that they tore it down to build slums". He attended Garfield High School, played center on the high school football team and took part in numerous school and for a while considered a theatrical career. Andy went on to attend East Los Angeles Junior College for two years, receiving his Associate of Arts degree, majoring in mathematics. He completed his college education in 1952 with a Bachelor of Science degree at Whittier College and also played varsity football under [then] coach George Allen, who later went onto coach the Los Angeles Rams. Andy also lettered in track at Whittier College, and was a standout in the shot put and discus field events.

After college, Andy served his country by enlisting in the United States Marine Corps for three years, completing his basic training at Quantico, Virginia and was stationed at the Naval prison base in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He served as the coordinator of the athletic and recreational programs for the prisoners and also was a instructor in hand-to-hand combat. It was while he was in New Hampshire that he met his wife-to-be, Theresa O'Brien, on a blind date, whom he married shortly thereafter.

After a drive across the country back to Los Angeles, Andy's first experience in business was to follow in his father's footsteps in the commercial trash business, but after the building market collapsed in 1957, he sold out his interest and went to work as a truck driver for wholesale grocery cooperative Certified Grocers (now Unified Grocers).
Two years later, he was chosen to become Certified's deli field representative, which he worked until 1964 when he joined Union Packing Co. as a sales representative for the sausage division.

In 1967, he was offered a job by his former employer Certified Grocers, working for Andy's good friend Pete Uraine, who had just been promoted to a deli buyer. When Pete was again elevated to Deli Director, Andy was promoted into Pete's former Deli Buyer position.

Early in Andy's career, he became a member in a local food industry trade association, [then called] the Deli Council of Southern California, which later was re-named to the "Dairy/Deli/Bakery Council of Southern California" (or "DDBC"). Andy was recognized for his early contributions to the Council by being awarded the "Big Cheese" in April 1969.
He also ran and was elected to the Council's Board of Directors in the mid-1960's and served at its thirteenth President in 1972.

Andy also served in several civic organizations including volunteering his time with the Braille Institute transporting blind children to their school and social events, was a Vice President of the East Los Angeles Lions Club and was a member of St. Benedicts Catholic, where he coordinated and supervised the altar boys on their church field trips. Andy was an accomplished golfer and enjoyed gardening, chess, pinochle and loved to cook. Andy passed away on 16 October 1991 in Los Angeles County, California. His accomplishments and service to the food industry are many and he will always be remembered fondly by his friends and co-workers.

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References
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 California. Department of Public Health. Bureau of Vital Statistics. Death Index, 1940-1997.

    California, Death Index, 1940-1997
    Name: John Andikian
    Social Security #: 556323097
    Gender: Male
    Birth Date: 28 Oct 1930
    Birth Place: California
    Death Date: 16 Oct 1991
    Death Place: Los Angeles
    Mother's Maiden Name: Katchadourian

  2.   U.S. Public Records Index, Volume 2. (Provo, Utah, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010).

    U.S. Public Records Index, Volume 2
    Name: John Andikian
    Birth Date: 28 Oct 1930
    Address: 14551 Eadbrook Dr, City of Industry, CA, 91745-2539

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