Dickran "Mike" Chitjian
January 27, 1953 — July 27, 2019
"DIGO" That was his nickname. He actually came into this world to his parents, Florence and Mike Chitjian, as Dikran Chitjian on January 27th, 1953 at Beverly Hospital in Montebello, California. January 27th was the birthday of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It was also the birthday of the notorious Chicago mobster Frank Nitti, Al Capone’s top enforcer. I don’t think Digo knew that, but he definitely would have loved it.
Digo was a man from another time, who would have been right at home hangin’ in Vegas in the 60’s with Frank and Dino. He loved the old casinos, the games, the flashy clothes, and those sunglasses..yeah, man, the sunglasses. He was actually voted best dresser in high school at one point. He loved all sports, but especially the fights. He used to put on boxing gloves as a child and box for his parent’s amusement, and would later even go on to manage the professional boxer, Oscar “The Boxer” Muniz.
Once you met Digo Chitjian, you would not forget him. He was a charming host, always making sure everyone was taken care of – and generous to a fault, he would have given you the last dime in his pocket. If we were to fill this church today with the people he helped out in his lifetime, you’d be left with standing room only.
He loved his Armenian heritage, and family. As a young man, he and his siblings worked hard at the family business with his Mom and Dad – Mike’s Hockey Burger. It would be run in later years by Digo and his sister Charmaine. The restaurant was a successful Los Angeles landmark for 54 years, patronized by celebrities like Jackie Mason, top cops and beat cops, but mostly the working man.
It was in 1985 that Digo would make a major change in his life. He had known Julie Karapetian while growing up in the Armenian community, and she also happened to be his sister Charmaine’s gal-pal. While getting to know Julie better at his other sister Michelle’s wedding, he made up his mind that he was going to marry her, and on January 1st, 1986 he did just that.
They got married in Las Vegas, of course, at the famed Liberace Room. For those of you who were lucky enough to be there, it was a grand time in classic Digo Chitjian style.
Digo became a doting stepfather to Liza and Steve, Julie’s children from her previous marriage. Later that year came the happy arrival of a new daughter, Shauna, followed almost exactly a year later by another new daughter, Gigi. I spoke with the children yesterday, and they reminded me of Digo’s great sense of humor, his quality of being non-judgmental, and his being the first one there when someone needed help. Digo truly loved his family, and his friends.
Being the fiancée of Julie’s sister, Lucy, Digo welcomed me into the family with open arms and always went out of his way to make me feel like I belonged. I was at a party one evening at the house when I overheard some guy behind me talking softly to Digo. “Who’s this guy”? he said, indicating me, “he looks Odar”. I turned around slightly to look just in time to see Digo lean menacingly into the guy’s face: “That’s Lucy’s boyfriend, and he’s not Odar, he’s Italian”! That’s the kinda guy Digo was.
And no one, I mean no one, could serve up a lamb shish kabob like Digo Chitjian. He would bring a two-and-a-half foot skewer directly from the hot grill to the dinner table, and slide off pieces of shish the size of your fist, directly on to your plate...pure heaven.
Though he continued to devote his life in later years to the Hockey Burger, he unfortunately began to face challenges to his health. These began to increase in severity, culminating in a stroke a few years ago. It was hard to watch this tough guy being forced to slow down.
I’m glad to say, though, that his last days were filled with more happy moments. While still recovering from his stroke in the hospital, he met Steve’s wife, Vika, for the first time and told me later how nice it was that Steve had finally found “the right one”. He was moved by the fact that Shauna’s fiancé, Alex, had actually come to him in person to formally ask for her hand in marriage, over a dinner at the Dal Rae. He was so contented that she had found a really great man. The birth of Gigi and Anthony’s daughter Mila put a smile on Digo’s face that no one had seen in years, maybe because she looked just like him as a baby. There was also his grandson Christian’s induction into the Air Force that made him beam with pride. These events reassure us that Digo left this world with his heart full from how beautifully his family was doing. After all, he always said that family was the most important thing, and that if we stuck together nothing could break us.
We say goodbye for now, Digo, as you make your way to that big Vegas strip in the sky. I know they’ll have a new, shiny Cadillac waiting for you. Abris, Digo, and God bless your soul. Remember to tell’em all up there that you did it your way.
Dickran “Digo” Chitjian was born on January 27th, 1953 in Montebello, California, and passed on July 27th, 2019. He is survived by his first daughter Shauna Chitjian, his second daughter Janine Chitjian, her husband Anthony Muñoz and their daughter Mila, his stepdaughter Liza Karapetian, his stepson Steven Karapetian and their mother Julie Chitjian. Also, Steven’s wife Vika, and grandsons Michael, Nicholas, Christian and Luka. He is also survived by his sister Charmaine Chitjian, his Aunt Mary Chitjian Fleury, his cousin Gayle Chitjian, his sister-in-law Diane Chitjian and her children Andi, Erin, Cortney, Lauren and Michael, and his brother-in-law Greg Oganesian and his daughters Monet and Monique. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Mike and Florence Chitjian, and his brother and sister, Sabu and Michelle.
Condolences may be sent to the family through our website.
Digo was a man from another time, who would have been right at home hangin’ in Vegas in the 60’s with Frank and Dino. He loved the old casinos, the games, the flashy clothes, and those sunglasses..yeah, man, the sunglasses. He was actually voted best dresser in high school at one point. He loved all sports, but especially the fights. He used to put on boxing gloves as a child and box for his parent’s amusement, and would later even go on to manage the professional boxer, Oscar “The Boxer” Muniz.
Once you met Digo Chitjian, you would not forget him. He was a charming host, always making sure everyone was taken care of – and generous to a fault, he would have given you the last dime in his pocket. If we were to fill this church today with the people he helped out in his lifetime, you’d be left with standing room only.
He loved his Armenian heritage, and family. As a young man, he and his siblings worked hard at the family business with his Mom and Dad – Mike’s Hockey Burger. It would be run in later years by Digo and his sister Charmaine. The restaurant was a successful Los Angeles landmark for 54 years, patronized by celebrities like Jackie Mason, top cops and beat cops, but mostly the working man.
It was in 1985 that Digo would make a major change in his life. He had known Julie Karapetian while growing up in the Armenian community, and she also happened to be his sister Charmaine’s gal-pal. While getting to know Julie better at his other sister Michelle’s wedding, he made up his mind that he was going to marry her, and on January 1st, 1986 he did just that.
They got married in Las Vegas, of course, at the famed Liberace Room. For those of you who were lucky enough to be there, it was a grand time in classic Digo Chitjian style.
Digo became a doting stepfather to Liza and Steve, Julie’s children from her previous marriage. Later that year came the happy arrival of a new daughter, Shauna, followed almost exactly a year later by another new daughter, Gigi. I spoke with the children yesterday, and they reminded me of Digo’s great sense of humor, his quality of being non-judgmental, and his being the first one there when someone needed help. Digo truly loved his family, and his friends.
Being the fiancée of Julie’s sister, Lucy, Digo welcomed me into the family with open arms and always went out of his way to make me feel like I belonged. I was at a party one evening at the house when I overheard some guy behind me talking softly to Digo. “Who’s this guy”? he said, indicating me, “he looks Odar”. I turned around slightly to look just in time to see Digo lean menacingly into the guy’s face: “That’s Lucy’s boyfriend, and he’s not Odar, he’s Italian”! That’s the kinda guy Digo was.
And no one, I mean no one, could serve up a lamb shish kabob like Digo Chitjian. He would bring a two-and-a-half foot skewer directly from the hot grill to the dinner table, and slide off pieces of shish the size of your fist, directly on to your plate...pure heaven.
Though he continued to devote his life in later years to the Hockey Burger, he unfortunately began to face challenges to his health. These began to increase in severity, culminating in a stroke a few years ago. It was hard to watch this tough guy being forced to slow down.
I’m glad to say, though, that his last days were filled with more happy moments. While still recovering from his stroke in the hospital, he met Steve’s wife, Vika, for the first time and told me later how nice it was that Steve had finally found “the right one”. He was moved by the fact that Shauna’s fiancé, Alex, had actually come to him in person to formally ask for her hand in marriage, over a dinner at the Dal Rae. He was so contented that she had found a really great man. The birth of Gigi and Anthony’s daughter Mila put a smile on Digo’s face that no one had seen in years, maybe because she looked just like him as a baby. There was also his grandson Christian’s induction into the Air Force that made him beam with pride. These events reassure us that Digo left this world with his heart full from how beautifully his family was doing. After all, he always said that family was the most important thing, and that if we stuck together nothing could break us.
We say goodbye for now, Digo, as you make your way to that big Vegas strip in the sky. I know they’ll have a new, shiny Cadillac waiting for you. Abris, Digo, and God bless your soul. Remember to tell’em all up there that you did it your way.
Dickran “Digo” Chitjian was born on January 27th, 1953 in Montebello, California, and passed on July 27th, 2019. He is survived by his first daughter Shauna Chitjian, his second daughter Janine Chitjian, her husband Anthony Muñoz and their daughter Mila, his stepdaughter Liza Karapetian, his stepson Steven Karapetian and their mother Julie Chitjian. Also, Steven’s wife Vika, and grandsons Michael, Nicholas, Christian and Luka. He is also survived by his sister Charmaine Chitjian, his Aunt Mary Chitjian Fleury, his cousin Gayle Chitjian, his sister-in-law Diane Chitjian and her children Andi, Erin, Cortney, Lauren and Michael, and his brother-in-law Greg Oganesian and his daughters Monet and Monique. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Mike and Florence Chitjian, and his brother and sister, Sabu and Michelle.
Condolences may be sent to the family through our website.
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