Joetta Kalakian Malkassian passed away in Palo Alto, California on February 26, 2013.

Joetta was born on May 10, 1942 in Oakland, California to Albert and Louise Kalakian.  Joetta is survived by her husband, Robert A. Malkassian, her son R. Patrick Malkassian, her daughter in-law, Elizabeth Nalbandian Malkassian, her two granddaughters, Sofia and Alexandria, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Nalbandian, Louise Nalbandian, many cousins and dear friends.

As a young girl, she enjoyed school, art, and athletics.  During high school, she actively participated on the debate team. She spent considerable time visiting her father's home town of Fresno, California to see her extended family who she loved dearly.
Joetta was thrilled to participate in Girl Scouts.  She continued on with scouts through high school and as a young adult enjoyed running camps for girls in the Mendocino area and the Sierras Nevada Mountains near Lake Tahoe.
 

Joetta is a graduate of Stephens Women's College of Columbia, Missouri; she loved participating in many activities: debate, fencing, politics, and art.  Later, she returned to the East Bay and finished her formal education at California State University at Hayward.  During this period of her life, she enjoyed travels to Spain, Germany, France, and Mexico.

As a young adult, she entered business with her parents at the Kalakian Insurance Agency.  In 1966, she married Robert A. Malkassian.  During the late 1960's she and Robert traveled to Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.  In 1971, Joetta gave birth to her only child, R. Patrick Malkassian.
During the 1970's and 1980's, she continued to lead an active life in her community with the League of Women Voters, the Girls Club, and raising her son.

From the 1990's forward, she used her life skills and worked with her husband and son to create Ropama, Inc. in Oakland.  She worked alongside her family to develop a company that is now recognized globally in the leather industry.

In her last months, she fell ill; however, she was allowed the opportunity to reflect upon her rich life.  She was a strong woman whose greatest wish, in the end, was to instill her values in the granddaughters she loved so much.

Joetta Kalakian Malkassian's funeral service will be held at St. Vartan Armenian Apostolic Church, 650 Spruce Street, Oakland, California on Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at 10:30am. 

Donations can be sent in honor of Joetta Kalakian Malkassian to either of the following: