Obituary of Ara Kulhanjian

Ara was born in Miami, Florida on May 6, 1943, as the third and youngest child to Armenian parents John(Onnig) and Mary Kulhanjain. Ara grew up in Miami Dade "Wade" County with his late brother Emanuel(Monoug) and sister Meline Markarian, as part of a large and close-knit extended Armenian family. It was at the Flamingo Hotel in Miami Beach in 1963 that he met the love of his life Beautiful Carol. Ara and Beautiful Carol wed in 1965, and just recently celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary. As newlyweds on October 16th in 1966, Ara and Carol moved to Brooklyn, New York where Ara worked in Asbury Park at the Armenian Hye Hotel for his father. Oh the stories he would tell about life at the Hye Hotel. Ara proudly became a father to his daughter's Janine nine months later, and Meline both born in New York. In 1968 the family moved back to South Florida and in 1972 he welcomed "the boy" John Kulhanjian II. In 1974, Ara bought a 5 acre farm in Hialeah and spent the next 18 years raising his amazing children with Carol. He would tell hysterical stories of herding cows, fending off bulls, birthing goats, chasing horses and boys away from his daughters. At the JKII Ranch, Ara took care of his mother who lived with the family after his father JKI passed, and left the door wide open to anyone in need. Ara always put his family and everyone before himself first. Ara became a very successful restaurateur, owning two Chicken Unlimited restaurants in the 1970's and the addition of Chicken Plus in 1980. In 1990, after all the kids were in college, Ara and his wife sold the farm and moved to Miami Lakes. In 1995, Ara, his son JK and son-in-laws Johnny Kevorkian and Angelo DiPiazza, opened The Roasted Pepper Restaurant in Pembroke Pines. The house specialty at the Roasted Pepper was him! Ara would personally greet and sit with the guests and was considered part of the family to many. In 1999, Ara moved to Pembroke Pines and eventually embraced semi-retirement when he sold the Roasted Pepper in 2005. Ara stayed very active as a real-estate agent as well as the best grandfather to 7 amazing grandchildren. Ara was very involved in Saint Mary's Armenian Church and was a very proud Armenian American. He taught his children to always give back, as they often participated as family in the Special Olympics and St. Jude events. He was known for making the best "Baba pilaf", being a fantastic Armenian drum player, his incredibly gorgeous full black head of hair, and those blue eyes. Ara worked hard, but enjoyed life to the fullest. Ara's life revolved around his wife Carol, his kids, grandkids, and his many many friends and relatives. Ara was infamous for sending all kinds of funny emails that brightened your day (but somehow never mastered opening an email attachment). Ara's devotion to family was clearly evident by his daily check in phone calls and texts to everyone, first thing in the morning, and last thing at night. His larger-than-life personality, incredible humor and wit, charming good looks, but most of all his kindness and generosity to everyone he met will make him incredibly missed. Ara is survived by his wife Carol, children Janine, Meline, Kimberly and John (JK), and grandchildren/children Tatiana, Johnno, Nikolas, Gianna, Luciano, Cara and John Armon(JJ), God daughters Melissa, Dina and Lisa; Godsons Ara, Aram, Ralphy, David, and Daniel, sister-in-laws Annegret and Arlene, as well as so many friends and relatives whose lives he touched. Though we are in tears for "Baba", we know you are at peace and smiling as you are reunited with your ever so missed brother Uncle Monoug. INFORMATION: Wake: Today Monday, November 7th from 2pm - 10pm Scarano Funeral Home, Stirling Road 954-438-8222: 6970 Stirling Road, Hollywood, Fl 33024 Funeral Tuesday, November 8th time at 11am (Family 10am) St. Mary's Armenian Church; 954-450-5578 (Stirling Road, just East of Palm Avenue) 4050 NW 100th Avenue, Cooper City 33024 (Donation in lieu of flower or to St.Jude) Lunch to follow in the church hall around 12:15pm