Katherine Anne Bird Adajian

Katherine Bird Adajian, born Katherine Anne Bird in 1924 in South Bend, IN, passed away on Sept. 26 in Lake Forest.

She graduated from Purdue University, where she studied home economics and textile chemistry. She was recognized in Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities, and was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. After graduating from Purdue, she worked as a copywriter for Montgomery Ward and later as a columnist for the Chicago American news-paper.

In 1948, Katherine married Armen Adajian of New Britain, CT, and for two decades she was Vice President and Account Executive in their advertising firm in Chicago, Isker and Adajian, Inc. She was the first woman to be invited to join the Executives' Club in Chicago. Together, Katherine and Armen raised four sons. Katie was a wise, loving and selfless wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She enjoyed gardening, birdwatching and volunteer work. She had a strong Christian faith and was active in various churches throughout her life. She loved nature. Katie was a deeply kind, cheerful, outgoing, hardworking, optimistic and trusting person, beloved not only by her family and friends, but by everyone who had the good fortune to meet her. She looked for and found the good in everyone she met, and shared her radiant smile with everyone who crossed her path. Katie was a bright and happy spirit.

She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Armen Adajian of Lake Bluff; her sister, Mary Jane Johnson of Tryon, NC; her sons, Michael Adajian of Chicago, Joseph Adajian of Highland Park and Rosalita Thompson, Thomas Adajian of Crozet, VA and Caron Santoro and Bowen Adajian of Portland, OR and his wife, Lisa; and her grandchildren, Alexander, Manasa, Rama and Alyssa.

The family invites Katie's friends and acquaintances to attend a Memorial Service at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at The Church of the Holy Spirit in Lake Forest. ( Cremation Society of Illinois, through Sullivan Funeral home).

"If angels there be who look after the good, And minds informed with the right mean anything to heaven, May God reward you as you deserve! What happy age, What great parentage was it gave birth to the like of you? So long as rivers run to the sea, And shadows wheel round the hollows of the hills, And star-flocks browse in the night sky, Your name, your fame, your glory shall not perish from the land." - Virgil

Published in a Chicago Tribune Media Group Publication on Oct. 8, 2008

05/17/2022 EJS