Richard Hratch Tashjian, artist and cultural advocate, passes away at 99

Richard Hratch Tashjian, a celebrated artist, passed away peacefully on October 21, 2025, at the age of 99 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Born on June 27, 1926, in Dorchester, Mass., Richard lived a life rich in creativity, a love of nature and devotion to the fine arts.

He served honorably in the United States Naval Reserve during World War II from 1944 to 1946, where he worked as an aerial photographer. Following his military service, Richard pursued his education with fervor, graduating from the Museum School of Fine Arts in Boston in 1950. He further honed his design skills under the tutelage of Professor Gyorgy Kepes at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology School of Visual Design Architectural Center in Cambridge.