Jacques Terzian, founder of Hunters Point artist colony, dies

“The shipyard arts community has lost the person whose inspiration, vision and love for the arts and artists brought it into being, the person who was, for more than two decades, its animated and animating spirit,” longtime tenant Scott Madison said in a posting on the shipyard website.

When he wasn’t in his welding mask, he was in his trademark cap and black-rimmed glasses, going around in the studios of his artists.

“A lot of people don’t realize the effort Jacques put into making sure the Point did not turn into the Alamo, a fort in the middle of Bayview-Hunters Point,” said Joe Sam, who was the first African American artist to join the colony 35 years ago and is still in the same space.

Hagop Terzian was born in Fresno on Aug. 31, 1921, and grew up in the Armenian section of town, raised by his immigrant parents, along with four siblings and lots of cousins.

After graduating from Fresno High School, he became a welder and came to the Bay Area to work in both the Richmond and Hunters Point shipyards, as they built and maintained ships for World War II.

There was a retail shop in front, and in back he built the furniture and sculpture that was to become his signature artwork, once he had been evicted and found his way to Hunters Point.

Mr. Terzian was always interested in arts and ideas and civil rights, and the places where those converged on the Peninsula were Kepler’s Books in Menlo Park and the Peninsula School.

Survivors include son Stephan Terzian and his wife, Kay Marie Terzian; daughter Paula Terzian; daughter Leslie Terzian Markoff and her husband, John Markoff; daughter Carla Terzian Pierce; son David Terzian; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers the Terzian family requests that donations be made to the Parkinson’s Institute and Clinical Center, 675 Almanor Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94085; (408) 734-2800; www.thepi.org/giving-to-the-institute.