UPDATE 6/28/21 Back riding!
With the option to do a 'Reimagined Ride' this year, I've decided to ride from here in Boston back to my father's beloved barn that served as his retirement homestead for many joyous years. I'll be riding a route of Arlington-Lexington-Concord-West Concord-Maynard-Hudson-Marlborough-Northborough-Shrewsbury.
As in years past, I will be riding in support of Dr. Lee Nadler's innovative research at DFCI. For those curious, my eye health is good and I am enjoying my rides as usual. I won't be going for Heavy Hitter status again, though, and I understand the financial complexities of the Covid-19 era for everyone's ability to give. Nevertheless, I hope you can join me in contributing in some capacity to the great work that Dr. Nadler and his team accomplish each and every day in service to the families and fighters confronting cancer.
Below is the same message of purpose I have articulated in the past about why I ride. For those of you who knew my dad, perhaps the video link will bring back good memories. For those of you donating for the first time, please enjoy the video - he taught so much about fatherhood, hard work, family, pereverance, details and craft. One of my favorite snapshots is the news article stating, Aslanian Makes Custom Affordable. Man, if there isn't a truckload of lineage there to who I am...
Let's Ride.
I am riding this year to celebrate two people: Dr. Lee Nadler, and my father Joe Aslanian. The story details are not important, but the result is: Dr. Nadler saved my father's life. Under the leadership of Dr. Nadler, the DFCI proved the difference between treatment and care. Every step of the way, my family felt as if we were part of an all-star team. Every step of the way, we felt like we were challenging convention and aggressively seeking answers, finding a way to win by any means necessary. The wisdom and command of Dr. Nadler is proof positive that every person (patient, family member, employee...) associated with the Institute is a part of not just finding a cure, but celebrating life in all it's worthwhile struggle.
On September 9th of 2017, my father passed away. He was at peace with it. The years after treatment afforded him the chance to see the birth of his granddaughter and, among other lesser highlights, see me have success in a career that is a direct result of the teachings and lessons he provided me in my youth. Dr. Nadler made that possible.
If you wish to know more about Joe, you can watch a memorial video I created (https://youtu.be/SccaWLLvg4w) and read the obituary I wrote at the time of his death:
A cabinetmaker by trade, a champion of overcoming odds, a stoic and compassionate man in every sense, Joseph Aslanian Jr. passed away on September 9, 2017, in Worcester, Massachusetts, the place of his birth. The grandson of Armenian immigrants, son of Joseph Aslanian Sr. (d.1961) and Efran (Saradarian) Aslanian (d.1987), little Joey was born on December 30, 1945 and baptized in the Armenian Church of Our Saviour of Worcester, the first Armenian church in the Western hemisphere. Growing up with his sister Maryanne (d.1986), their youth was marked by the early passing of Joseph Sr., when Joe was just 15 years old. Known in his early woodworking classes as the only kid who could make a round wheel, Joe went on to graduate from Worcester Boys Trade High School and would continue to work with wood the rest of his life. After serving in the Air Force Reserve Command at Elmendorf Air Base in Anchorage, Alaska during the Vietnam War, Joe returned to Worcester and started building his reputation as a skilled woodworker. He was a member of the Athelstan Masonic Lodge of Worcester and later a 32° Mason of the Valley of Detroit. In the fall of 1972, on a trip to visit cousins in Detroit, Joe fell in love with a young artist - leading to a move westward for the Worcester boy. Married in June of 1974, Joe is survived by his faithful companion, Gail (Nahabedian) Aslanian. The carpenter and the weaver, they started their lives together in Troy, Michigan, where Gail was an art teacher in the public schools and Joe worked as a cabinetmaker. Joe took the leap to start his own business working out of the garage that would later be replaced as his eponymous shop on John R Rd., and where they began to raise their son, John, who survives his father. After moving his family to West Bloomfield, MI, building and renovating homes including the childhood home of wife Gail on Walnut Lake, Joe's business flourished and he established himself as a master craftsman known both in design circles and among homeowners in the region for his custom furniture and kitchen design work. The family's home became a place of convergence for friends and extended family in the tradition of Gail's parents, John and Arsine (Kumjian) Nahabedian (d.1986, 2009), with whom Joe enjoyed many vacations to their snow-bird condo in Englewood, Fl. Living on Walnut Lake aside Gail's sister and brother-in-law, Wendy (Nahabedian) and David Poelke, Joe's hard work and drive led him to success and happiness. And, after several health scares, Joe and Gail decided to retire early to spend the next chapter of their life together back in Massachusetts. In 1998, with his son graduated from college and the business sold, Joe and Gail moved to Shrewsbury, where they rebuilt a farmhouse and barn. It is in and around that barn where Joe rekindled friendships from his past, maintained his passion for woodworking, tended to his vegetable garden, hosted holidays with family and the wedding of his son to Ingrid Pabon, and celebrated the birth of his only grandchild, Lucia Rose. The final eight years of his life, Joe and his family lived in gratitude to Dr. Lee Nadler of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where Dr. Nadler's experimental treatment saved Joe's life from a dramatic relapse of lymphoma. Along with Dr. Leonard Lilly and Dr. Joseph Daigneault, Dr. Nadler's care helped Joe experience the joys of watching his family grow and afforded him the time to be at peace with is eventual death. With heart and courage appropriate for his surname, Joe stared down numerous issues with his health, yet never once complained and always pushed himself to keep working in his woodshop. Not an overly religious man, Joe's drive and commitment, his determination and will, are a testament to the Human Spirit and all it can achieve. He shaped people and wood in remarkable ways and will forever be known as a survivor.
UPDATE 6/28/21 Back riding!
With the option to do a 'Reimagined Ride' this year, I've decided to ride from here in Boston back to my father's beloved barn that served as his retirement homestead for many joyous years. I'll be riding a route of Arlington-Lexington-Concord-West Concord-Maynard-Hudson-Marlborough-Northborough-Shrewsbury.
As in years past, I will be riding in support of Dr. Lee Nadler's innovative research at DFCI. For those curious, my eye health is good and I am enjoying my rides as usual. I won't be going for Heavy Hitter status again, though, and I understand the financial complexities of the Covid-19 era for everyone's ability to give. Nevertheless, I hope you can join me in contributing in some capacity to the great work that Dr. Nadler and his team accomplish each and every day in service to the families and fighters confronting cancer.
Below is the same message of purpose I have articulated in the past about why I ride. For those of you who knew my dad, perhaps the video link will bring back good memories. For those of you donating for the first time, please enjoy the video - he taught so much about fatherhood, hard work, family, pereverance, details and craft. One of my favorite snapshots is the news article stating, Aslanian Makes Custom Affordable. Man, if there isn't a truckload of lineage there to who I am...
Let's Ride.
I am riding this year to celebrate two people: Dr. Lee Nadler, and my father Joe Aslanian. The story details are not important, but the result is: Dr. Nadler saved my father's life. Under the leadership of Dr. Nadler, the DFCI proved the difference between treatment and care. Every step of the way, my family felt as if we were part of an all-star team. Every step of the way, we felt like we were challenging convention and aggressively seeking answers, finding a way to win by any means necessary. The wisdom and command of Dr. Nadler is proof positive that every person (patient, family member, employee...) associated with the Institute is a part of not just finding a cure, but celebrating life in all it's worthwhile struggle.
On September 9th of 2017, my father passed away. He was at peace with it. The years after treatment afforded him the chance to see the birth of his granddaughter and, among other lesser highlights, see me have success in a career that is a direct result of the teachings and lessons he provided me in my youth. Dr. Nadler made that possible.
If you wish to know more about Joe, you can watch a memorial video I created (https://youtu.be/SccaWLLvg4w) and read the obituary I wrote at the time of his death:
A cabinetmaker by trade, a champion of overcoming odds, a stoic and compassionate man in every sense, Joseph Aslanian Jr. passed away on September 9, 2017, in Worcester, Massachusetts, the place of his birth. The grandson of Armenian immigrants, son of Joseph Aslanian Sr. (d.1961) and Efran (Saradarian) Aslanian (d.1987), little Joey was born on December 30, 1945 and baptized in the Armenian Church of Our Saviour of Worcester, the first Armenian church in the Western hemisphere. Growing up with his sister Maryanne (d.1986), their youth was marked by the early passing of Joseph Sr., when Joe was just 15 years old. Known in his early woodworking classes as the only kid who could make a round wheel, Joe went on to graduate from Worcester Boys Trade High School and would continue to work with wood the rest of his life. After serving in the Air Force Reserve Command at Elmendorf Air Base in Anchorage, Alaska during the Vietnam War, Joe returned to Worcester and started building his reputation as a skilled woodworker. He was a member of the Athelstan Masonic Lodge of Worcester and later a 32° Mason of the Valley of Detroit. In the fall of 1972, on a trip to visit cousins in Detroit, Joe fell in love with a young artist - leading to a move westward for the Worcester boy. Married in June of 1974, Joe is survived by his faithful companion, Gail (Nahabedian) Aslanian. The carpenter and the weaver, they started their lives together in Troy, Michigan, where Gail was an art teacher in the public schools and Joe worked as a cabinetmaker. Joe took the leap to start his own business working out of the garage that would later be replaced as his eponymous shop on John R Rd., and where they began to raise their son, John, who survives his father. After moving his family to West Bloomfield, MI, building and renovating homes including the childhood home of wife Gail on Walnut Lake, Joe's business flourished and he established himself as a master craftsman known both in design circles and among homeowners in the region for his custom furniture and kitchen design work. The family's home became a place of convergence for friends and extended family in the tradition of Gail's parents, John and Arsine (Kumjian) Nahabedian (d.1986, 2009), with whom Joe enjoyed many vacations to their snow-bird condo in Englewood, Fl. Living on Walnut Lake aside Gail's sister and brother-in-law, Wendy (Nahabedian) and David Poelke, Joe's hard work and drive led him to success and happiness. And, after several health scares, Joe and Gail decided to retire early to spend the next chapter of their life together back in Massachusetts. In 1998, with his son graduated from college and the business sold, Joe and Gail moved to Shrewsbury, where they rebuilt a farmhouse and barn. It is in and around that barn where Joe rekindled friendships from his past, maintained his passion for woodworking, tended to his vegetable garden, hosted holidays with family and the wedding of his son to Ingrid Pabon, and celebrated the birth of his only grandchild, Lucia Rose. The final eight years of his life, Joe and his family lived in gratitude to Dr. Lee Nadler of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where Dr. Nadler's experimental treatment saved Joe's life from a dramatic relapse of lymphoma. Along with Dr. Leonard Lilly and Dr. Joseph Daigneault, Dr. Nadler's care helped Joe experience the joys of watching his family grow and afforded him the time to be at peace with is eventual death. With heart and courage appropriate for his surname, Joe stared down numerous issues with his health, yet never once complained and always pushed himself to keep working in his woodshop. Not an overly religious man, Joe's drive and commitment, his determination and will, are a testament to the Human Spirit and all it can achieve. He shaped people and wood in remarkable ways and will forever be known as a survivor.
I have chosen to keep all of my donors' information confidential; therefore it is not displayed on my PMC public donor list.
| 2025 | $0.00 | PMC Volunteer |
| 2024 | $0.00 | PMC Volunteer |
| 2023 | $50.00 | PMC Fundraiser |
| 2021 | $2,000.00 | Reimagined |
| 2020 | $25.00 | PMC Fundraiser |
| 2019 | $5,000.00 | PMC Virtual Rider and Volunteer |
| 2018 | $8,005.00 | Wellesley to Provincetown Monument (2-Day) |
| 2012 | $2,106.00 | Wellesley to Patriot Place (25 mile Sunday) |
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John Aslanian