Vehazoon K. Sarafian was born March 24, 1896, in New York City, the son of Hovcep and Annie Sarafian. Both of his parents were Armenian immigrants, having arrived in the United States in the 1880's. His father, Hovcep, was a "silk weaver", also an inventor of some of the machines and processes involved in making "oriental rugs."
There were three other children in the family: Sumpad H.-who was born in New York around 1887, attended NYU and became a lawyer; sister Armenia A.-born in New York around 1897 and worked in social services; and younger brother Haig G.-born in Pennsylvania around 1900 and became a factory manager.
In 1917 Vehazoon was described as: medium height and build, with grey eyes and dark brown hair. At the age of 21 he enlisted in the Army, serving during WWI, first with 35 Co. 8 CAC NY National Guard (31 Co. CAC Southern NY), then in July of 1918 he was attached to Btry A Arty CAC. He served overseas from July 15, 1918 to February 22, 1919, and was honorably discharged March 8, 1919.
In 1917 on his WWI draft card, Vehazoon gave his occupation as a "helper, coppershop", working for the New York Shipbuilding Company in Camden, New Jersey. After returning from the war, he was employed as a railroad clerk in 1920.
Vehazoon attended at least two years of college, later in life giving his occupation variously as "engineer", "mechanical designer", or "draftsman in engineering research."
As late as 1940, Vehazoon, his brother Haig, and sister Armenia, all in their forties and still single, lived with their elderly, widowed mother, Annie, and her 94 year old mother-Prapyon Kapakjian at Moralmore Place in Yonkers.
From 1949 to 1960 Vehazoon lived at 237 E. 20th in Manhattan.
Vehazoon K. Sarafian died May 27, 1992, at the Veterans Administration Hospital, and was buried on Hart Island.
Sources: U.S. Social Security Death Index; U.S. Dept. of Veteran's Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010; U.S. WWI Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918; NY, Abstracts of WWI Military Service, 1917-1919; NY State Censuses, 1905, 1915, and 1925; U.S. Federal Censuses, 1910, 1920, 1930, and 1940; U.S. City Directories, 1822-1989; U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925 (Hovcep).