Charles G. Bilezikian (c. 1937 - July 26, 2016) was an American businessman, retail executive and

philanthropist Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives, for the Public good (economics), public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private goo ...

, who co-founded the

Christmas Tree Shops Christmas Tree Shops is an American chain of specialty retail stores headquartered in Union, New Jersey. As of 2021, the chain operates 80 stores in 20 U.S. states. History In 1970, Charles Bilezikian and his wife, Doreen opened the first sto ...

retail chain with his wife, Doreen, in 1970.

Early life and education

Bilezikian was born to Armenian parents Beatrice (née Kasparian) and Krikor Bilezikian. His father, a

tailor A tailor is a person who makes or alters clothing, particularly in men's clothing. The Oxford English Dictionary dates the term to the thirteenth century. History Although clothing construction goes back to prehistory, there is evidence of ...

, died when he was a teenager. Following her husband's death, Bilezikian's mother took a job as a clerk in a Grover Cronin store in

Waltham, Massachusetts Waltham ( ) is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, and was an early center for the labor movement as well as a major contributor to the American Industrial Revolution. The original home of the Boston Manufacturing Company, th ...

. Charles Bilezikian graduated from Newton High School in

Newton, Massachusetts Newton is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is approximately west of downtown Boston. Newton resembles a patchwork of thirteen villages, without a city center. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the population of Ne ...

. He received his

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...

from

Suffolk University Suffolk University is a private research university in Boston, Massachusetts. With 7,560 students (includes all campuses, 7,379 at the Boston location alone), it is the eighth-largest university in metropolitan Boston. It was founded as a l ...

. He entered the retail business soon after college and married his wife, Doreen Portnoy.

Career

Christmas Tree Shops grew to 23 retail locations by 2003, the year the Bilezikian family sold the chain to Bed Bath & Beyond for an estimated $200 million. Charles Bilezikian soon created the Bilezikian Family Foundation to pursue philanthropic efforts. Charles Bilezikian also served on the board of directors for the Armenian Missionary Association of America, where he helped refurbish a hospital and create a dental clinic, kindergarten, and a community center.

Later life

Charles and Doreen Bilezikian lived simultaneously in both Osterville, Massachusetts, and

Palm Beach, Florida Palm Beach is an incorporated town in Palm Beach County, Florida. Located on a barrier island in east-central Palm Beach County, the town is separated from several nearby cities including West Palm Beach and Lake Worth Beach by the Intracoas ...

, during his later life. Charles Bilezikian died from pancreatic cancer at his home in Osterville, Massachusetts, on July 26, 2016, at the age of 79. He was survived by his wife of 52 years, and two sons, Jeffrey and Gregory. He was buried in Newton Cemetery in

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bilezikian, Charles 1930s births 2016 deaths Retail company founders American company founders American business executives American people of Armenian descent Suffolk University alumni People from Newton, Massachusetts People from Osterville, Massachusetts People from Palm Beach, Florida 20th-century American businesspeople 21st-century American businesspeople 21st-century philanthropists Businesspeople from Massachusetts Businesspeople from Florida Philanthropists from Massachusetts Philanthropists from Florida Deaths from pancreatic cancer Deaths from cancer in Massachusetts