Peter Darwiche

Peter Darwiche

April 1, 1950 – November 7, 2026

Peter Darwiche, beloved husband, devoted father, and cherished grandfather, passed away on November 7, 2026, at the age of 76. He was born on April 1, 1950, in Beirut, Lebanon, to Jakob and Katia Darwiche.

On July 27, 1971, Peter married the love of his life, Angel. Shortly afterward, the couple left Beirut for Sweden, where Peter built a career as an automobile technician at Volvo. It was in Sweden that they welcomed their first child, Susanne Mardirosian, on August 7, 1972, followed by their son, Tommy Levonian, on June 26, 1976.

In 1981, Peter and Angel took a leap of faith and brought their family to America, settling in Santa Monica, California. There, Peter worked at Viking Motors, and the family grew once more with the birth of their youngest daughter, Lesley Mahsaradjian, on May 11, 1983.

Born on April Fools’ Day, Peter seemed destined to be a prankster, and he spent his life finding ways to make people laugh. As a boy, he once found a dead bat on his walk home from school and tucked it into a paper bag in the family refrigerator. When his older sister Mary came home asking if their mother, Katia, had made anything to eat, Peter answered with a perfectly straight face: “Yes, there’s food in the paper bag.” Mary reached in, let out a scream, and the story became family legend.

His love of a good joke never faded. In the 1980s, when the Nintendo was the one gift Tommy wanted more than anything, Peter saw his chance. On Christmas morning, Tommy found a large box under the tree and opened it, only to find another box inside, and then another, until at last he reached the prize: a single bolt, strung with washers and nuts. As Tommy stared in confusion, Peter solemnly assured him that this was no ordinary bolt, but a very special one. Later that evening, when Tommy stepped away for a few minutes and returned, there sat the Nintendo beneath the tree. The console is long gone, but the memory remains, and Tommy still has the bolt.

Above all, Peter was a devoted family man. He treasured weekends spent with his wife and children, and he worked hard so that his family could thrive. Most summers, he made sure Angel and the children could travel to Sweden to be with loved ones. With his patience and gentle nature, Peter taught his children a lesson that has stayed with them: that although there is always more to be done in this world, there are moments when you simply need to “just relax.”

At the time of his passing, Peter resided in Northridge, California.

He is survived by his loving wife, Angel; his three children, Susanne, Tommy, and Lesley; and his seven grandchildren, Vartan, Sofia, Lillit, Jazmin, David, Christopher, and Nairi, who were the joy of his life.

He will be remembered for his laughter, his patience, and his boundless love for his family.

Arrangements are under the care of Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills, California.