Kapriel “Kappy” Nahigian was born November 25th, 1921, in Exeter, California, near Visalia. The oldest of six siblings, Kappy had 2 brothers and 2 sisters. Two years later, Kappy’s family moved to Fowler, California, near Fresno, where his family farmed a grape vineyard for raisins.
In 1942, at the age of 21 years, Kappy was drafted into the United States Army and completed his training at Camp Roberts near San Luis Obispo. Later he was transferred to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and then Hawaii. He served in the Pacific as a rifleman until 1945 when he was honorably discharged as a Private First Class.
After his service in the War, Kappy began working for his uncle, in Modesto, as a busboy, then waiter. He learned from his uncle and the chefs, and eventually decided to open his own restaurant. When his brother came back from the war, they opened their first restaurant, El Tehran, in Stockton, in 1948. And operated it for seventeen years.
Kappy met his wife, Lora, as a customer in the El Tehran, and married her on June 3, 1951. They lived happily through 58 years of marriage, and enjoyed traveling on many trips together, before Lora passed away in 2009. They had 2 daughters Judi and Lori, both of Lodi, and had a son, Stephen (deceased), who was a renowned oral surgeon in Southern California.
Eventually, Kappy opened his own business, Kappy’s Coffee Shop, in 1965. After 18 years, Kappy sold his restaurant and again joined with his brother Carl at Carl’s Truckstop in Stockton. Kappy was famous for his homemade pies and enjoyed making dozens of them that he delivered to his friends around the holidays.
Kappy’s favorite pastimes were watching sports on TV and knowing every team and most players’ statistics. Mostly, he enjoyed watching and following his grandson Michael Rishwain’s baseball career from little league into college. Also, he greatly enjoyed his Saturday morning donut friends, his monthly breakfast with his workout group, and his many lunches with buddies. Perhaps his favorite of all were his many trips to the casinos with his loving daughter Judi.
In his later years Kappy moved to Lodi to be near his daughters who were a huge part of his daily life, to the very end.
To quote his daughters, “Kappy was the sweetest man in the world and would do anything for anyone”.
Kappy was preceded in death by loving wife of 58 years Lora Nahigian, son Dr. Stephen Nahigian, grandson Marc C. Rishwain, and many siblings. He leaves behind his two daughters Lori Rishwain (Ben) and Judi Nahigian, grandchildren: Michael Rishwain, Candace, Vanessa and Rex Nahigian, Ben and Nick Rishwain, daughter in law Pat Nahigian and many friends. Kappy will be dearly missed by his family and friends. Memorial contributions may be made in Kappy’s name to Disabled American Veterans, PO Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301.
VIEWING
No viewing will be held.
INTERMENT
At the family’s request burial will be held privately at Cherokee Memorial Park, Lodi.
SERVICES
A celebration of Kappy’s life will be held at 11am Saturday, October 17, 2015 at the Stockton Golf and Country Club, 3800 Country Club Blvd, Stockton.
Please add your condolences in the comments below.