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Office Coffee Service Pioneer James M Jimmy Zee Zirakian Dies At 94

CALIFORNIA, MD -- James M. Zirakian, a coffee service industry pioneer and founder of Coffee Man Inc., died here on July 30. He was 94. Born in Boston, Zirakian graduated from Boston Trade School. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II, enlisting in 1943 and participating in the mid-1944 Saipan campaign in the Pacific Theater of Operations. He separated from the service in November, 1945, but remained active in the Marine Corps League and took part in many of its community services. He ma...

August 6, 2017

CALIFORNIA, MD -- James M. Zirakian, a coffee service industry pioneer and founder of Coffee Man Inc., died here on July 30. He was 94.

Born in Boston, Zirakian graduated from Boston Trade School. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II, enlisting in 1943 and participating in the mid-1944 Saipan campaign in the Pacific Theater of Operations. He separated from the service in November, 1945, but remained active in the Marine Corps League and took part in many of its community services. He married Amelia Rose (Veneziani) Zirakian in 1947.

Zirakian founded the Coffee Man operation during the early days of the modern coffee service industry, and was an enthusiastic member of the National Coffee Service Association and the Mid-Atlantic Coffee Service Association. He served on the NCSA board of directors. His commitment to building a strong professional industry and outstanding customer service led to his being widely known to his clients and his fellow operators as "Jimmy Zee." He also was an expert in stained glass, and an enthusiastic stained-glass hobbyist.

Zirakian is survived by his wife Amelia; children Cindy Child (Lorton, VA) and Jimmy Zirakian (Lusby, MD); and two grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, Aug. 10, at the Maryland Veterans Cemetery Chapel, 11301 Crain Hwy., Cheltenham, MD.