WWII Veteran and diversified farmer Sam Paregian (Aug. 2, 1927 – Dec. 3, 2025) pictured spending his final Veterans Day in good company at Malcolm Media’s Tree & Vine Expo, Nov. 11, 2025, just weeks before his passing. His military service was publicly recognized at the event, as the Malcolm Family performed the National Anthem. Photo by Matthew Malcolm.
Sam Paregian was born on August 2, 1927 in Philadelphia to John and Bertha Paregian. He was the middle child and had an older sister, Agnes and younger brother Abe.
His father, John, connected with some of their relatives who had already come to Fresno, California and established themselves in farming. With the intention of providing a better life for his young family, John closed his grocery store in Philadelphia and headed to Fresno ahead of his family to get established. In 1940 he sent for his wife and children who traveled by train to join him. John built Penn Market right next door to their family home and Sam worked at his dad’s market after school and on weekends while he was in high school. Later he worked at Pep Boys, Earl Scheib sanding cars…