Obituary of Michael J. Dogum

MICHAEL J. of Glenolden, PA and Ocean View, DE died at the age of 83 in the company of his family on March 17, 2013 at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. After selling material door to door in Philadelphia and other jobs in the 1950's, he saved enough to start Dogum Rugs & Carpets in Glenolden which has been open since 1960. He was known as an artisan for whom "no job was too small" and to extend no interest credit on a handshake, sometimes indefinitely to those in need, well before the advent of big box stores. He serviced the jobs he sold forever and had customers from many generations of the same family. After he was introduced to Laila Philisposian through the efforts of a priest, Fr. Leo, he didn't waste time in proposing in a matter of months to what became his life long love and wife of 53 years whom, with the addition of his six children and ten grandchildren became his entire world. He was married and lived in West Philadelphia before putting down roots in Glenolden. Michael was known to work long hours but rarely missed an event or game for one of his children almost always finding the time though to change into a sport coat which he wore most of the time he was not kicking carpet or working in his garden. His presence was always felt on the sideline of his children's games and he was even captured once or twice on game film running the sideline in the direction of the play, of course, in his dress shoes and jacket. In addition to being survived by his wife, his surviving children are George of Glenolden, Dina Smith of Naples, FL (Thomas), Christine Barnabei, John of Glen Mills, PA (Alyssa), Lena Dogum, Michael of Media, PA ( Aberlyn). Michael's only real hobby was his garden where he would spend countless hours in the baking sun tending to his tomatoes and fig trees. He believed that if it came from the earth it was good so there was not a vegetable he did not try to grow or eat. He will be remembered as a deeply spiritual man whom had a plate on the front of his work truck that read "God Bless America" and whose parting words were very often "God be with You". God be with you Pop. There will be a private Funeral Mass for relatives at St. Sharbel Catholic Church and burial at SS. Peter and Paul Cem. in Springfield, PA on March 21, 2013. The family asks that donations in lieu of flowers be made in his name to St. Sharbel, 3679 Providence Road Newtown Square, PA 19073.