Five generations of the Atiyeh Family are intertwined with the history of Portland since 1900 to present.   The following lays out a brief and simplified history of Atiyeh Brothers and their connection to the Royal Rosarians.

 

In 1900 two brothers, George and Aziz Atiyeh set up a rug retail establishment in downtown Portland.  They found the Portland market, more than in other Northwest cities, to be hungry and in need of the quality handmade rugs they sold.  Their business thrived over the years.  In the mid twenties, Aziz Atiyeh moved to New York City, where he established a wholesale, rug distribution business. It was also called Atiyeh Bros., but it was a separate business that owned looms in Persia where they manufactured handmade rugs to their own designs and specifications.  The rugs were imported then distributed to retailers like us throughout the U.S.

 

George continued to operate the Retail business in Portland.  In 1921 George, Syrian by nationality and his Lebanese wife, Linda had two sons.  They were twins named Edward and Richard.  In 1923 they had a third son named Victor.  The three boys grew up uniquely close to one another.  It almost seemed like they were triplets, since Victor was generally physically the largest of the three.

 

When the US joined World War II Edward and Richard joined the service together where they trained together, traveled together and went into battle together.  Victor was younger and had a physical restriction.  He stayed in school at the University of Oregon until his father passed away in 1944.  In the meantime, Edward and Richard were captured at the Battle of the Bulge.  Richard was captured one day and Edward the next.  They were sent to different prison camps. This was the toughest six months of their lives and it would turn out to be the only time they would ever be separated.  Both survived the war, although neither knew of the status of the other during those difficult months. They returned home, worked together with little brother Victor in the family business for forty years and lived for those same forty years within blocks of each other in Southwest Portland.

 

In 1961 Richard was knighted into the Royal Rosarians under the rose Peace.  Everything he did was done well and it was not long before he was recognized by the leadership as an honest, hardworking member and in 1971 he served as the Prime Minister.  Extremely well respected, he continued to serve the organization in major capacities until he passed away in July of 2013 at the age of 92.  Throughout his life he was involved in many other civic, religious and political organizations including Lions International where he served his club as President.  Brother Edward was equally civic minded and served Rotary International as a District Governor.  Brother Victor served the State of Oregon as a two-term Governor and at his passing in 2014, we were astounded to learn about all the things for which he was honored.  Edward passed away in 2017 at the age of 96,  It has been a very giving family.

 

And now, moving toward the fifth generation of family ownership, the trend continues, in that Atiyeh employees are encouraged to give back to the community in numerous ways, and they do.   Family leadership is provided today by Tom Marantette, Vice-President Brian Marantette, and the current President of Atiyeh Bros. and Past President of the Portland Rose Festival Foundation and Past President of the Oregon Duck Club, Mark McGirr.  Brian and Mark oversee the Tigard retail operation, a full-service cleaning facility on SE Division in Portland and a full-service cleaning facility in Eugene.