Obituary | Service Information | Slideshow | Photo Gallery | Guest Book
Eleonore Kaymakcian, affectionately known as “Elli,” died March 7, 2026 at age 77. Elli was born May 22, 1948, in Linz, Austria, to Berta and Herman Buschbeck. From an early age, she demonstrated remarkable strength and independence. As a young teenager, Elli faced and overcame a diagnosis of spinal cancer, enduring a prolonged stay in a hospital in Vienna. She later spoke of that time not only as a period of hardship, but also of connection — recalling the deep bonds formed within a caring community of fellow patients. It was during this period that she also connected with her half-sister, Bruni, who predeceased her and remained in Elli’s heart always.
Elli’s adventurous spirit emerged early. Inspired by her friendship with her English pen pal, Anne, she traveled to England as a teenager, where she further developed her love of language and culture. Not long after, she made the bold decision to cross the Atlantic alone, settling first in Cambridge, Boston, where she took classes at Harvard University. She later made her home in New York City, living on the Upper East Side. At a time when such independence was rare for someone so young, Elli’s courage, determination, and curiosity set her apart.
Through perseverance and hard work, Elli built a successful and varied career. She brought skill and dedication to every role she held — whether in sewing, administrative work, or business — always striving to excel and adapt.
In her early twenties, Elli met Arman Kaymakcian and his four sons and daughter. Swept up in his charm, she began a partnership that would span four decades. Together, they built a life that was never dull and one filled with adventure. Their marriage, passionate and dynamic, carried them through many ventures, including a hotel and restaurant, a carpet business, a jewelry business, and ultimately real estate. Their shared journey was as vibrant as it was enduring.
A lifelong learner, Elli never stopped pursuing knowledge. During her years in the jewelry business, she achieved a master’s degree in art history and later earned a degree in gemology from the Gemologic Institute of America — testaments to her intellectual curiosity and determination. She loved to stay informed, read widely, and continually expand her understanding of the world.
In retirement, Elli devoted herself to nurturing the deep, lasting friendships she had cultivated over decades — some dating back to her childhood. She often reflected on the love and support of her extended community, many of whom embraced her as family.
Elli’s beloved husband, Arman, passed away in 2019. She carried his memory with her, just as she did the many relationships that enriched her life.
Elli will be remembered for her resilience, her adventurous spirit, her intellect, and her enduring capacity for connection and love.
Virtual Celebration Of Life
Recorded Friday, May 22nd, 2026
12:00pm Eastern Time
Elli’s family invites you to view the virtual celebration of life service & reception to honor her life and legacy.
Slideshow
Photo Gallery
A few more pics..
More pictures…
More pictures
Whenever we spent time with Elli and Arman over the years, it was always filled with happiness, laughter, great stories and a lot of fun. My family and I grateful to have known them and loved them.
I miss Elli and I think about her often. It’s still strange that I can’t just pick up the phone and call her. She has always been such a special and beautiful light in our lives. She had a rare ability to make others feel seen, valued, and loved – like you were the only person in the room, when you were speaking with her. She approached life with so much courage, a fun sense of humor, and an open, curious heart.. and her routines! I loved the breakfast routines when I would visit her in Florida – eggs one day, oatmeal the next, eggs the next, oatmeal the next.. something I do now, myself! And all the different berries each morning, including how she introduced me to gooseberries, which I have now included in my breakfast as well. This always makes me smile. Her lasting impact with these little things will always be felt. I think about all the great times and experiences we shared and the lovely and lasting friendship that will always be with me and my family. We all will miss your wisdom, laughter, warmth, and the joy you brought into every room. God bless you, Elli.
Dear Elli,
I always remember with sincerety and gratitude the time when working as young „au pairs“ for families in Boston, we first met there in 1968 at the Austrian Center. This was the starting point when our ensuing and lifelong friendship emanated. In the course of several decades to follow, I always felt so happy to receive your kind invitations to come and meet in several places important to you, such as Manhattan, Asbury Park, Tenerife and Vienna. Even if there were long time stretches between our meetings, we always enjoyed an immediate rapport, formed by respect, humour and mutual understanding.
You had a great impact on me – I feel ever so lucky and happy to getting to know you.
You will be greatly missed and our thoughts are with you.
We ask your family to accept our heartfelt condolences with sympathy and love to all of you.
Eva with Helmut and family from Austria
We will always cherish our beautiful memories of Ellie’s joyful personality and of her welcoming character whenever we were around her. We send all of our love.
Liebe Lori ,auch wenn du nicht mehr bei uns bist, wünschen wir dir zu deinem Geburtstag alles Gute. Wir werden immer an dich dnken und in unserem Herzen behalten.
Gitti und Kurt
To a Beautiful Lady, who was a faithful Wife, Loving Mom, trusted freind, excellant business woman, and inspiration to all who knew her. We are rejoicing today, because your body and spirit are renewed. At this moment you are whole again, and walking through the Gardens in Heaven with Armenian, The Love of your life💐❤️. Love Christine
Ich erinnere mich als ich euch das erste mal 1987 getroffen habe, es war beeindruckend. Und bis jetzt, fast 4 Jahrzehnte später, war deine (eure) Freundschaft etwas Besonderes. Mit ‚Lore‘, wie wir dich nannten, konnte man über jedes Thema sprechen. Vor allem meine Kinder haben dich sehr gemocht.
Ich erinnere mich, Schwimmen zu gehen, war in den letzten Jahren dein Ein und Alles. Auch wenn du in Wien warst.
Wir alle hier denken an eine schöne, lustige Zeit zurück.
Wir werden immer an Dich denken, liebe Lore!
Elli & Arman
When I arrived in New York, my real work began with VanBusch, 30 years have passed, and guess who were the people who guided me all this journey, yes, you are right, it was Eleonore or Elli with more affection, Arman or Armando or Boby, as Elli used to tell him. We had many conversations, they were always different topics, family, politics, cooking, advice, ideas to solve problems, in short, I was never bored, although my English was not so good, in the end we always understood each other.
I wish they were still among us, but life is like that.
Dear Elli. Today is your day, your birthday. I wished we could celebrate it together, like my birthday. I will forever remember your laughter and the times when we laughed even at ordinary things., we made fun of the words I didn’t pronounce correctly, I see you walking along the pier, cooking together, spending time in the pool. It was amazing to experience these moments with you. Thank you for every moment we spent together. Thank you for all your love, support and light that you brought into my life. I miss you more than words can express. You will always have a place in my heart. I promise that I will carry your memory and everything you taught me with me for the rest of my life. I miss you very much. Happy birthday to heaven my dear Elli. Iveta
I miss you and I love you very much.
We’re so thankful Elli was part of our lives and family always.
A deep friendship connected her and my mom. When you know both of them it‘s clear why.
I will never forget the get togethers in my childhood. I‘m glad she came to Tenerife and met my little daughter a few years ago.
Love always 🌺
Mirella
Liebe Elli, in Wien habe ich Dich kennen- und schätzen gelernt! Dankeschön für die schöne Zeit mit Dir! Du bleibst in meinen Gedanken!
Bärbel
Sehr oft erinnere ich mich an die Zeit im “Armenian Royal Hotel” von 1983 und an meinen Besuch von 2012 in Asbury Park. — Elli war ein starker Charakter, fleißig und zielstrebig. — Es war bewundernswert, wie viel sie in ihrem Leben, trotz ihrer chronischen schweren Erkrankung, erreicht und geschaffen hat. — Ihr Leben war oft nicht leicht, zeitweise sogar sehr hart. – Und man konnte mit ihr über sehr viele Themen sprechen und schreiben. — Sie wird mir fehlen, und ich werde sie in guter Erinnerung behalten.
**************************
I often think back to my time at the Armenian Royal Hotel in 1983 and my visit to Asbury Park in 2012. Elli was a strong character, hardworking and determined. It was admirable how much she achieved and created in her life, despite her chronic, serious illness. Her life was often not easy, at times even very hard. And one could talk and write to her about so many topics. I will miss her, and I will cherish her memory.
Elli, Elenore Kaymakcian who had to live with an spinalcord disease since early childhood was a down to Earth person who never failed to interact with us, the family in any life situation – with or without understanding. She was strong in her very own way, never gave up on life, which she enduringly loved and enjoyed with her husband Arman, friends and family. Hard work and devotion made her an intellectually strong woman in every day life and business as well.
In Memory of Elli,
your Daughter in Law
Karin Kaymakcian
I think some people pass through our lives like seasons.
Elli was not a season. She was sunlight, just like her daughter Mari describes feeling for her mom.
I often find myself thinking about how lucky I was to have found her. Not everyone gets to experience a friendship so full, so generous, so alive. And yet, she entered my life at a time when hers was slowly slipping away.
We did not have much time. But what we had felt bigger than time.
Elli was my swimming buddy. Every day, no matter the mood of the sky, she would make her way to the pool. Elli said so many times that swimming keeps her alive.
In the mornings, I was looking forward to reading her text message or sending one to her, and just like that, the day had a shape, a promise, a plan to get together. I wanted more of her time than day could give.
Leaving Elli in the evenings always felt unfinished, like closing a beautiful book mid-sentence. Sometimes we talked so much that I would forget that I had a husband waiting at home. My husband Allan wondered what could possibly fill so many hours of conversation. Curiosity brought him to us. But it was not curiosity that kept him coming back , it was Elli. Her warmth, her way of making life feel larger than it was.
Elli had that effect on people. She carried something rare.
We were both completely captivated by her beautiful spirit and love.
No matter how she felt, Elli never complained about her pain. If anything, she would apologize, as though her pain were an inconvenience to others. Instead of dwelling on pain, she chose to speak about good things in life, and she had so much to say.
She filled our time with stories about friends she loved dearly, scattered across Austria, New Jersey, New York, Florida… She spoke of them so vividly that they felt close, like people I had somehow already met. Friendship, to Elli, was not casual. It was something to be treasured and celebrated.
Elli spoke of her beloved husband with so much love, keeping us entertained for hours with stories from their life together. And her daughter, Mari— her pride, her heart, and her kind husband Dani, who put their lives without hesitation on hold, surrounding Elli with care that was as constant as it was selfless.
Elli was wrapped in love. And she knew it. If love alone could have saved her, she would have lived forever.
I have never met anyone who embraced life the way she did. The smallest things delighted her. A meal was never just a meal— it was an experience, something so savor joyfully. A book was never just read, it was devoured, and then shared in long, excited conversation. Eli was curious about everything, hungry for every piece of life she could still reach.
She did not just live. She received life— fully, gratefully, without hesitation.
And in doing so, she changed how I understand friendship.
Elli taught me that a true friend does not judge. A true friend listens— not just with ears, but with presence. A friend comforts, brings warmth. Friendship should feel like a place where you can rest in. It should be mutual, generous, alive. It should feel like love.
That was Elli to me.
My husband Allan and I loved her deeply. We carry those days with us— the laughter, the conversation, the simple, beautiful rhythm of being together.
She is gone now, and yet… not really.
She lingers in the way I notice small joys.
In the way I listen more carefully.
In the way I love my friends.
Elli, you are missed every single day. You live in our hearts— steadily, quietly, forever.
Until we meet again.
Love,
Your friends, Allan and Seka Kaytes
Elli was a part of my life. Even when the children were small, we used to visit her in New York. We went on holidays together and spent wonderful times in both Vienna and Tenerife. Elli was one of my best friends and we had so much in common. I am very grateful to her. She will always be in my heart.
We will always hold our memories with you so close and dear to our heart! We miss you!