Rozi Diane Berberian, age 38 of Rehoboth Beach, DE, passed away on Wednesday, July 22, 2020, at her home surrounded by her loving family after a courageous five-year battle with cancer. Together, with her husband by her side and the support of family and friends, she sought treatment across the country. Rozi exemplified courage and carried herself with dignity and grace. She was never afraid, and for that, she was known by those close to her as “Rambo Rozi.”
Rozi was born on February 1, 1982 in Gyumri, Armenia. She was the daughter of Sourik and Zaruhi Mkrtchian. In 1988, she moved to California with her family and attended school. While residing in Los Angeles, she met Jack, the love of her life. They married in 2004 and moved to Delaware, where they were blessed with four beautiful girls.
Rozi was active in her community and dedicated countless hours to planning charity events, such as the Beebe Ball and various fashion shows at Delaware Technical & Community College. She was a Certified Mastectomy Fitter and helped countless cancer patients over the years. She was an avid tennis player and loved to travel. She loved life and lived it to its fullest—finding joy and laughter all around her. Rozi was a loving and devoted wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend. She was loved by many and will be deeply and genuinely missed by all who had the good fortune of knowing her.
In addition to her parents, Rozi is survived by her beloved husband of 16 years, Jack Berberian; her daughters: Isabella, Grace, Gia and Lily. She is also survived by her brother Martin Mkrtchian, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends whom she considered family, and her loyal canine companion, Lola.
Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, July 28th at 12:15 PM at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90068.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions in Rozi’s memory to the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF), 149 5th Avenue, Suite 500, New York, NY 10010.
Friends and relatives are also invited visit and sign her online guestbook.
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It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved father, brother, uncle, relative and friend Ohanes Petrossian, who passed away on Monday July 27, 2020, after a long illness. He was born on September 12, 1933 in Tabriz, Iran.
Funeral service will take place on Tuesday, August 11, at 11 a.m. at St. Kevork Armenian Church, 1434 W. Kenneth Road, Glendale, CA 91201. Interment will follow at Hollywood Hills Forest Lawn Mortuary Park.
He is survived by his:
Daughter, Suzy Petrossian and Raul Fundora
Son, Victor Petrossian
Brother, Martik and Ellik Petrossian and family
Brother, Raffi and Anahid Petrossian and family
He was preceded in death by his wife, Nazik Petrossian in 1996; his eldest son, Armen in 2003; his sister, Mano Devletian in 2014 and her husband Noubar Devletian in 2009.
And the entire Petrossian, Devletian, Papazian, Nazarian and Avakian families, relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Soorp Khatch Armenian Apostolic Church, 4906 Flint Drive, Bethesda, MD 20816; the ANCA; or Armenia Fund (proceeds will go toward the Stepanakert Rehabilitation Center. Checks should be made out to Armenia Fund. In memo section, please indicate “Stepanakert Rehab Center.” Please mail your checks to: Suzy Petrossian, 8547 Glencrest Dr., Sun Valley, CA 91352).
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The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Eastern Region Central Committee and the ARF Washington “Sebouh” Gomideh extend their condolences to the entire Petrossian family.
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The late George Kamajian and Alice (nee Deradoorian) Kamajian
George Krikor Kamajian of Thousand Oaks, California (formerly of Havertown, Pennsylvania) passed away peacefully on July 30, 2020. Husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, he was born in Troy, New York to Nerses and Amelia Kamajian (Aintab, Turkey). He was four weeks shy from celebrating his 99th birthday. He was predeceased by his wife, Alice Deradoorian (Pawtucket, Rhode Island) and is survived by two sons, Dr. Steven Kamajian (Margaret Mooradian) of Glendale, California, and Dr. George Kamajian and his wife Debra of Clearwater, Florida. George was a loving grandfather to George, Lily (Joe Lamagna), Natalie, Derek, Ani, Janae and Jacqueline. He was also blessed with three great-grandchildren: Elle, Joseph and Leonardo. Loving nieces and nephews mourn his loss as well.
George was one of the last of the ‘greatest generation’ having served his country in two wars (WWII and Korea) in the Army Air Corps, later named the Air Force. A member of the 418th Night Fighter Squadron, he served as a radar operator aboard a P-61 Black Widow flying missions over the Pacific Theater in WWII. Combat wounded and in recognition of his service to his country, George was awarded a number of combat service medals. At the time of Honorable Discharge, he had earned the rank of 1st Lieutenant.
He met the love of his life (“my Alice,” he’d say) at an Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) dance in Boston; they got married on Christmas Day. He graduated from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. He retired as a senior agent for New York Life Insurance Company, a CLU (Certified Life Underwriter) and was a member of their Million Dollar Round Table. He was a tireless servant of the church, serving on the Board of Trustees for St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church in Philadelphia, that Church’s national representative, and editor and founder of the Illuminator, St Gregory’s newsletter.
George was active in community life on both the east and west coasts of the United States and quietly supported Armenian causes and especially Armenians in need wherever he found them. He was an avid reader, collector of stamps and coins, master carpenter and woodworker; he also loved to draw. His musical taste ranged widely from Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey to big band and opera. Every weekend the house radio was tuned to the Metropolitan Opera broadcast performance. He woke up at 5 am every day (“we had to get up that time for the army so don’t complain”), put on the radio and listen to music. He would fan coals for hours to make the best shish kebab in the world and never ever used a fire starter. He would never eat fish or hot dogs (“I worked in a processing plant. You have no idea how they’re made”). He bought a new car every two years and lived modestly. (“There’s only two ways to have money: Earn it and don’t spend it and earning it is the hard way”). He loved to travel the world. It was common for him to come home early from work with a trailer hitched to the family car and take a spontaneous 3500-mile road trip or jaunt to the Jersey beaches before there was an Atlantic City Expressway. He smoked cigars and drank Rock and Rye with his war buddies only. He loved fixing anything that was broken. He believed in hard work and education. He was a generous host and loved to entertain family and friends.
He was loved by many and will be deeply and genuinely missed by all who had the good fortune of knowing him.
Graveside services at Swan Point cemetery in Providence, Rhode Island are postponed because of the pandemic. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church, 8701 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19128
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By Kristine Martirosyan-Olshansky and Emily Uyeda Kantrim
On August 1, 2020, the field of Armenian archaeology lost one of its most dedicated scholars, Dr. Gregory E. Areshian. He was a member of the UCLA community since 2001 serving as the inaugural Director of the UCLA Research Program in Armenian Archaeology and Ethnography, Assistant Director of the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, editor of Backdirt, a visiting scholar and an Adjunct Associate Professor in the department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures.
Areshian’s archaeological career started at an extraordinarily early age with his first archaeological site visit to Teishebiani (Karmir Blur) when he was five years old. Due to his close familial connection with archaeologist Boris Piotrovsky, Areshian began to “work” in archaeological excavations every summer at the age of 11 and directed excavations in his own trench at the age of 14. The enthusiasm of his youth carried into his studies as he became the youngest person to graduate with a PhD from the Institute of Archaeology of the National Academy of Sciences of the USSR in Leningrad (St. Petersburg) at the age of 26 in 1975.
During his long and distinguished career Areshian published more than 150 scholarly works in five different languages with his first peer-reviewed paper published at the age of 20. His work, spanning the Neolithic to the High Middle Ages, was mostly devoted to topics in the social sciences and the humanities, including the archaeology of the Near East, Eastern Mediterranean, southeastern Europe and Central Asia from the Neolithic to the High Middle Ages. Other publications focus on interdisciplinary linguistic-archaeological-folkloric and art-historical reconstructions of ancient Near Eastern and Indo-European mythologies, interdisciplinary studies of social contexts of the development of ancient technologies, applications of natural sciences in archaeology, as well as theory and methodology in archaeology and human adaptive responses to changes in the natural environment. Areshian also wrote on the interactions between nomads and sedentary civilizations of Eurasia, long-term trends in history and trajectories of social complexity, visual arts and architecture of Ancient Near East, Armenian history and the ancient and medieval empires of the Near East and Eurasia. His last edited volume focusing on multidisciplinary study of empires was published by the Cotsen Press in 2013.
Areshian directed and participated in a number of archaeological field projects in Armenia, Georgia, Syria, Egypt and Central Asia. The UCLA-IAEY excavations of the Neolithic settlement of Masis Blur was his most recent undertaking, but he is best known for his work at the world-renowned Areni-1 cave complex which produced the oldest known examples of wine making (6100 BCE) and intact leather shoe (3600 BCE).
Gregory pouring libations to Arkhaiologia on the first day of excavations at the Masis Blur Neolithic settlement in 2012
Areshian distinguished himself as a successful institution-builder and administrator at different levels, establishing and directing the Center for Archaeological Research at Yerevan State University, serving as Deputy Director of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences, the First Vice Director General of the Directorate of Antiquities of the Republic of Armenia, and Minister of State/Deputy Prime Minister in the government of the independent Republic of Armenia. It was his passion for Armenian archaeology, his dedication to educating future generations of scholars and his ability to engage with people outside of academia that resulted in the establishment of the Research Program for Armenian Archaeology and Ethnography at UCLA.
He taught a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses in history, archaeology and anthropology at the University of Chicago, University of Wisconsin, University of California at Los Angeles, University of California, Irvine and Yerevan State University.
Since his 2016 return to living full time in Yerevan, Armenia, Areshian became a member of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia and regularly taught and held salons with students of the American University of Armenia where he serves as professor of history and archaeology in the College of the Humanities and Social Sciences.
His personal archive has made permanent contributions to the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago at the Gregory E. Areshian Reading Room, as the Founding Director of the UCLA Research Program in Armenian Archaeology and Ethnography (Research Center for Armenian Archaeology) and as a co-founder of ARAMAZD, the Armenian Journal of Near Eastern Studies.
Gregory will be sorely missed by his friends, colleagues, students, and most of all, of course, by his family. He is survived by his sons Alex and Tigran.
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Alice (Ekmekjian) Vosgerichian of Belmont, Massachusetts passed away peacefully after a brief illness on September 16, 2020. She was 72 years old.
She was the beloved wife of the late Garo Vosgerichian. Alice is survived by her devoted and loving son Dr. George Vosgerichian and her dear sister Ardemis Ekmekjian—both of Belmont. She also leaves behind many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who were like family.
Alice was a devoted member of St. Stephen’s Armenian Church in Watertown and a member of the Ladies Guild where she volunteered countless hours at the church. She was an active member her local Armenian community with the Armenian Relief Society (ARS), National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) and Armenian Museum of America (AMA). She was beloved by all who knew her and will be greatly missed.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and public safety measures, funeral services will be held privately for the family. Expressions of sympathy may be made in her memory to St. Stephen’s Armenian Church, 32 Elton Ave., Watertown, MA 02472 or St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School (SSAES), 47 Nichols Ave., Watertown, MA 02472.
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Harout Arabian passed peacefully in his home on Tuesday, September 29, 2020 at the age of 88. He was the loving husband to his lovely wife Mary (Avakian) Arabian. Devoted father of Siran Cormier and her husband David, Hovig Arabian and his wife Nyree and Hourig Soukiasian and her husband Vartan. Proud and loving grandfather of Alexis, Garen, Gregory, Sarene, Sevan and Meliney. Brother of Alice Poladian and the late Louder Arabian. He also leaves behind many loving nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
Harout was born on March 10, 1932 in Beirut, Lebanon to Onnig and Siran Arabian, who immigrated to Beirut from Afyonkarahisar in Central Turkey during the Armenian Genocide. After losing his parents at a young age, Harout started working to help provide for the family. He met his wife Mary in 1964; they wed that same year. Their family grew with the birth of their children—Siran, Hovig and Hourig. They lived a good life in Lebanon until the Civil War. In 1976, the young family moved to the United States and settled in Watertown, Massachusetts. Harout was the owner of Chrome Plating in Waltham where he continued his craft of rebuilding classic cars. In retirement, he enjoyed spending quality time with his beloved wife of 55 years and watching his six grandchildren grow up and thrive in their studies and their communities. Every morning, he’d meet his friends for coffee at their favorite spot. On Wednesday evenings, you could find him at the ACEC in Watertown, volunteering to help with the Bingo games.
At the age of four, Harout joined Homenetmen and served as a dedicated member throughout his life. He went through the ranks of Scouts and eventually became a tough competitor in track. He went on to help lead the organization for more than a decade on the executive bodies of both the Boston Homenetmen Chapter and the East Coast Regional Executive. Everyone loved and admired Yeghpayr Harout—a generous, compassionate and highly respected community leader. He was a dear friend to many in Homenetmen and beyond and truly embodied the spirit of the organization: Բարձրացի՛ր, Բարձրացուր (“Elevate Yourself and Elevate Others with You”). During Homenetmen’s centennial anniversary in 2018, Yeghpayr Harout was honored along with 19 of his fellow members in the Eastern Region with the Dzarayoutyan Shkanshan (Service Medallion).
Harout Arabian will always be remembered as a proud and loyal member of his local Armenian community and a faithful servant of Watertown’s St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church, where private funeral services were held on Friday, October 2. Harout’s casket, flanked by a pair of young scouts, was also draped with the Homenetmen flag. In an emotional and final sign of respect, senior members sang “Harach Nahadag” moments before the funeral procession to Watertown’s Ridgelawn Cemetery. Memorial donations can be sent to Homenetmen Boston, 47 Nichols Ave., Watertown, Mass., 02472.
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Sarkis Kevork Garibian, beloved husband of the late Mary Garibian, passed away on Tuesday, September 29, 2020, surrounded by his four children. He was 89 years old.
The son of orphans, survivors of the 1915 Armenian Genocide, Sarkis, from his early years, exhibited a gift for mathematics and competitive sports, especially basketball, tennis, boxing and ping pong. His athletic career culminated as a key member of the Iraqi National Basketball team, medaling in the 1951 Pan Arabian games in Cairo, Egypt.
Sarkis emigrated to the United States in 1956. Soon after, his future bride Mary also came to the US. They were married in 1958, had four children, and eventually became proud American citizens. Sarkis earned his Electrical Engineering Degree from Indiana Tech University and a Master of Science in Applied Mathematics from North Carolina State University. Sarkis held various engineering positions at Solutia Corp (formerly Monsanto), eventually retiring as Manager of Research Information Systems in 1991.
While Sarkis built a successful career at Solutia, his entrepreneurial spirit was always churning. Even after graduating from Baghdad College (an American Jesuit High School), Sarkis co-founded an automotive spare parts distributorship in Baghdad. In 1989, Sarkis and Mary, became the primary investors in their son’s start-up, Applied PC Systems, which eventually found itself on the Inc 500 list. After retiring from Solutia in 1991, Sarkis started the Computer Resource Group unit of Applied PC, that focused on IT staff outsourcing.
As a proud Armenian-American, Sarkis was active in his community. He was a lifelong member of the Armenian Apostolic Church, ARS and ARF. He was Chairman of the Board of Trustees and a member of the Eastern Prelacy Council.
Of course, anyone who knew Sarkis, knew that family was truly the focus of his life. He loved watching his children and grandchildren grow up and lead successful lives as students and adults. He will be greatly missed.
He is survived by his son Edward, daughter-in-law Tanya, and grandchildren, Eddie John, Anna and Nairi Garibian; his daughter Rosemarie, her husband Krikor, and their children, Sarkis and Sona Halajian; his daughter Lenna, her husband Aram, and their daughters Gayane and Arevig Kaligian; and his daughter Hasmig and her husband Zareh, and their sons, Armen and Raffi Samurkashian. He is also survived by his caring brother Ara Garibian of Palm Beach Gardens, FL. He is predeceased by his brother Dikran Garibian.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, funeral services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in Sarkis’ name may be made to St. Gregory Armenian Church, 135 Goodwin Street, Indian Orchard, MA 01151 or to the Armenian National Committee of America, 1711 N St. NW, Washington, DC 20036. Wilbraham Funeral Home has been entrusted with all arrangements.
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Lovingly submitted by children Sylvia Tanielian, Alan Tanielian, and Darcy Tanielian.
Beautiful young people are acts of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art. Such was our mother who passed away peacefully on September 2nd at the age of 96.
It was July 11th in the midst of the roaring twenties that our mother was born into her awaiting family: parents Krikor and Mariam and brother John. A year later she became a big sister to Takouye.
Our mother spent much of her youth and young adulthood in Chicago on Flournoy Street. The street was lined with rental units like theirs, and each one seemed to have a different nationality as an occupant. The neighborhood was our mother’s first classroom as families frequently exchanged their customs, cuisine and a bit of their language: lessons which were never-ending. Her formal education concluded in 1942 when she graduated from Flower Technical High School. As a teen, she worked various jobs, but it was in her early twenties that she took on the most important job of her lifetime. Our mother was one of the many staff members at the University of Chicago who worked on the Manhattan Project. In August 1945 her contribution was acknowledged by the US War Department, US Army Corps of Engineers. It is often recognized that the atomic bomb was instrumental in hastening the end of World War II.
Three years later her family moved to Berwyn, Illinois. That same year, our mother married her love, Edward Tanielian. They settled in Deerfield, Illinois where the difference between living in the city versus living in the country could not be more striking; adjusting was yet another lesson presented by circumstance, and she did so willingly and gracefully.
Our maternal grandfather and great-grandfather were deacons at the Armenian Church in West Pullman and Chicago, so her love for the church is no surprise. She joined the AYF at an early age and was honored as Queen of their Olympics twice. She was also a member of the Armenian Relief Society and Ladies Guild, and she volunteered much of her time between these organizations when not rehearsing with the choir. Additionally, the Taniel Varoujan Armenian School was the recipient of her dedication as well. Our mother was never without an idea and suggestion or two.
Our mother loved to crochet, tat and knit. About 30 years ago, one of her crocheted doilies won first place at the Lake County Fair. In the 21st century, she took the same award for her apple pie in a contest so named by The Farmers Market held in Deerfield.
Our mother had a very welcoming and loving heart which she eagerly shared as second mother to Carol Koloian. Daughter of the heart, Carol was very young when she started living with us as her parents recovered from their injuries after a serious car accident. Seamlessly, our mother became Carol’s biggest supporter throughout her life: the loss of our mother shattered her world.
Death leaves a heartache no one can heal; love leaves a memory no one can steal.
Remembering Ungerouhi Julia Eshkonian
It was with great sorrow that we heard of the passing of U. Julia Eshkonian on September 2, 2020. With U. Julia’s death, the ARS Zabelle Chapter and its sister organizations, the Armenian All Saints Apostolic Church, and Chicago at-large have lost a valuable and unparalleled member of the community.
For decades, U. Julia served on the executive board of our local ARS chapter with dignity and grace. Among many positions she held, including secretary of the executive board, she also served as a delegate to Eastern Region conventions and as a member of the Eastern Region executive board for two terms.
As an extension of her duties as an ARS member, U. Julia served on the board of our local Armenian day school, Taniel Varoujan Armenian School (TVAS), with many years as School Board chairperson. Her positivity and composure lent a strong and stable leadership to the school, continuing to educate generations of Chicago youth.
However, perhaps her most lasting gift to Taniel Varoujan Armenian School is its spelling bee. It was U. Julia who conceived of the highly-anticipated annual event. In 2014, TVAS honored U. Julia by officially naming the spelling bee, “Julie Eshkonian Annual Spelling Bee.”
Additionally, for many years she served on the Church Ladies Guild executive board as the treasurer.
With her kind, humble and overwhelmingly positive demeanor, U. Julia was well-liked and respected by the community as a whole.
Rest in peace U. Julia, you served your community very well. Your memory and legacy will stay alive in our hearts. The ARS and Armenian School will continue the work that you left behind, following your dedication and your enthusiasm for our youth and the future of the Armenian nation.
On behalf of the ARS Zabelle Chapter, we express our deepest sympathy to U. Julia’s children, grandchildren and family members.
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On Thursday, October 29, 2020, Yevgine Gharibian—daughter of Alec and Iskouhi Zarifian and loving wife of the late Jirair Gharibian—passed away at the age of 84 after a short illness. Yevgine was born in Rasht, Iran where she attended elementary and high school, then went on to college in London, England. There, she met and married Jirair, and they eventually moved to the US and settled in Watertown, MA. Yevgine was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Jirair, and her three brothers: Alfred, Shahen and Rouben. She is survived by 14 nieces and nephews, most of whom are living with their respective families in California, but also in England, Wales, Canada and Watertown, MA.
Yevgine’s husband Jirair founded the Armenian Independent Broadcasting of Boston in 1980. After his untimely death in 1991, Yevgine took over and became the director right up until her death and thankfully was able to see the 40th anniversary celebration come to fruition. Through the years, she has received numerous medals and accolades for her hard work and dedication. Yevgine was also an active member of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS).
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, private funeral services were held at St. Stephen’s Church in Watertown, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Armenia Fund via the Armenian radio by sending checks payable to The Armenian Independent Broadcasting of Boston—PO BOX #46, Watertown, MA. 02172 or to St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School, 76 Nichols Ave, Watertown, MA. 02472.
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With profound sadness we announce the passing of Vasken Basmajian, Sr. of Weston MA, on November 5, 2020. He was the beloved husband of Shoghig (Apelian) Basmajian and devoted father of Vasken Basmajian, Jr.
Born in Aleppo, Syria on Dec. 14, 1941, he got married in Lebanon and immigrated to the United States with his wife in 1970. He dedicated his life to his family and his successful business, BBC Printing & Products. He was the loving brother of Vahan and Sandra Basmajian and children; Vasken, Varant and Lorig. Brother-in-law of Ani Apelian and children; Armen Apelian and family, Eileen Hamalian and family; and Harry Salibian and his son Dr. David Salibian and family. He is also survived by many cherished friends.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and current public safety measures, a private funeral service will be held at Saint Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church in Watertown with a private Interment to follow at Linwood Cemetery in Weston. Social distancing and face masks will be required for everyone’s safety to comply with federal and state public health and safety measures.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School or St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church in Watertown, MA.
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Esther “Stitch” Vosgerchian passed away peacefully in her sleep on the morning of November 11, 2020 at her residence, American House, in Dearborn Heights, at the age of 97.
A beloved teacher of Armenian dance to generations of people, Stitch is remembered as a “big sister” by many. She was active in the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) and, in her younger years, participated in the AYF Olympics. She was involved with fundraising and event planning for many important causes and served on various committees, where her hard work and organization skills served others well.
Beloved daughter of the late Ohannes and Kegoohie Vosgerchian. Dear sister of the late Roxie Vosgerchian and the late Dr. Aram “Buzz” Vosgerchian. Loving aunt of Lynn Marentette, Karen Roberts and Gregory Vosgerchian. Esther was also blessed with six great nieces and nephews, one great nephew, a number of cousins and many other relatives and friends.
Arrangements are in the care of Simon Javizian Funeral Directors. Funeral services will take place in St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church, 19300 Ford Road, Dearborn, MI 48128 on November 17, 2020, with Fr. Hrant Kevorkian officiating. Interment is at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit.
Memorial donations can be sent to either St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church or to the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) c/o the church address.
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A devoted patriot and philanthropist, Dr. Hratch Manoukian was a Vanetsi at heart, always following news of Armenia and supporting numerous efforts in the homeland. Hratch always believed in strengthening Armenia and Artsakh, rebuilding and improving the lives of Armenians. He leaves his wife Shoghig (Azirian) of Essex Fells, NJ, sons Viken and Shahe, daughter Lara, as well as grandchildren, extended family and friends from all corners of the Armenian Diaspora.
During these difficult times in our homeland, the Manoukian family has asked that donations in lieu of flowers be made to the Tufenkian Foundation, 20 Capitol Drive, Moonachie, NJ 07074. All donations will go toward Artsakh relief and will be matched by the Manoukian family.
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Najarian, Alice (Telian) of Central Falls, Rhode Island, formerly of Waltham, MA passed away on December 23, 2020.
Beloved wife of the late Michael Najarian Sr. Devoted mother of Michael Jr. and his wife Kerry; Gary and his wife Mary Ellen; Stephen; David; Robert and his wife Robin; Richard and his wife Joanne.
Loving grandmother of Alex, Jonathan, Kathryn, Marisa, Matthew, Lauren, Michael III and Katie. Great grandmother of Elliott and Anna.
Sister of the late Harry B. Telian. Also survived by many loving nieces, nephews and good friends including the caring staff at the Mansion Nursing Home.
Alice was a longtime member of Saint Stephen’s Ladies Guild. In addition to spoiling her grandchildren, Alice enjoyed bowling and playing tennis with her friends and telling a good joke. Alice will truly be missed by everyone.
Private funeral services will be held at Saint Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church, Watertown. Burial to follow at Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, current public health and safety measures will be followed. Social distancing and facemasks will be required for everyone’s safety.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Saint Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church, 38 Elton Avenue, Watertown, MA 02472.
Arrangements by Aram Bedrosian Funeral Home, Watertown.
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Hripsime (DerVartanian) Badrikian passed away peacefully on January 1, 2021.
Hripsime was born on June 20, 1920 in the Armenian province of Kharpert. After the death of her husband, the late Asadour Badrikian, Hripsime immigrated to the United States in the 1970s with her children and her brother, the late Neshan DerVartanian. The family settled in Watertown, Massachusetts where Hripsime planted roots in the Armenian community through the St. Stephen’s Armenian Church.
Hripsime was a devoted mother to Sarkis Badrikian and the late Moushegh Badrikian, Zohrab Badrikian and Varoujan Badrikian. She is survived by her son Sarkis, his wife Yeghsapet, and her daughters-in-law, Maida (Sanjian) Badrikian, Aida (Barsoyan) Badrikian, Enna (Pilavdjian) Badrikian, respectively. She was also predeceased by Moushegh’s late wife, Lucine (Sahagian) Badrikian.
Hripsime was blessed with nine grandchildren—Arshag, Silva, Hripsime, Salpi, Asador, Asadour, Taline, Shant and Vicken. She loved them dearly as she did their spouses, Shoghig, Armen, Garo, Ted, Lucy, Christiane, Reid and Tanya, respectively. These loving relationships bore 16 adoring great-grandchildren—Vrej, Raffi, Alina, Alex, Jacqueline, Angelina, Moushegh, Andre, Apraham, Leah, Ayden, Tyler, Areni, Reid IV, Ariana and Karina—and one great-great-grandchild, Rayan, the son of Alex and his wife Ayeshah.
She is also survived by the families of her late brothers—the late Garabed DerVartanian, his wife Hasmig DerVartanian, their children Arpi, Suzy, Bedros and Betty, and their respective spouses and children; the late Neshan DerVartanian, his wife the late Satenig DerVartanian, their children the late Krikor DerVartanian and his wife Nazeli DerVartanian, their children, Vahe, Ani and Haig, and their respective spouses and children. She also leaves behind her dear niece Tamar (DerVartanian) Boghosian, who welcomed Hripsime into her home and looked after her for the past five years.
Hripsime was a proud and generous member of the community and a tireless supporter of the Armenian church. She loved baking and cooking Armenian foods and shared everything she made with the people around her. She worked, baking at least part-time, at Eastern Lamejun until she retired eight years ago. Hripsime died at the age of 100 filled with the undying love of her family. Her love for her family and her devout faith in God remained constant until her last day.
Funeral and cemetery services are private. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, current public health and safety measures will be followed. Social distancing and face masks will be required for everyone’s safety. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Hripsime’s memory can be made to St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church, 38 Elton Avenue, Watertown, MA.
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Guest contributions to the Armenian Weekly are informative articles or press releases written and submitted by members of the community.
Every Armenian community has at least one or the other, a king or a queen in each generation; those rare individuals are perennial leaders who succeed in anything with which they choose to be involved. Esther “Stitch” Vosgerchian was one of those in her generation, the first generation born and educated in America, the children of the genocide survivors. One foot in the “Old Country” and the other in the USA, educated here and inculcated in the spirit of both cultures.
Like my own two sisters of that same generation, born in the early and mid 1920s, they acted as translators for their parents, relatives and their friends, and especially for those unmarried bachelors from the coffee houses, the “serjaran.” In this environment in 1933 all three joined the “Nejdeh Tzeghagrons,” which came to be known as the TZs. In 1933, Karekin Nejdeh was sent from Bulgaria by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) to create a national patriotic youth organization associated with the ARF to be organized in North America, and he named them the Tzeghagrons.
The translation means: the name of the founder, General Karekin Nejdeh, a pre-WWI Czarist military officer known as General Nejdeh because of his prowess to create the Armenian Republic in 1918, Tzeghagrons is derived from a contrived Armenian compound word that he created from “tzegh,” meaning race, and “gronk,” meaning religion.
Esther became the leader the ARF wanted to develop through the TZs, embodying its goals in the Detroit community, where she became the fulfillment of their promise to promote a cadre of young Armenian American leaders for the burgeoning Armenian communities of the USA and Canada. In1940, the TZs name was changed to the Armenian Youth Federation, in short, the AYF.
“Stitch” became a well known upfront leader with a no-holds-barred manner of speech, always adding some unnecessary vociferousness. In short, she was always curt and a very big doer; most talkers are not doers. She was a rare leader who not only had ideas but knew how to execute them into reality. She was always critical and opinionated with caustic expressions, in short, a teacher who at the same time did not suffer fools.
In 1957, I was on the Niagara Falls AYF Olympic Committee, so when I moved to Detroit to attend college in 1960, it was useful for me to be on the 1961 AYF Detroit Olympic Committee. That committee had two advisors, one Detroit King, Aram “Sonny” Gavoor, and one Queen, Esther “Stitch” Vosgerchian. This was my lucky introduction to these two marvelous teachers as our organizational advisers, and here are a couple of examples of how we functioned. We were a committee of seven AYFers and two senior advisers who met weekly with progress reports. As the ad book chairman, I was asked about a particular person by Stitch. When I indicated no success, she said she would take care of it, challenging my ability.
At the next weekly meeting under the topic of the ad book, we asked about her effort, and she reported that she was successful. We asked how she did it. She said he bought a full page ad for his business and explained, “I just called him a cheap son of a bitch, that his father (a deceased ARFer) would not be happy with him, and anyway, the ad is a business deduction for you.”
These examples make my point; she had a very sharp tongue with many memorable expressions. For those involved individuals who immigrated from other places to Detroit like myself, she called us “Johnny Come Latelys.” For those who got involved late in life like the men who formed the ARF Woodrow Wilson Gomideh, she called us the “Cloak and Dagger” Gomideh, because we did not meet at the church, but rented a room at the Dearborn Community Center. These were not derogatory statements, just factual ones.
Here is an example of both she and Sonny being great teachers: seven of us were gathered around a table at the ARF “Civic Center Club” on Linwood Avenue in Detroit, and one of us wanted to change a decision from a previous meeting! We had to check the minutes of that previous meeting to locate the maker of the original motion to agree to retract his/her motion, then the person who seconded the motion, who refused to withdraw the second. This is when you get the meaning of going to school with them; from this meeting you would have thought we were a committee of the US Congress or the British Parliament.
Among her many talents, Stitch was a great dancer; she seemed to always lead the dance lines and knew all the various steps of the original village dances of the genocide survivor generation, which was very prominent in Detroit and not anywhere else. Stitch not only out-talked and out-worked most of us, she also out-danced all of us with her distinctive vertical hopping style.
Unusual for women at that time, in the early 1950s Esther joined the ARF Antranig Gomideh, one of the first English-speaking committees formed after World War II In Detroit. There she was very active in the American Committee for the Independence of Armenia (ACIA), the forerunner of today’s Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). Eventually, she concentrated her efforts with the AYF and the building of the St. Sarkis Church in Dearborn, Michigan of which she was a lifelong active member.
Esther “Stitch” Vosgerchian passed away on November 11, 2020, a month shy of her 98th birthday. Almost a centenarian, she never married and had no children or grandchildren. Sadly, not many of her generation were left, along with a handful of others, to attend her funeral mass. With the exception of her nephew from a deceased brother and his three children, I was the only other person to attend her burial service with Der Hayr Hrant Kevorkian.
As I placed my flower on her casket and said, “Togh hoghuh tehtev ka koo ajoonnerit vrah,” I am sure she said, “Thanks for coming, Johnny Come Lately!” I still remember the gift she and her sister Roxie gave me and my wife for our wedding 56 years ago.
“Yertas Parov,” Stitch. I bet you are still the drum majorette leading the Armenian parade in heaven as you did here on earth in Detroit.
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Guest contributions to the Armenian Weekly are informative articles or press releases written and submitted by members of the community.
Armenian historian Mardiros “Mardig” Maadenjian died at his home in Pasadena, California on New Year’s Day. He was 82 years old. He is survived by Ardemis—his wife of 60 years—his son Hovsep, his daughters Hourik and Vartenie Maadenjian-Kasparian and her family in Montreal, Canada. Mardig also has three sisters who live in Canada, California and Armenia.
Mardig was the first child of Armenian Genocide survivors, both orphaned on the six-week death march from their town of Chepni in Western Armenia to Syria in 1915. His father Hovsep and his mother Varteni Sarian lost their entire families during the massacre. They ended up in orphanages in Lebanon and did not meet until their late teens.
After a career as a surveyor, Mardig emigrated with his widowed mother and his family to the US in 1986. He settled in Pasadena, California where he served as the editor of an Armenian-English publication for five years. His multilingual skills were prodigious; he could read, write and converse in seven languages, including Arabic and Turkish, and authored books in both Armenian and English. In his later years, he worked as a librarian.
It wasn’t until his mother passed away in 2001 that he became compelled to tell the story of the Genocide and reveal the bloody pogrom of the Turkish government. His mother never revealed the horrors she had lived through in 1915; she felt they were too awful to ever talk about. Once, while being interviewed on camera by history students from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), she provided some details, but never really shared them with her children. Later, the video did inspire Mardig to research and write her story.
Driven by a visceral urge, Mardig spent 12 years and $40,000 traveling the world searching for survivors or their children he could interview. He retraced the entire path of the death march traversed by the citizens of Chepni and flew as far away as Tahiti and France to track down scattered Armenians. The impressive result, among his other books, is a revealing, detailed trilogy entitled Ravished Paradise. They now stand as Mardig’s legacy, a stark blend of history and painful personal memories.
Ravished Paradise: Forced March to Nothingness is Volume I, running from the fall of Cilicia to Muslims in 1375, through World War I and the Genocide of 1915, to the early 1920s with survivors in Lebanon. Be warned, the brutality of the atrocities is graphic. In her 2019 Armenian Weekly book review, Lucine Kasbarian writes, “In speaking of the savagery of genocide, Madenjian does not sugarcoat his words…” Chairman of the US House of Representatives Intelligence Committee Adam Schiff says, “His book makes an important contribution towards the scholarship of the genocide and provides an intimate look at this dark chapter in human history.” Kirkus Reviews lauded the work, “The fight to have the Armenian Genocide recognized as such continues, and this powerful work will undoubtedly help to further the cause.” This title won first place in the history category of the annual Hollywood Book Festival in 2016. Initial copies of Ravished Paradise, distributed by Baker and Taylor, were snapped up by librarians at Harvard, UC Berkeley, UCLA, Texas and other universities.
Reclaiming Ravished Paradise: Armenian Genocide Aftermath comprises Volume II and covers World War II, survivors’ tough lives in Lebanon and the longing to return to their homeland. His father Hovsep meets his bride-to-be Varteni. They marry, and after two miscarriages Mardig is born. The difficulties of refugees in Beirut envelop the budding family even though Hovsep is a leader in the community. Armenia achieves independence from France, but a happy homecoming is not guaranteed. Kirkus Reviews reports, “Madenjian always expertly catalogs the aching desire of the Armenian diaspora to return home, as well as its diminishing likelihood; he also addresses their demand that their brutal mistreatment by Turkey be properly acknowledged, if not redressed. His command of the historical record is extraordinary…” This title also was recognized by the Hollywood Book Festival in 2017.
Quest for Ravished Paradise, Volume III narrates Mardig’s return to his grandparents’ village of Chepni, now inside Turkey, in 2007. Unlikely as it sounds, he is welcomed by the Turkish mayor of the town who puts him up in his home. The purpose of the trip is to retrace the route of the death march and match the sites with the stories he has already recorded, but he is frightened when he reads that Christians are still being murdered. The book is interwoven again with historical references as he drives cross country with the mayor’s son. The power of the book lies in the reactions of the people who meet him, 93 years after every Armenian was forcibly taken away; some folks are startled to see one still alive, as if he were a ghost from the past.
His daughter Hourik attests, “I had the best dad anyone could ever ask for.”
When he died, Mardig was preparing a 550-page manuscript of Quest for Justice for publication. This is his English translation of Call of Laborers, a popular novel by Khachig Tashdents published in Armenian in 1972. The family plans to publish it this year.
Prior to his death, Mardig became highly perturbed by the news of the invasion of Artsakh. With his intimate knowledge of Armenian history, he saw it as a modern-day extension of the 1915 Genocide, funded and directed by the Turks. He couldn’t sleep or eat properly and was consumed by frustrated rage. It may have contributed to his untimely death.
Funeral services for Mardiros Maadenjian will be held on January 26, 2021 at St. Gregory Armenian Catholic Cathedral in Glendale, California followed by interment at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills. He will be missed, but his literary legacy will live on, a timeless monument of dedication to Armenia and all Armenians.
Mardiros “Mardig” Maadenjian pictured on April 24, 2015 at the starting point of the march on the Turkish Consulate in Los Angeles, Calif.
For questions, please contact armenianhistorybooks@yahoo.com.
As a student at Yale University, John C. Stickler spent most of his time on the Yale Daily News, ending up as senior editor. Despite the diversion, he graduated with an honors major in sociology and returned home to Tucson, Arizona. The US Peace Corps had accepted his application and assigned him to the Philippines, but his draft board felt that as a conscientious objector he was unfit for Peace Corps service. The Army won the battle over his destiny and assigned him to a Military Advisory Group at UN Headquarters in South Korea. Taking his discharge in Seoul, he established one of the first advertising agencies in that country, assisting Korean firms with their exports and tourism development. At the same time, he filed regular news reports for the CBS radio network. After a decade in Seoul, John and his wife, fine artist Soma Han, and their two boys returned to the states and settled in California. Purchasing a national business magazine, he began a career of publishing, editing, journalism and corporate public relations. During the 1990s, he began writing nonfiction books for major American publishers. He's been a professional editor since 2013, polishing manuscripts for authors of fiction and nonfiction books. That same year, good fortune led him to Mardig Maadenjian and his important works.
Barbara (nee Zamanigian) Haroutunian passed away peacefully on January 12, 2021. She was the wife of the late John Haroutunian and the daughter of the late Leo and Victoria Zamanigian. Barbara received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Education Degrees from Wayne State University, taught elementary school and became a principal in the Detroit Public School System.
She was an active member of St. John Armenian Church in Southfield, Michigan beginning with Sunday School and the ACYOA. During her college years, she sang in the St. John Church Komitas Choir and years later became chair of the church’s Women’s Guild. Barbara subsequently was elected to serve several terms on the Women’s Guild Central Council of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church.
Shortly after retirement, Barbara was called upon by the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem to restructure the curriculum of the well-known St. Tarkmanchatz School there. Taking with her US specialists in elementary education, she accomplished the task and won the hearts of Jerusalem’s Armenian community.
After numerous trips to Armenia, she was asked to teach English as a second language in the town of Ichevan which she did for several years without hesitation. While at the school, Barbara observed that many of the classrooms were in dire need of repair. In one year, she singlehandedly raised $25,000 which was sufficient to completely renovate many of the rooms in the school much to the delight of the teachers and the residents of Ichevan.
More recently, Barbara was asked to join a committee of international Armenian women, chaired by the wife of the President of Nagorno-Karabakh, to assist in the region’s reconstruction.
Barbara was also active in many Armenian organizations. She was a member of the Board of Education of the AGBU Alex and Marie Manoogian Day School in Southfield, Michigan and a Past Matron of the Daughters of Vartan Zabelle Otyag of Detroit, serving on the Grand Council of the organization from 1994-1996 and 2002-2005. Barbara was a devout member of the ADL and the Tekeyan Cultural Association. In addition, she was a proud member of the Armenian Heritage Cruise Committee for many years.
Barbara is survived by her daughter Lindsay (Aram) Sahakian; two grandchildren, Chloe and Mason; her brother Dr. Gary (Mariann) Zamanigian; and a nephew, Drew Zamanigian.
Under the direction of the Simon Javizian Funeral Home, a private funeral will take place in St. John Armenian Church, Southfield, MI, with Very Reverend Fr. Aren officiating, followed by interment in the family lot in Woodlawn Cemetery, Detroit.
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Rose Shelengian passed away on Sunday morning, December 27, 2020 two days before her 96th birthday. She was born Rose Vartouhi Basmajian in Bridgewater, Massachusetts to Haroutune and Armenouhi (Der Avedisian). Her parents had arrived the year prior from Constantinople with her sister Madeline. Her mother was a survivor of the Genocide and her father, Rose’s hero, had returned to Turkey from America in 1915 to defend his homeland as a freedom fighter under General Antranik.
Rose and her sister grew up in Bridgewater’s small community of Armenians, where they attended Saturday Armenian school and had adventures with the town’s other Armenian children. They experienced discrimination, as their classmates and teachers looked down on them as “foreigners,” but persevered through it. Bridgewater’s factories, where her father worked, closed during the Great Depression, so in 1935 the family moved to Philadelphia where they had relatives. It was quite an adjustment for Rose to adapt to city life after growing up in a rural town, but with time she joined the local Armenian Youth Federation (AYF), an organization she had first been inducted into in 1934 by its founder Karekin Njdeh. She served as treasurer and delegate for the Philadelphia chapter, got to know fellow young Armenians and performed in plays at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church. Rose’s dream was to go to college and become a teacher; however her mother’s premature death in 1938 when Rose was only 13-years-old changed that plan, as she and Madeline stepped up to run the household while their father worked in his tailor shop.
Rose (right) pictured with her sister Madeline and Karekin Njdeh the day they joined the AYF
Rose graduated from West Philadelphia High School in 1942. The following year with the men away at war, she took a job at a defense plant in Westinghouse’s turbine division. Her main job was working on a surface grinder to cut stock down to the required dimensions. The work was top secret, even for the women in the plant, now famously known by the moniker “Rosie the Riveter.” Even though she had no prior experience, Rose quickly learned how to use dangerous technical tools, how to read blueprints, and even wore pants for the first time, as prior to that they had been strictly worn by men. In addition, she was the only woman in the plant asked to work a huge machine called a lathe, also usually reserved for men. She described her time in the plant by saying “it was a lot of heavy work, lots of noise and dust, so we were exposed to a great deal, but I felt that it was the least we could do – especially considering what the boys were going through on the battlefield.”
Rose Vartouhi Basmajian Shelengian
After the war, the boys returned from service and she met Martin Vartan Shelengian at an AYF event. After a period of courtship, they married on November 1, 1947 at St. Gregory’s and had three children: Armine, Richard, and Karen. They moved to Broomall in 1958 where they were joined by many other Armenians over the years. Perhaps encouraged by her previous experiences in the workforce, after Marty temporarily lost his job with General Electric in 1960, Rose made the uncommon step—for the time—of getting a job and becoming a working mother. She continued to work for the next 35 years, becoming executive secretary of the Ultra Sonic Seal Company while balancing all her duties at home. She retired at age 70 only because she figured it was time to, even though she felt she could have continued for many more years. This is not surprising from a woman who couldn’t be stopped from shoveling her driveway into her mid-80s.
A member of the St. Gregory’s Ladies Guild, she was a spectacular cook of Armenian specialties, always making sure her family was fed and had whatever they needed. Her Armenian heritage was very important to her, as well as family—the centerpiece of her life. She delighted in having her grandchildren visit every Saturday. She enjoyed gardening and reading. She was a constant support to her husband Marty; they were married for 64 years until his death in 2011. Fiercely independent, Rose continued to live on her own until she turned 95. She had a special relationship with her grandchildren, and the addition of great-grandchildren brought her new excitement and joy.
A beautiful closing act for her was the re-appreciation of her service as a “Rosie.” While she hadn’t felt she had done anything extraordinary, the importance of what these women did has come to be recognized in recent years. She became involved in the Rosie the Riveter Movement, spreading awareness about its spirit of unity and working together. A special memory for her was being honored as a “Rosie” by the mayor of Philadelphia at the Liberty Bell in 2017. She also was featured in aKYW podcast telling the story of her service which aired on Memorial Day 2019.
Rose’s life was one of overcoming obstacles and immeasurable perseverance. Community members have been sharing their remembrances of her intelligence, beauty, and particularly her smile. She was known as the “matriarch” of not just her immediate family, but her extended family of cousins as well. Her indomitable spirit was an inspiration and example to us all. She is survived by her three children: Armine (the late Bill) Arthin, Richard (Constance) and Karen (Greg) Sookiasian; five grandchildren: Paul, Gregory, Alyssa (Mark), Melanie and Julie; and three great-grandchildren: Ella Rose, Theodore and Tateos. She is also survived by her nieces Elaine (Jim) Gulezian and Zevart Ejdaharian.
A graveside service was held at Arlington Cemetery on Thursday, December 31, 2020. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory toSt. Gregory’s Church (8701 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19128) or the Armenian Sisters Academy (440 Upper Gulph Road, Radnor, PA 19087).
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Paul Vartan Sookiasian
Paul Vartan Sookiasian is a writer and editor based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He has worked in Armenia as the English language editor at CivilNet and as a project associate for USAID programs. More recently he served as one of the organizers of the World Congress on Information Technology 2019 Yerevan. He is also a historian who researches and brings to light the long and rich history of Philadelphia's Armenian community.
(From The Armenian Prelacy, New York)—George Dermksian was born in New York City on November 10, 1927, to Yervant and Mariam Dermksian. He had one sister, Seerarpey. He grew up in New York City and went to Stuyvesant High School. After high school, he attended Columbia University and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1948. He then earned a Master of Arts at Teachers College, Columbia University, in 1950, after which he completed his Doctorate of Medicine in 1954 at Cornell University Medical College. In 1954, he became an Intern in Medicine at St. Luke’s Hospital in New York City in 1954. He did a second year of Residency at St. Luke’s Hospital before becoming a Captain in the United States Air Force, School of Aviation Medicine, at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, in 1956-1958.
Following his return to New York City, he went on to finish his third year as a Resident in Medicine in 1958. Dr. Dermksian served as Chief Resident in Medicine at St. Luke’s Hospital in 1959-1960. He then went into private practice for himself from 1960 to 2001. His numerous academic appointments included Clinical Professor of Medicine at the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University. He served on and led numerous medical societies and committees during his medical career. Dr. Dermksian officially retired in 2001, but continued to be actively involved in medicine right until the time of his death.
He was actively involved in every aspect of the Armenian community throughout his entire life from the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) to the Armenian Prelacy to the Armenian Assembly. He devoted his life to St. Illuminator’s Armenian Cathedral, of which he was a delegate to the National Representative Assembly through different periods from the 1960s to the 1980s. Nothing was more important to him than being Armenian and making sure that the tradition and legacy of the Armenian people would live on forever.
Dr. Dermksian married Tamara Manookian in 1954. They had two children—Gregory and Jeffrey. He would always spend his spare time with his family. Tamara died in 2019 after 64 years of marriage.
Dr. George Dermksian is survived by his sons (Gregory and Jeffrey), their wives (Suzanne and Roubina) and his four grandchildren (Matthew, Michael, Nicole and Jenna) who all adored their “Papa.”
May God bless his soul and bring consolation to his family.
The Armenian Weekly Editorial Board extends its sincere condolences to Dr. Dermksian’s family. He was a loyal reader and supporter of our publication and will be remembered fondly.
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Harry Salibian of Burlington, Massachusetts passed away on January 28, 2021.
He was the beloved husband of the late Zaro (Apelian) Salibian and a devoted father to Dr. David Salibian and his wife Nayiri. Cherished grandfather of Christian and Catalina. Brother of Vatche (Van) Salibian and the late George, Abraham and Albert Salibian. Brother-in-law to Mike Apelian and Shoghig Basmajian. He is survived by many loving nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral and burial services are private. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, current public health and safety measures will be followed. Social distancing and face masks will be required for everyone’s safety. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to First Armenian Church, 380 Concord Avenue, Belmont, MA 02478.
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