The Zoryan Institute is saddened to learn about the passing of longtime supporter and friend Zaruhy Sara Chitjian.
Ms. Chitjian made an incredible impact on the lives of dozens of students through the Zoryan Institute’s annual Genocide and Human Rights University Program (GHRUP). This graduate level program explores the fundamental issues relating to human rights and genocide prevention, through a comparative and multidisciplinary approach. As an educator herself, Ms. Chitjian understood the immense impact that education could have in removing stumbling blocks of history and in fostering dialogue and reconciliation between adversary groups.
For many years, Ms. Chitjian provided full scholarships annually to six deserving graduate-level students: two Armenian, two Turkish and two Kurdish. These scholarships enabled the students to travel to Toronto, live together on the University of Toronto campus, learn together in an academic setting and socialize with one another during an intensive educational program. Despite their differences, these students left the classroom with a common understanding of history, and many created lasting bonds and friendships that have lasted well beyond the program.
While the scholarships that Ms. Chitjian provided certainly made a profound impact on the students themselves, she also had a larger goal in mind. She understood that when the Armenian, Turkish and Kurdish students returned home to their own communities after attending the program, they would be sharing what they had learned with their colleagues, students and peers. This ripple effect of knowledge truly has the potential to shift the mindsets of communities and make positive strides towards reconciliation and peace.
“I had many lively conversations with Sara over the years,” remarked George Shirinian, executive director of the Zoryan Institute. “She was intellectually curious, often asking complex and profound questions about issues vital to Armenians and was deeply devoted to the betterment of the Armenian nation through education. As a teacher herself, she took a great personal interest in the individual students whom she supported for the GHRUP with generous scholarships, and sometimes maintained correspondence with them after each year’s program. She was particularly interested to know how their experience at the GHRUP had changed their thinking about genocide, in general, and the Armenian Genocide, in particular.”
Prof. Joyce Apsel, clinical professor in the Liberal Studies Department at NYU and GHRUP course director stated:
I had the privilege of meeting Sara Chitjian over the years in Toronto where I serve as a teacher and director of the Genocide and Human Rights University Program. Her support and interest in the program, both its content and having students from different communities attend, has been crucial. The classroom can be a “privileged space” where people from different backgrounds are able to debate and learn from and with each other. And, Sara Chitjian’s support helped make this occur.
A carefully conceived legacy is evergreen. It lives on after you’re gone. Sara Chitjian’s legacy lives on through the incredible impact she made on the students she supported, the education she promoted, and in the entire field of Genocide and Human Rights Studies. On behalf of the Zoryan Institute’s Board of Directors, executives, faculty, staff and students, we would like to express our sincere appreciation for Ms. Chitjian longtime support and our deepest condolences to her loved ones.
The Zoryan Institute K.M. Greg Sarkissian, President
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Guest contributions to the Armenian Weekly are informative articles or press releases written and submitted by members of the community.
Zaruhy Sara Chitjian with AUA’s Founding President and Co-founder Dr. Mihran Agbabian
The American University of Armenia (AUA) is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of AUA pillar, Zaruhy Sara Chitjian, who made a real and lasting impact in the field of education in Armenia through her steadfast support of AUA. Her transformational gift led to the establishment of the Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Center (EPIC) at AUA, launching its students into a new competitive sphere.
Zaruhy Sara Chitjian, known to many as Sara, dedicated her life to education, understanding its importance in influencing and shaping young minds. She was born in Mexico City, Mexico in 1933 to loving Armenian parents who originally hailed from Western Armenia; her father was from Kharpert and her mother from Malatya. Along with her parents and brother, Sara immigrated to the United States in 1935 where the Chitjian family settled in East Los Angeles, and her father became involved in the real estate business. Although her parents had no formal education, her father found success as an entrepreneur and her mother through her talents as a seamstress.
Sara enrolled at UCLA in 1952 with the full support of her parents; she was one of the few women studying there at the time. She graduated in 1956 with a psychology degree and subsequently enrolled in a special program to receive her teaching credentials as she embarked on a purposeful 40-year career in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).
At the Dixie Canyon Elementary School in Sherman Oaks, California, Sara became a pioneer and changed the landscape of the curriculum throughout Los Angeles by becoming the first teacher to raise awareness of Armenian cultural history in LAUSD, going on to establish the Armenian Ethnic Studies program during the Ethnic Studies Movement in 1974. It was her first time teaching the Armenian culture. She found creative ways to engage her students, such as exploring Armenian manuscripts and inviting high quality guest lecturers to shed more light on Armenian history. Among the notable speakers were Dr. Avedis Sanjian, Dr. Richard Hovannisian, Dr. Levon Marashlian, Dr. Oshin Keshishian and Dr. J. Michael Hagopian, who lectured on everything from Armenian music and instruments to Armenian architecture and the Armenian Genocide. She also successfully petitioned textbook companies to include sections on the Armenian Genocide and for the City of Los Angeles to make April 24th an excusable day of absence on the school district’s academic calendar.
A lifelong Los Angeles resident, Sara knew first-hand the significance of education and technology and its potential to catapult Armenia’s intelligent youth onto an international level. She chose to support the establishment of EPIC at AUA, a start-up venture incubator that promotes entrepreneurship and collaboration, understanding full well that it would be through the advent of technology that Armenia could develop into a key player economically. Her contribution was made in memory of her parents, Hampartzoum and Ovsanna Chitjian, who were both Armenian Genocide survivors. “My mother had a saying that described Armenians very well: hechen pan guh hanen – out of nothing, they create something because Armenians are very intelligent,” said Sara when she previously spoke to AUA from her home in Los Angeles. Aware of Armenia’s landlocked position, Sara remembered this adage when she decided to be an early supporter of technology in Armenia. “I feel Armenians have the ability to create something very unique because Armenians have that type of brain. When someone asks who made a great invention, I want the response to be that an Armenian made it,” she added.
Her support for EPIC was unwavering and in 2019, she funded a 10-day experience for a group of AUA students to visit Silicon Valley, organized in partnership with San Jose State University (SJSU). On this once-in-a-lifetime trip, students visited cutting-edge technology companies, interacted with entrepreneurs, and participated in workshops and seminars with world leaders in innovation, business, and the tech ecosystem. “I want Armenians to produce something that will be recognized worldwide and I know there is potential with AUA students,” she said. “I am very impressed when I hear about what the students are doing and my hope is that through my gift, they will be able to produce something unique that will benefit the country. As Armenians, we have many reasons to be unique, given our situation and history. We needed to be clever to survive, and I’m optimistic about the future of both Armenia and AUA.” Her major contributions to EPIC allow it to continue as a hub of innovation and technology, providing young entrepreneurs with many opportunities and resources necessary to succeed.
In memory of her parents and survivors of the Armenian Genocide, Sara also founded the Hampartzoum and Ovsanna Chitjian Foundation to support Armenian Studies programs in Higher Education. Over the last decade, she established endowments at leading universities, including the University of Southern California (USC), University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), California State University, Northridge (CSUN) and the American University of Armenia (AUA). Her decision to champion Armenian Studies research was done to ensure that the next generation remains educated and aware of the Armenian people and of the Armenian Genocide. “Understanding history should be understood by whose eyes recorded it,” was Sara’s ideology, who made it her life’s mission to focus on Armenian education. “We have lost so much land throughout our history but as Armenians we have a rich heritage that we continue on to this day. Education will help Armenia develop and will make the world aware of us,” said Sara. “As the offspring of Armenian Genocide survivors, it is my duty to carry on our history and our legacy and pass it onto the next generation.”
Though Sara has passed on, her passion for her heritage, and her tremendous efforts to support students at AUA will always carry on. In a few final endearing remarks, EPIC’s founding director Dr. Armen Mkrtchyan, who interacted quite closely with Sara, adds, “Sara Chitjian was a genuinely caring and dynamic individual who has touched hundreds of young minds through enabling and supporting EPIC. She was humble with an insatiable curiosity and appetite to help Armenia and Armenians succeed. She enjoyed empowering the younger generation to be more creative and tech savvy. We will miss Ms. Chitjian and work hard to make her legacy proud.”
We are grateful for her life of service and will forever hold her dear in our hearts.
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We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Zaruhy Sara Chitjian, a long-time benefactor of Armenian studies programs at UCLA and the founder of the Research Program in Armenian Archaeology at the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology. Sara passed away peacefully at her home on May 3, 2021 having lived to see US president Joe Biden officially recognize the Armenian Genocide.
Zaruhy Sara Chitjian, was born in Mexico City in 1933 to Hampartzoum and Ovsanna Chitjian, both survivors of the Armenian Genocide who had met and married in Mexico. In 1935 her family immigrated to the United States settling in Los Angeles where Sara spent the remaining of her life. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 1956 from UC Los Angeles and a year later went on to earn her teaching credentials. She dedicated her life to education and spent the next 40 years teaching for the Los Angeles Unified School District.
As a descendant of survivors of the Armenian Genocide she had a vested interest in preserving Armenian history and culture, but she had a unique appreciation for cultural heritage in general. As a young teacher at Monlux Elementary, Sara installed the same appreciation for culture into her young students who built models of early California, had visits for a geisha to learn about Japanese Tea Ceremony, and an Aikido sensei who gave demonstrations and taught about the philosophy of martial arts.
While teaching at Dixie Elementary School, she proposed to teach Armenian history and culture for the “Mini Classes” program of the school, forever changing the landscape of the curriculum throughout Los Angles by becoming the first teacher to raise awareness of Armenian culture through a formal course. She found exciting and creative ways to teach Armenian history and culture, such as having her students try to write their names in Armenian script as she read them about the origin of the alphabet. She also invited prominent Armenian scholars, such as Dr. Richard Hovannisian, Dr. Gerard Liberadian and Dr. Oshin Keshishian to give guest lectures on topics ranging from art to genocide.
Sara’s numerous awards in recognition for her contributions and service as a teacher are clear testament to her dedication and passion for educating children. She successfully petitioned for the City of Los Angeles to make April 24th, the day of commemorating the victims of the Armenian Genocide, an excusable day of absence on the school district’s academic calendar. In the 1970s she created an Armenian Teacher Association and The Armenian Urban Center programs, the former trained teachers in providing aid to students who were fleeing the Syrian civil war and the latter developed scholastic curriculum for teaching about Armenian history and culture. In 2017, the Armenian National Committee – Western Region announced named one of its awards the Zaruhy “Sara” Chitjian Armenian Genocide Education Award in honor of Sara’s exemplary commitment to Armenian causes and dedication to preservation of the Armenian heritage through education and philanthropy. The award is present to outstanding educators of Armenian descent who have gone above and beyond to teach Armenian history, culture, and about the Armenian Genocide.
William Saroyan, Sara Chitjian and Bishop Sarkissian
Sara believed strongly in the mission of public education and in memory of her parents and all survivors of the Armenian Genocide, she established the Hampartzoum and Ovsanna Chitjian Foundation to support Armenian Studies programs in higher education. She established four endowments at leading universities each with focus on a specific aspect of Armenian heritage. At University of Southern California (USC) her endowment supports research and study of the Armenian Genocide, California State University, Northridge (CSUN) is the steward of the Chitjian Family archive, at the American University of Armenia (AUA) her endowment supports an entrepreneurship program, and at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) her endowment supports archaeological research in Armenia. Sara was an avid supporter and promoter of Armenian archaeology and cultural heritage. In 2006 she partially sponsored renewed excavations of Dvin, a capital and a large commercial city of early medieval Armenia, and at the world-renown Areni-1 cave site. In 2013, she donated a transformative gift to the UCLA Cotsen Institute of Archaeology that established the Research Program in Armenian Archaeology ensuring that UCLA has a leading presence in the field.
“In my father’s stories unity is the number one thing or finding a way to be united… ‘Here lies an Armenian boy who suffered all his life because of Armenian dis-unity’…he wanted that on his tombstone. He was telling the Armenian community ‘unite’ and we still don’t get that message…this is why I am doing what I am doing…not to forget.” Sara carried her father’s message of unity through all her life and works, preserving the memory of the past and promoting awareness was of outmost importance to her and the various programs she established ensure that the rich history and heritage of the Armenian people is preserved and passed on for generations to come.
Her memory and her life-long mission to spread knowledge and raise awareness of Armenian history and cultural heritage will be carried on in the work of the members of the Armenian Archaeology Lab whose research is made possible by Sara’s generosity. We are grateful for her unwavering support and will forever hold her dear in our memories.
Thank you, Sara, for your unwavering support and passion.
Sara Chitjian, Gregory Areshian, Pavel Avetisyan, Kristine Martirosyan Olshansky, 2009
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Kristine Martirosyan-Olshansky, PhD is the director of the Research Program in Armenian Archaeology and Ethnography at the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at UCLA.
A physician in the truest sense, is not defined solely by his choice of profession. What defines him is a lifelong impulse to help others: a commitment to treat fellow human beings with compassion, love and respect.
May 27, 2021 marked the first year anniversary of the passing of Dr. Raffy A. Hovanessian. Dr. Hovanessian was remembered in a private requiem service with immediate family at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral in New York City presided by Bishop Daniel Findikyan and Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian.
In honor of the first year of his passing, the family has committed funds to two very important missions established by Dr. Hovanessian during his life: the “Clergy Endowment Fund for Higher Education of Clergy” (est. 1986) for the Brotherhood of Antelias, and, posthumous in 2020, “Continuing Medical Education of Doctors and Health Professionals of Artsakh” in Fund for Armenia Relief (FAR).
The family has directed a $100,000 distribution from the “Dr. Raffy A. and Vicki Shoghag Hovanessian Endowment Fund” to further the post-graduate education of clergy of the Cilician Brotherhood. “Throughout his life, Dr. Hovanessian was a visionary to concentrate his efforts in enhancing the higher education of clergy, as he firmly believed these efforts would strengthen the caliber of sermons and clergy’s efforts in spreading our faith and attracting the youth to attend churches,” said Archbishop Tanielian, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy.
This gift brings the total distribution from the “Dr. Raffy A. and Vicki Shoghag Hovanessian Endowment Fund for Higher Education of Clergy” to a total of $222,000 in the year 2020 to 2021.
In 2011, Dr. Hovanessian was the catalyst to establish continuing medical education of doctors and health professionals in Yerevan and later in Artsakh while serving on the Board of the Armenian American Health Professional Organization together with his close friend, benefactor Nazar Nazarian under the directorship of Garnik Nangoulian of FAR. All of FAR’s medical programs in Armenia are implemented through the dedicated services of Dr. Hampartsoum Simonyan.
The family established the “Dr. Raffy A. Hovanessian FAR Educational Fund” to continue Dr. Hovanessian’s vision for Artsakh and his legacy as a benefactor of its medical professionals in Yerevan and Artsakh.
The family has made a $25,000 donation to the “Dr. Raffy A. Hovanessian FAR Educational Fund.” The family wishes to continue his profound impact and legacy by continuing to support such noble spiritual and medical missions in Yerevan and Artsakh which he wanted to guarantee at any cost, even before the 2020 Artsakh War.
Certainly, the name of Dr. Raffy Hovanessian will be remembered with honor, in death as it was in life. During his lifetime, he was the recipient of numerous awards from entities around the world. He was especially charmed that both he and his wife Shoghag had been awarded America’s Ellis Island Medal of Honor—while accepting them in a spirit of genuine humility and detachment. The glory of name recognition was never Raffy’s motivation. What drove him, filling his life with consequence and joy, was the work itself and the chance it presented to do a good turn for others—especially his own people.
It’s not surprising that as a physician, Dr. Hovanessian was concerned with the health and well-being of his countrymen. He gave voice to that sentiment in an interview he once gave to Chris Zakian of the Eastern Diocese. “Let us never forget that we are Armenians,” he said. “Our great connection to each other is that we belong to the same nation. The blood flowing in our veins is distinctive, unique; to infect it with mutual jealousy, animosity and opposition would be a costly mistake.”
In the year since his passing, Raffy’s words and life example have taken on a poignant urgency, as Armenians throughout the world seek voices of wise counsel to unite us, lift us up in spirit and guide our aspirations toward truly productive goals—goals which would elevate all of our people and would be worthy of our shared heritage.
During the private requiem service, Bishop Findikyan, Primate of the Eastern Diocese, addressed the family with these poignant words, “It is deeply regrettable that at such time, Raffy himself is no longer with us, to speak candidly (as he always did) to our present moment, and to help us address the profound challenges weighing upon us as a non-clergy person.” Bishop Daniel further emphasized that, “Raffy’s authority to address these matters came from wisdom, humility and love for the church.”
Nevertheless, the legacy he left behind is itself a guiding voice: a lifetime example of patriotic, compassionate, Christian outreach, a doctor’s thoughtful prescription to heal the afflictions with which we struggle today.
May his legacy be a guiding light for the younger generation to follow. May he rest in peace.
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Guest contributions to the Armenian Weekly are informative articles or press releases written and submitted by members of the community.
Some losses are more irreplaceable than others, especially when someone has served for so long the greater good. Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and the Executive Council were deeply saddened by the news that Iris Papazian, a mainstay of the Prelacy, had passed away in the early hours of Saturday, May 29, 2021. The outpouring of expressions of affection and grief on social media and electronic correspondence showed how her quiet and unassuming personality, as well as outstanding contribution, had impacted so many lives.
The viewing and funeral took place at Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church in Ridgefield, New Jersey on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, followed by interment at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, New Jersey. Services were presided by the Prelate with the participation of Very Rev. Fr. Sahag Yemishian, Vicar and pastor of Sts. Vartanantz Church; Archpriest Fr. Nerses Manoogian, pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church (Philadelphia); Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral (New York City); Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, pastor of St. Sarkis Church (Douglaston, New York); and Rev. Fr. Vahan Kouyoumdjian, outreach pastor. In his eulogy, Archbishop Anoushavan extolled the virtues and the vocation of service of the late Papazian, which were well understood by those who surrounded her in her professional and personal life. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Eastern Prelacy for the benefit of the Pierre Papazian Literary Fund.
Born on July 4, 1936 in New York City to Krikor and Veronica (Sahagian) Pilbosian, survivors of the Armenian Genocide from Malatya in Western Armenia, Iris was the second of three daughters. In 1945, the family moved to Philadelphia, where she attended Temple University and earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and communications. She was a dedicated member of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church, where she taught Sunday school for many years. After graduating, she moved to New York to continue her studies at Columbia University and met Pierre Papazian. Their marriage in 1959 was the first one to be celebrated in the new Sts. Vartanantz Church. They settled in suburban New Jersey; in 1965, their son Michael was born.
Iris Papazian’s life was marked by a profound love of service and devotion to the Armenian nation and church. She was associated with the Prelacy of the Armenian Church in New York from its very inception in the late 1950s, working with all of the prelates who have served the Prelacy beginning with Archbishop Hrant Khatchadourian and continuing with Archbishop Karekin Sarkissian (later Catholicos Karekin II of the Great House of Cilicia and Catholicos Karekin I of all Armenians), Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian, Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan and Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian. Her multiple talents as a writer and journalist turned her into the writing and editing force, both seen and unseen, behind so many public relations and publishing efforts. Her devotion to the church and the Prelacy culminated in her working full-time as director of communications and publications, editing the periodical “Outreach” and producing the weekly e-newsletter, “Crossroads.” Her commitment extended so far that she continued to work long hours at the Prelacy into her 80s, even though she had by then become officially “semi-retired.” Even in her weakened condition after she became ill in 2019, she contributed as much as she could to various projects. Her contributions to the church and Armenian people were recognized by Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia, who bestowed the “Mesrob Mashdots” medal and the “Knight of Cilicia” award upon her, and the Eastern Prelacy, which presented the “Queen Zabel” award to her.
She was resilient. Even in the face of difficult circumstances, she prevailed and fought hard during her illnesses. She was an entrepreneur. She started a successful business, first in the basement of the house, and later as the business expanded, to an office building. H. Prim Co., which provided services in typesetting and graphic design, was so successful that she was joined later by her husband, who worked with her for many years until his passing in 1995. She was a counselor. Her calm and comforting demeanor made her the ideal source for seeking advice and guidance whenever the circumstances asked for it.
Iris Papazian’s many contributions to our community life were not limited to the Prelacy. She was a member of the executive board of the Hovnanian School and its educational committee for many years and also the administrator of the school for some time. She was also a longtime member of the editorial board of the AGBU “Ararat” Quarterly. In the 1970s, she and Pierre published “The Literary Tabloid.” Later, she supported her husband in the publication of the periodical “Phoenix.”
But her career was only one facet of her life. She was devoted to all of her family and her friends. Iris adored her family, and they in turn were very closely devoted and attached to her. She is survived by her son Prof. Michael B. Papazian and her daughter-in-law Andrea; her sister-in-law Margaret Papazian; her nieces Alexis and Sara Kazarian; her older sister Elizabeth Pilbosian; her younger sister Rosely Nevart Stronski and husband Wally Stronski.
A gifted cook, she loved to prepare food and entertained all her loved ones even while working outside the home full-time. An avid and prolific reader, Iris Papazian appreciated and understood the power of the written word, of which she was a masterful practitioner. Even as she succumbed to illness, she kept her mind fully active and engaged. Her hope was that she would complete a history of the Prelacy, for she was the Prelacy’s memory. She has taken with her countless details of all the persons and events connected to the Prelacy. Sadly, that work remains unfinished, but all that she has accomplished—her work and the impact on the many people she touched—will remain a lasting tribute to her life as a good and faithful servant of God, the church and the Armenian nation. It is our hope that in the near future this most valuable oeuvre will be completed as the legacy of an intellectual woman who linked the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
May her soul rest in peace and perpetual light shine upon her.
Agnes B. Karanian of New Britain, Connecticut passed away on June 15, 2021. She was 97 years old. Agnes was born in 1924 in Pawtucket, RI, to Osgean and Houstian Barsoian. Her parents were both from the Sebastia region of Armenia and were survivors of the Armenian Genocide. Agnes was their first-born child in the US.
Agnes was predeceased by her husband Henry Zareh Karanian who passed away on October 28, 2008. Agnes and Henry were happily married for 60 years and lived almost all of their married lives in New Britain. Agnes was also predeceased by her brothers, Harry Barsoian, Matthew Barsoian and Ernest Yeghian, and by her sister Lucy Balemian, all from Pawtucket.
Agnes was a proud member of Connecticut’s Armenian-American community. She was a member of the Ladies’ Guild of St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church in New Britain and served as a national delegate to the Convention of the Armenian Church. She served as President of the New Britain Chapter of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS), and she also taught Armenian history to children at the local Saturday Armenian school.
Agnes and Henry raised four sons in New Britain, each of whom has survived them both: Robert (and his wife Andrea) of Avon, Conn., William (and his wife Denise) of Kensington, Conn., Philip (and his wife Nancy) of West Hartford, Conn., and Matthew of Pasadena, Calif. Agnes also leaves her grandchildren Alanna, Caroline, Colleen, Elyssa, Genevieve, Jarod and Justine and great-grandchild Violet. Additionally, Agnes leaves her dear godchildren Carolyn, Charlene and Jennifer and her many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Everyone who knew Agnes loved her and became endeared to her because of her friendly disposition and lively spirit. Agnes’ many friends in Connecticut and Rhode Island included her dearest friend Adrienne Dodakian of Old Lyme and the late Liz Haroian of New Britain, as well as many friends from St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church and from The Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection, both in New Britain.
Agnes enjoyed cooking and baking, and often baked choreg and simit cookies, or cooked dolma or manti or other Armenian delicacies, using old Armenian recipes that had been passed down to her from her mother or shared with her by her many friends. Despite her expertise in baking and cooking, the dessert treat that Agnes professed to enjoy the most was coffee-flavored ice cream. She enjoyed spending summers at the beach in Old Lyme, and she sometimes even ventured into the water, briefly. She loved music. She also loved dancing. She looked forward to the summer picnics of the Armenian churches of New Britain, Conn., of Watertown, Mass., and of Providence, RI, where there was an abundance of Armenian music and where she could participate in Armenian line-dancing with her friends and family from those communities.
Calling hours will be held from 9:30 am to 10:30 am on Saturday, June 19, 2021 at the sanctuary of St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church, 167 Tremont Street, New Britain, Conn. The funeral service will begin at 11 am, also at St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church, where Agnes and Harry were married in 1948. It’s also the same church at which Agnes and Henry baptized each of their four sons. The funeral will be followed by a private burial service. Agnes’ family is thankful to the doctors and nurses at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Hartford, Conn., for the kindness and compassionate care they provided to Agnes. In lieu of flowers, Agnes had expressed the wish that donations instead be made to one or more of the following: The Armenia Tree Project, 400 West Cummings Park, Suite 3900, Woburn, Mass. 01801; The Armenian Relief Society, 80 Bigelow Ave., Watertown, Mass. 02472; and St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church, 167 Tremont Street, New Britain, Conn.
From the Armenian Weekly Editorial Board: Agnes Karanian was a loyal and lifelong reader of the Armenian Weekly and the Hairenik newspapers. She had subscribed continuously to our historic print for 70 years without interruption and was even featured twice in articles written by her son and Armenian Highland author Matthew Karanian. We extend our deepest condolences to the Karanian family during this time of loss.
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Anne (Berberian) Ohanian passed away peacefully on June 21, 2021 in Woburn, Massachusetts. She was 98 years old.
Born on January 24, 1923, Anne was the daughter of Khachadur and Sahaganush Berberian, survivors of the Armenian Genocide of 1915. She was raised in Arlington, Massachusetts and graduated from Arlington High School. In 1942, Anne married the late Arthur A. Ohanian and they shared 67 years of love, happiness and mutual respect, raising a family in Belmont, Massachusetts. A doting mother, Anne was a homemaker “par excellence.” She was famous among family and friends as a skillful baker of Armenian pastries, notably her kadayif and boreg. She and her husband hosted memorable holiday celebrations, summer “shish kebab” barbecues and mid-winter skating parties (the “Frog Pond” at the Belmont Country Club was practically in the Belmont home backyard!).
Anne was a loyal and active member of St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church in Watertown and a volunteer at the Armenian Cultural and Educational Center (ACEC).
She enjoyed travel, and Armenian music and dancing. She was talented at floral arranging, ceramics, jewelry beading, and, more recently, painting. She liked to entertain everyone by telling jokes and playing card games.
As a resident of 12 years at Brightview Senior Living in Woburn, Anne was the enthusiastic instructor of a weekly exercise class called “Stretch and Tone with Anne,” during which she was able to continue into her 97th year until the onset of the pandemic curtailed all social activities. Anne’s family would like to thank the BrightView community for the warm and welcoming home environment they offered to Anne. They extend their heartfelt gratitude to the hospice team and home health aides for their loving and gentle care in the last few weeks of her life.
Anne is survived by her brother Vahan Berberian and his wife Beverly. She was the beloved of Barbara Gumuchian of Woburn, MA and her late husband Stephan Gumuchian; Joan Ohanian and her husband Mossik Hacobian of East Boston, MA; and Peter Ohanian and his wife Suzan Messina of Windham, NH. Anne was blessed with eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was also an “auntie” to numerous nieces and nephews and “Annie” to her many cousins. She was predeceased by her brother Nishan Berberian and his wife Geraldine.
Funeral service will be held at Saint Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church, 38 Elton Avenue, Watertown on Tuesday, June 29 at 11:00 a.m. A visitation period will be held at the church on Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. immediately prior to the funeral service. Interment to follow at Cambridge Cemetery in Cambridge, MA. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Saint Stephen’s Armenian Church or the ACEC, 47 Nichols Avenue, Watertown, MA 02472.
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.
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Haritun Arto Shahrik died on Sunday, June 20, 2021 peacefully from complications that began with a compression fracture. He passed away two days before his 98th birthday.
He was born on June 22, 1923 in Istanbul, Turkey to Parsegh Shahrikian of Shabinkarahisar, Turkey and Azniv (Fermanian) of Tokat, Turkey. He was the younger of two siblings; his late brother Hrant was 11 years older, also born in Istanbul.
Haritun was a man who was larger than life with an enormous presence, a gentle demeanor, a brilliant smile and a twinkle in his eye. He immersed himself in science, and almost equally in philosophy, religion, spirituality, the arts and the psychology of the human condition. A romantic at heart, he had an extraordinary mind; he was a deep thinker and seeker of knowledge from medical research to Armenian and world history and culture to the mysteries of the universe. He always encouraged and inspired his children and grandchildren to question everything and never stop learning. “I’m 85 and am still learning. The lessons never stop,” he once said. He was full of deep wisdom that he imparted on his family over the years. Whether he was sharing a life lesson, posing a question or simply recalling a funny memory, he pulled you in with his cadence of perfectly timed words and pregnant pauses that often had his listeners at the edge of their seats. His blue eyes smiling throughout, he would often end with an “ayo” or “ays kan.”
Haritun attended St. Michel High School in Istanbul and spent a year studying French at Istanbul’s Faculty of French Language and Literature. He pursued dentistry at Istanbul’s Faculty of Dentistry, graduating in 1952. During his third year of dental studies, he took an interest in basic science research into diseases of the oral cavity under the supervision of the University. In 1956, he immigrated from Turkey to Boston and accepted a position at the Forsyth Pediatric Dental Clinic, where he continued to work as a dentist for two years. During his second year at Forsyth Dental, he expressed his desire to continue the research he had started in Istanbul characterizing the diseases of the human oral cavity. He was granted permission to start his own lab at the Forsyth Dental Clinic, initiating the rebuilding of what would become a famous research center. He advanced his training in dentistry at the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, earning his second degree as a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) following two years of study.
Despite his involvement in clinical practice, research continued to be an important part of his career. Initially inspired by Pasteur’s biography when he was in high school, he remained committed to pursuing research on the human body throughout his career in dental medicine.
Following graduation from the Tufts School of Dental Medicine, he was asked to join two Tufts professors in their research of the cellular impact of disease on the human oral cavity tissue. Over time, his research focus narrowed, and his interests became centered on the cellular world of the human oral cavity, including understanding the mechanisms that led to pathologic changes in disease and the physiologic changes in health. He continued his research work for eight long years, during which he gave lectures in academic centers across the US and all over the world including in Lebanon, Istanbul, Tehran and Europe. His works have been published in a number of academic journals including the Archives of Oral Biology, The Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine, Advances in Oral Biology, The Journal of Dental Research and Science.
He opened a dental practice in Belmont and served his community until retiring in his eighties. He was universally loved by all his patients and was often called “the painless dentist.”
In his early years, he lived on Curtis Street in Boston with his mother Azniv. He met his wife Nina Oganian at an Armenian Student’s Association dance in Boston. They married on July 29, 1962. Together they raised two children, Anahid and Lilian. They eventually took up a residence in Lexington, Massachusetts, which became the family home for decades until Nina passed away of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1998.
Haritun loved life. He had a joie de vivre essence that transcended the physical riches of life. It was the richness of heart and mind, his love and devotion to family and the simplicities of life that brought him the most joy. Stop and smell the roses was not a mere saying, he lived it, literally and figuratively. He was always amazed by the wonders of nature. He’d often point to a flower blooming or leaves turning color and say with the deepest sense of gratitude, “This is life, beautiful.” Unconditional love, kindness, empathy, generosity, endless gratitude and self-care were values he embraced throughout his life and blessed his family with and those around him. He loved to dance and had quite the moves, which was still very present in him, well into his nineties. He enjoyed dancing with his daughters, niece and granddaughters to some of his favorite songs from greats including Glenn Miller and Frank Sinatra. His favorite style was Latin, and every once in a while, he danced to the tunes of Cabaret, as if he were performing on-stage. He was young at heart and always ready to play a round of tavloo, kick around a soccer ball, shoot a basket or even play tennis with his daughters and grandchildren. You’d always see him at school recitals, soccer and basketball games and dance performances, cheering his grandchildren on with a gleam in his eye…and maybe even coaching from the sidelines.
He seemed most happy when sitting around a dining table with his family and close friends, enjoying good food and wine… and lots of bread (and lemon) celebrating special occasions, sharing stories, laughing and relishing each bite. He was always seated at the head of the table and always orchestrated the perfect mix of joy and inspiration.
He was an active member of the local Armenian community including the Knights of Vartan and the Istanbul Armenian Society. He often generously donated to many charitable causes from the Armenian hospital in Istanbul to local Armenian churches and schools and many non-Armenian causes.
Haritun Arto Shahrik with his daughters and grandchildren
Haritun was the beloved husband of the late Nina (Oganian) Shahrik. He was the devoted father of Anahid Shahrik and Dr. Lilian Mahrokhian and her late husband Vahe Mahrokhian. He was a loving grandfather to Diran Shahrik, Shant, Sanan and Sarine Mahrokhian. He was predeceased by his brother Hrant Shahrik. He was a dear uncle to Nadia Shahrik; Barbara Seda Kaligian and her husband Dikran Kaligian; and Armen Aghamianz. He was a granduncle to Jacqueline Phillips, Andreas, Keri, Rosdom and Yeraz.
Funeral service will be held at Saint Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church, 38 Elton Avenue, Watertown on Thursday, June 24 at 11:00 a.m. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Visiting hours will be at the Aram Bedrosian Funeral Home, 558 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown on Wednesday, June 23 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Saint Stephen’s Armenian Church; the Armenian Relief Society, Inc – Artsakh Fund, 80 Bigelow Avenue, Watertown, MA 02472; or Cure Alzheimer’s Fund.
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PARAMUS, NJ –It is with deep sorrow that we share the sad news of the passing of Rev. Dr. John J. Markarian, the founding president of Haigazian University of Beirut, Lebanon.
“Although Dr. Markarian has physically departed from this earth, he remains a shining star in the field of higher education and the history of the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA),” said AMAA executive director and CEO Zaven Khanjian. “As thousands of Haigazian University students mourn his loss, we praise God for generations of Haigazian graduates who have illuminated the skies of humanity and brilliantly served their respective communities around the globe,” he continued.
Rev. Dr. John J. Markarian, of West Pittston, died on June 29, 2021. He celebrated his 104th birthday on June 7.
He was born in Windham, N.Y., a son of the late Jacob and Dora (Euth) Markarian. He was a graduate of Lafayette College and Princeton Divinity School. He later served on the faculty at Lafayette College. He was an ordained Presbyterian minister and earned a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Theology from Drew University. Rev. Dr. Markarian was the founding president of Haigazian University in Beirut, Lebanon. An account of his years there is relayed in his memoir, “The Thirsty Enemy.” He and his wife, Inge, later moved to California and eventually to West Pittston where they resided for the last 34 years.
He leaves his wife, Inge, of 47 years; his daughter Joanne Kubler, of Los Angeles; his grandson Michael Kubler and his wife Kathryn, and his great-grandchildren Gabriel and Ari of Sydney, Australia.
A celebration of Rev. Dr. Markarian’s life will be held at a later date.
Memorial donations can be made online or mailed to the AMAA at 31 W. Century Rd., Paramus, NJ 07652. (Please include a memo on check: Rev. Dr. John Markarian Memorial.)
The Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) was founded in 1918, in Worcester, MA, and incorporated as a non-profit charitable organization in 1920 in the State of New York. We are a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. Our purpose is to serve the physical and spiritual needs of people everywhere, both at home and overseas. To fulfill this worldwide mission, we maintain a range of educational, evangelistic, relief, social service, church and child care ministries in 24 countries around the world.
Kind, brilliant, discreet, faithful, generous, genuine, inventive, creative, outgoing and warmhearted are some keywords that could describe Yeghpayr Vahe Doudaklian, a kind and wise soul who always went out of his way making a difference in other people’s lives.
For some of you who are not familiar with the word “yeghpayr,” it means “brother” in Armenian. But in this tribute, “yeghpayr” means much more than that! “Yeghpayr” here embodies genuine, authentic, sincere and limitless love and care.
I have known Yeghpayr Vahe since August 2000. I was wandering around Washington, DC near the White House when I suddenly noticed a brass deer sign and the name “Doudaklian Leathers” between I and K streets NW. The rest is history.
Yeghpayr Vahe was always suited and sharp. A leather apron separated him from his sewing machine or work table. He could be repairing a Briggs & Riley luggage or a Zero-Halliburton case, restoring a Louis Vuitton or Hermes purse, retouching and refreshing an Eastman jacket, fashioning a custom leather portfolio, or just cracking some witty jokes with a governor, a US Senator, a Secret Service agent, US Treasury department director or his local UPS driver. He was an amazing multitasker. While working on an item, he had an eye on the sales floor, checking his computer every once in a while, keeping an eye on the TV while leading interesting and informative conversations.
He was a chain smoker. One day, when I asked him, you love life and are a very smart person, why do you keep smoking that poison? He looked at me smiling and stated that everything has its time, and everything will eventually come to an end. That day, while riding with him towards Gaithersburg in his brand new Toyota Highlander, almost past Canal Road he suddenly took the cigarette pack, crushed it in his palm, looked at me smiling and said, “I guess this is that day, Apo.” He opened the driver’s window and threw the pack out. Laughing, he said, “This is the first and last time I throw something out of the window.” During the last 20 years, I saw him smoke cigars once in a while, but I never saw him with a pack of cigarettes again.
Have you ever wondered about the suitcase that Secret Service agents carry, just footsteps from US presidents? That’s called the “football,” the “nuclear football,” the contents of which are to be used by the President of the United States to authorize a nuclear attack. Do you know who made the “football” for the last six US Presidents? You guessed it right—Yeghpayr Vahe…from scratch. He was, however, annoyed that US government agencies, for their own security or other reasons, never credited his work when these suitcases would go on display in the National History Museum, opting instead to give the credit to Zero-Halliburton.
Yeghpayr Vahe’s main clientele were US governmental agencies, senators, ambassadors, visiting dignitaries and A-listers. He never bragged about his clientele or his unmatched expertise. He had a sharp eye for detail and a refined and updated sense of fashion.
Above all, Yeghpayr Vahe was a bold and straightforward Armenian. He lived in the US for over 45 years. I never heard him using foreign words while speaking in Armenian. He was an avid conversationalist in English and Arabic as well.
Yeghpayr Vahe was born to a modest family in Bourj Hammoud, Lebanon on the 12th of January, 1958. He attended Sofia Hagopian Elementary School and later on worked in various areas of the leather industry manufacturing handbags and shoes. He left Lebanon in the middle of the Civil War and headed to Cyprus, where he temporarily worked in the shoe repair business. In France, he utilized his previous experiences repairing leather jackets until he finally reached the US. He settled in Falls Church, Virginia with his family.
While learning about the US culture and the English language, he continued pursuing invaluable experiences in the repair of leather goods and auto upholstery restoration. His innate entrepreneurial skills combined with his first-hand experiences, and he opened his first custom leather goods and repair shop on P Street and later moved to his DC store in 1983.
Yeghpayr Vahe worked tirelessly day and night. He was a role model to many, including myself. He served on the Board of Trustees of the Soorp Khatch Armenian Apostolic Church in Bethesda, MD for many years, while also serving on the Regional Executive committee of his beloved Homenetmen Eastern Region. He loved soccer and played with many local Homenetmen teams.
He was always there when needed—Homenetmen events, church bazaars, visiting elderly friends or just showing up to say a hello to neighbors or colleagues.
Yeghpayr Vahe fought all his life for a better and safer future. He was looking forward to his retirement and time in his homeland. Unfortunately, a malignant illness cut his dreams short, and he left us with great and warm memories. I am forever grateful I enjoyed his friendship. I will never forget his advice, his kindness and his brotherly smile. I will never forget you, Yeghpayr Vahe. May God rest your soul.
Until we meet again,
Abraham “Apo” Setoyan
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Anna Araxy Yeshilian passed away on July 11 at age 97. She was born in Chelsea, MA to the late Siranoush Helene Mecanisian and Hovsep Yeshilian. Anna was predeceased by her siblings: Eugene Swajian, Martin Yeshilian, Michael Yeshilian and Victoria Mesropian.
She was also predeceased by nieces and nephews: Elaine Swajian Garabedian, Armand Swajian, Helene Yeshilian Freedman, Karen Mesropian Donoghue and Robert Mesropian. She is survived by nieces and nephews: Robert Swajian, Susan Yeshilian Manaras, Michael Yeshilian, Joseph Yeshilian, and Jeanne Yeshilian Lawson.
She lived most of her life in Watertown, MA. After a career as an administrative assistant, Anna devoted many years to volunteer work at the Armenian Museum of America in Watertown. She was also a member of the Mount Auburn Hospital Auxiliary, Cambridge, MA. Anna was a lifelong lover of classical music and opera and studied piano and the organ. She played the piano and taught Sunday School at the St. James Armenian Church in Watertown and played the organ at the chapels of Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge and other local churches.
Per her wishes, Anna will be buried privately at Mount Auburn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, she wished for memorial gifts to be made to Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 or the Armenian Museum of America, 65 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02472.
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On July 14, NAASR announced with sadness the passing of Van M. Aroian of Worcester, MA, the senior member of its Board of Directors. He was 94 years old. Aroian was a Charter Member of NAASR, having joined in the organization’s first year, 1955, and served on its Board of Directors since 1992, including many years on the Executive Committee.
He is survived by Mary, his wife of more than 60 years, and sons Mihran and Raffi and their families, and nieces and nephews including fellow NAASR Board Member Bruce W. Roat, who recalled his uncle as “a strong, positive leader in my extended family and a great role model of the greatest generation.”
A funeral service was held on July 20 at Armenian Church of Our Saviour in Worcester. Burial was held at Hope Cemetery.
As a Board Member who was involved with NAASR from its very outset, Aroian brought a wealth of experience and knowledge but always wanted the organization to be looking ahead. Current NAASR Chairman Yervant Chekijian remarked that “Van…believed in active participation in NAASR’s administration, planning and vision for the future,” and indeed until recent physical setbacks slowed him down Van remained a highly involved member of the Board and a fixture at NAASR programs, logging many miles of driving between Worcester and Belmont.
Former NAASR Chairman Nancy Kolligian stated “Van meant so much to all of us—not only as a dedicated NAASR member and Board member but also as a man of keen intellect and knowledge who contributed so much to NAASR for decades. I valued him as a friend and mentor and will be forever grateful that he was a part of my life.”
NAASR Director of Academic Affairs Marc Mamigonian, who worked closely with Aroian for more than 20 years, called him a “stalwart” and “a man of ideas and of integrity, decency and commitment to what NAASR represents.”
Van M. Aroian was born in Boston on June 5, 1927 to Mihran and Satenig (Tashjian) Aroian, respectively of Kharpert and Hussenig, Historic Armenia. They married in Boston and raised Van and his sisters Alice and Myra. He earned a BA at Boston University and MA in Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University. He was a fellow in Urban Geography at Clark University and an Urban Planner and Deputy Director of the Worcester Redevelopment Authority. He later joined his brother in-law Kevork and wife Mary Balekdjian Aroian in importing and retailing oriental carpets.
It was during Aroian’s time as a graduate student at Harvard that he met and studied with Prof. Richard Frye. In 1999, during the celebration of NAASR’s 45th anniversary, Aroian recalled: “As a graduate student in 1951-1952, I approached Dr. Frye and stated that it was time to get a professorship in the Armenian area. He agreed strongly and urged me to go out and see what could be done. I canvassed the gamut of political and religious leaders; the consensus was there, but the apparent mechanism was not. One day I entered the office to find Prof. Frye and Manoog Young and the other founders [Thomas Amirian and Arra Avakian] in serious discussion. … By 1954 NAASR was formed and in five short years by 1959 with the establishment of the Harvard chair, the dream of Professors Blake, who had passed on in 1950, and Frye who had carried the idea forward had been realized. The rest is history.”
Van was also active in the Worcester Historical Society, the Worcester Ecumenical Council and the Armenian Church of Our Savior in Worcester.
Characteristically, while he initially was skeptical of NAASR’s plans to build a new headquarters, Van came to embrace the idea and was a joyful presence at the grand opening in November 2019. NAASR Executive Director Sarah Ignatius remembered “how meaningful it was for Van along with his fellow NAASR elder statesman, the late Jack Medzorian, to be there, braving the cold to help cut the ribbon and inaugurate a new era for the organization he served so well and for so long.”
OBITUARY:
Van Mihrean Aroian passed away peacefully in Worcester, MA, on July 14, 2021.
Born in Boston in 1927, Van was the middle child of Mihran and Satenig Aroian, a survivor of the Armenian Genocide. He had two sisters, Alice (Roat) and Myra (Ellis). Van grew up in Boston’s South End and Jamaica Plain and worked on family farms around Sterling during the summers. Van was energetic, gregarious, generous and intelligent. He attended Boston Latin and graduated from Jamaica Plain High School, where he excelled in academics and track. He served in the US Army during World War II from 1945 to 1947, after which he received a BA in history from Boston University (Phi Beta Kappa) and Master’s in Middle East history from Harvard University. He also worked at the Arnold Arboretum and made many lifelong friends.
He lost both parents at a relatively early age. While remembering them with love and honor, he always looked to the present and not the past. His sharp mind led him to teaching and pursuit of a doctoral degree in geography at Clark University, moving to Worcester in 1959. He also met his love and lifelong companion and wife of 63 years, Mary Balekdjian. They married in 1957. He eventually became deputy director of the Worcester Redevelopment Authority, where he dedicated his energies toward urban renewal, amelioration of poverty and revitalizing the city. Helping others and promoting justice and equality were among his passions. During this time, he and Mary raised two boys, Mihran and Raffi. They instilled in them his positivity, strong work ethic, dedication toward helping others, love for family and friends, their Armenian heritage, being inclusive and welcoming, a love of classical art and music, and going out for a drive or for ice cream.
His love of his Armenian heritage was always in the forefront, with more than 50 years of commitment to National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR), where he served as treasurer and, until his death, board member. Van was dynamically involved in the Armenian community of Worcester: the Armenian Church of Our Saviour Parish Council, director of the Armenian Children’s Milk Fund, the Worcester Armenian Book Commemoration Committee exhibit to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Armenian book printing, and Project Save’s “Looking at Ourselves” with the Worcester Historical Society. In 1975, Van co-founded Oriental Rug Treasures, a store in Sudbury, MA, selling fine oriental rugs. With his integrity and honesty, he saw this as an opportunity to share his love of art and connecting with others.
Following his retirement, Van remained an amazing husband, father, grandfather and friend. Based on years of research at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, Van published a scholarly piece in the Journal of Armenian Studies on the important contributions of Armenians to photography in the Ottoman Empire, giving seminars on the east and west coasts. Van was a Renaissance man with sharp wit, enormous strength and fighting spirit, generosity, wisdom, compassion, sparkling eyes, and boundless love and optimism.
The world has lost a great man. He is survived by his wife Mary, his sons Mihran and Raffi, their wives Karen and Jeanine Niyonzima, and his four grandchildren Hasmig, Ani, Diran and Zoe.
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Rev. Dr. John Markarian, the oldest member of the Armenian Evangelical ministerium and the founding president of the Haigazian University, went to be with the Lord on June 29, 2021, at the age of 104.
Born in Windom, N.Y., he was the son of Rev. and Mrs. Jacob and Dora Markarian. A graduate of Princeton and Drew universities, Dr. Markarian was an ordained minister. In 1946, he joined the faculty of Lafayette College.
Sometimes, God elects and calls special individuals to implement His plans in certain places. Looking back, more than 66 years, I believe the Rev. Dr. John Markarian was the person God had selected to be the founding president of the first and only university for Diasporan Armenians, Haigazian University. Along with this selection, God called some people to be Markarian’s mission partners both in the United States and in the Middle East. One such mission partner was one of Dr. Markarian’s students, Harry Balukjian, who introduced his professor to the Armenian community in the Greater Philadelphia area. Another mission partner was Stephen Philibosian, who became a good friend of the Markarians. Still, other mission partners were Stephen and Mary Mahakian, who had the vision of being the benefactors of an institution of higher learning in Beirut, Lebanon in memory of Mrs. Mahakian’s father, Prof. Armenag Haigazian, the president of the Apostolic Institute of Konya, Turkey, who was martyred in 1920 during the Armenian Genocide.
The Mahakians were visiting the Philibosians in Radnor, PA to discuss the feasibility of such an institution. The idea was conceived in Philibosian’s hilltop home. With the initial gift of $25,000 from the Mahakians, Philibosian worked diligently to implement the challenging details. Along with the financial plans, there was a burning issue in mind; the future president of the college. Suddenly, it dawned on Mr. Philibosian that Dr. Markarian would be a most viable candidate for such a position.
Without delay Mr. Philibosian called Rev. Markarian and strongly appealed to him “to abdicate his Lafayette College professorship in favor of being the founding president of the new college.” This powerful appeal became a serious consideration and a subject of prayer for the young educator. The challenge sounded like a divine call, one similar to that of Isaiah: “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” John Markarian’s response, like that of Isaiah, was, “Here I am. Send me.”
Not too long after this call, Markarian together with his wife Ruth and their five year-old daughter Joanne, set sail from New York to Beirut, Lebanon. There, he embarked upon the colossal task of organizing the new college. And thanks to the hard work and financial and moral support of his colleagues and friends in the United States and the Middle East, Haigazian College became a vibrant reality. During his tenure in 1966, the college was accredited by the Lebanese Ministry of Education as a four-year institution of higher learning. Dr. Markarian served Haigazian College for two terms (1955 to 1966 and May 1971 to 1982).
My association with Dr. Markarian goes back to 1955. My late wife Juliette was one of his students at Haigazian College. He was also my professor of systematic theology at the Near East School of Theology (NEST). Thus, we both were privileged to be Dr. Markarian’s students.
Dr. John Markarian was an educator, par excellence. In addition to his official duties as president, he taught religious courses at Haigazian and some theological courses at the NEST. His students admired him for his infectious enthusiasm, rigorous scholarship and the excellence of his teaching. They always knew that when he walked into the classroom, they were about to embark upon a serious intellectual venture. He was never offended by opposition; on the contrary, he was delighted by it. His mentorship was especially important to many seminarians, including the writer of this article.
Markarian was a man with executive talent. The ability to organize was innate in him. He was an individual who was full of energy, dreams and plans. He was a visionary, but he never stopped with dreams. He always sought for practical solutions.
Dr. Markarian was an excellent communicator, whether he was at the pulpit, in the classroom or at a fundraising campaign. He was an eloquent preacher, speaker and motivator. He had a persuasive tongue and an engaging personality—two major powers with which he could captivate the hearts of his listeners and direct their minds.
For his many students, Dr. Markarian was, in many ways, a larger-than-life personality. He was truly an outstanding individual, a man of staunch faith with a kind and gentle spirit. He certainly left a mark on us all and a rich legacy that hands of time cannot erase.
Rev. Dr. John Markarian lived a very long and accomplished life. God had richly endowed him with remarkable talent and energy, which he used for His Kingdom and for the wellbeing of his fellow humans. His uncommon strength of character and resolve, which has been the hallmark of the Armenian race, became a source of blessings to many.
Dr. Markarian is survived by his wife of 47 years Inge, daughter Joanne and grandson Michael, who lives in Australia with his wife and two children.
And so we say goodbye to Rev. Dr. John Markarian, and at the same time, we draw comfort that the spiritual and intellectual virtues he worked so hard to uphold will stay among us long after his physical departure.
May God bless his memory.
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Rev. Dr. Vahan Tootikian
Rev. Dr. Vahan H. Tootikian is the Executive Director of the Armenian Evangelical World Council.
Rose Koobatian of Worcester, Massachusetts, cherished matriarch, passed away on June 25, 2021. She was 97 years old.
Rose was born in 1924 in Lawrence, MA, the daughter of Mary (Verdanian) and Nerses Babigian. Her father was from Chimizgazak in the Kharpert region of Armenia; he was a survivor of the Armenian Genocide. Her mother was from Aleppo, Syria. Her beloved husband, John Koobatian, predeceased her in 1996. She was also predeceased by her cherished brother, Dickran Babigian in 1980 and her dear aunt Nivart Moasesian in 2011.
In 1962, Rose married John Gregor Koobatian, and they lived all of their married life in Worcester. Together, they joyfully raised four children. She was the quintessential loving mom to Gregor (and his wife Nadine) of Madison, CT, Thomas (and his wife Christine) of Southbury, CT, Carol Ouzounian (and her husband Souren) of Short Hills, NJ and Paul of Brookline, MA. Additionally, Rose leaves her 10 dear grandchildren: John, Elizabeth, Nicholas, Daniel, Nina, Christopher, Benjamin, Alexandra, Annabelle and Souren, whom she all adored beyond measure.
Rose was a proud Armenian. She was an active member of Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church and the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) “Knar” Chapter. She looked forward to fall bazaars and summer picnics where she would catch up with old friends and enjoy Armenian food, music and dancing. She was an accomplished cook and baker and took great joy in preparing the most delicious Armenian foods for her family. Her specialties included yalanche (stuffed grape leaves), rice pilaf and paklava, all of which were the stars of any family gathering. She also loved traveling and nature and marveled at the many birds that visited her feeder daily. Her enduring legacy will always be her family with whom she spent her happiest moments.
A private funeral was held on June 28, 2021 at Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church in Worcester, followed by interment at Hope Cemetery, with Fr. Torkom Chorbajian offering graveside prayers. Nordgren Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements. Donations in lieu of flowers are welcomed by the Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, 635 Grove Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605 and the ARS Worcester “Knar” Chapter, c/o Joyce Aghjayan, 5 Shore Avenue, Westminster, MA 01473.
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Rose Krikorian died peacefully at home surrounded by her friends and dedicated caregivers on August 9, 2021. She was 96 years old.
Rose was the daughter of the late Panos and Arisdine Krikorian. She was predeceased by her brother Harold and her sister Sybil.
Rose was born in Watertown and graduated from Watertown High School. For many years, she lived in Belmont with her mother and sister, where her family hosted many dinner parties for friends.
Rose was proud of her Armenian heritage. She and her family were benefactors and active members of St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church in Watertown.
Rose spent her entire career in public service, first having served as an assistant to Elliott Richardson, then United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts and later the Attorney General of the United States. She was also the executive assistant to the Honorable G. Joseph Tauro, Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts until Justice Tauro’s retirement.
From 1975 until her retirement in 1989, Rose served as the executive assistant to the Honorable Edward F. Hennessey, Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court. Rose was greatly admired and respected by the judges on the Supreme Judicial Court and was beloved by the many law clerks who served the court. The law clerks were her extended family. She never missed a law clerk reunion.
Rose was known for her sophisticated style, humor and class. On Rose’s retirement in 1989, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly penned an editorial entitled, “A Rose By Any Other Name ….” It read, in part, “Many of us at the bar have known for years who really has been responsible for the smooth sailing of the ship of justice through the rough waters of the commonwealth. Rose. She efficiently and modestly guarded the door to the corner lobby for all those years and did so in such an effective manner that no one ever was offended and no one ever believed that the chief did not think his opinion was important enough to be heard.”
Funeral services will be held at Saint Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church, 38 Elton Avenue, Watertown on Wednesday, August 18 at 12 noon. A visitation period will be held at church on Wednesday from 11 a.m. – 12 noon. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend.
Donations in Rose’s memory may be made to the Chief Justice Edward F. Hennessey Scholarship Fund c/o Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc., Ten Winter Street, Boston, MA 02108-4751.
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Robert Edward Avedikian, beloved son, brother, Amo, boyfriend, nephew, cousin and friend, passed away due to medical complications following a stroke, on Saturday, August 7, 2021, in Los Angeles, California. He was surrounded by his mother, brother and girlfriend.
Robert, a proud Armenian American who was born in Beirut, Lebanon, lived life each day to its fullest. As such, his life will be celebrated on Wednesday, August 25 beginning at noon at Hollywood Hills Forest Lawn Memorial Park Old North Church (Red Chapel Top of the Hill) located at 6300 Forest Lawn Drive. Funeral services will be followed by interment at Hollywood Hills Forest Lawn – Ascending Dawn.
He is preceded in death by his beloved father Edward Avedikian and survived by his adoring mother Betty Avedikian; his confidant and brother Eddie William Avedikian Jr. and his wife Lynnette Tatosyan-Avedikian; his favorite little humans – his nephews – Noah, Haig and Luke Avedikian; his devoted girlfriend Brandy Hill; dozens of his “favorite” cousins, aunts and uncles (Avedikians, Balians, Meguerditchians, Sevgians); and his friends – all of whom he loved with all his heart.
Robert lit up every room and every life he ever walked into. He was the life of the party, the lender of hand, the constant source of joy and laughter in so many people’s lives. With his hands, he constructed homes and built communities. His life, though cut short, was full of love.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in The Edward M. Avedikian Sunday School Activities Fund, established in 2016 in loving memory of Edward M. Avedikian and Robert Avedikian, Mount Ararat Bible Church, 17216 Saticoy St. Suite 624, Lake Balboa, CA 91406.
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Guest contributions to the Armenian Weekly are informative articles or press releases written and submitted by members of the community.
Lucy Torosian (Markarian) of Belmont, Massachusetts passed away on August 14, 2021.
Daughter of the late Manoog and Siranoush (Zeytoonjian) Markarian. Beloved wife of Himayak Torosian for 64 years. Loving daughter-in-law to the late Armenouhi Torosian. Devoted mother of Susan Torosian and Kaspar Torosian and his late wife Grace. Cherished grandmother, affectionately known as “Maymay,” to Gregory, Haig and Markar Torosian and his wife Mengting. Adored great grandmother of Marie Grace. Sister of the late Markar Markarian, Toros Markarian and Elizabeth Danieli. Also survived by many loving godchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Lucy was born in South Boston where she attended school and lived in a vibrant, close-knit Armenian community. She founded M&T Oil with her father Manoog, where she was the bookkeeper and secretary; she was later joined by her brothers. Along with her mother Siranoush, she enjoyed hosting the South Boston coffee/tea socials with the family and neighbors. She helped her brothers, sister and in-laws by lovingly caring for her nephews and nieces. She helped family members, friends and any Armenian wanting to migrate to America and become citizens.
She married Himayak (Mike) and later moved to Belmont, MA. She helped found L&M Oil and Hi Energy Oil Companies. She supported the churches and was the secretary for the Holy Trinity Armenian School for many years. She will continue to be loved and missed by all.
Funeral service at Holy Trinity Armenian Church, 145 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA on Friday, August 20, 2021. A visitation period will be held at church on Friday morning from 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon, immediately prior to the funeral service. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made one of the following:
Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church
145 Brattle Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School
47 Nichols Ave
Watertown, MA 02472
Armenian Heritage Foundation
PO Box 77
Watertown, MA 02471
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Guest contributions to the Armenian Weekly are informative articles or press releases written and submitted by members of the community.
“Say not in grief ‘He is no more,’ but in thankfulness ‘That he was.’”
Today, the Armenian-American community of Arizona grieves, celebrates, mourns, praises, remembers and loves someone very special. Special is a word used to describe a person who is ‘one of a kind,’ a person who is extraordinarily gifted and talented, a person who spreads love and laughter with that sparkling twinkle in his eye, a person who reaches for your hand and touches your heart. Special is a word that applies to someone who is admired and respected by young and old alike, someone who can never be duplicated or replaced. Special is the word that best describes our community’s beloved member, Charles Garo Takoushian.
In a perfect world, we would all have someone who listens without judgement, who values honesty over appearance and effort over accomplishment. In a perfect world, we would all have someone who accepts us just the way we are. Our community was lucky in that way. We had Charlie. One community member summed it up so aptly when she said to Charlie, “Baron Charlie, du yes mer hamaynkeen sird yev hokin.” “Mr. Charlie, you are our community’s heart and soul.”
Family was first and utmost in Charlie’s life. He shared 74 years of his remarkable 97-year life with his beloved and devoted wife Louise, whose support, encouragement and love motivated him to accept challenges, strive for excellence, accomplish goals, and, together with their family, celebrate his achievements. They are the proud parents of Jeffrey (wife Louise), Robert, Susan and Armen. They were also blessed with four grandchildren: Daniel, Garik, Melissa and Marc.
Charlie was born in Manhattan, New York to Kaspar and Siranoush Takoushian. He was so proud of his Armenian ancestry and traced his roots to Gesaria in Western Armenia. Many of his family members were among the million and a half ethnic Armenian martyrs who perished during the 1915 Armenian Genocide. He was part of a generation of survivors who struggled with the realities of survival: finding work, raising families, adapting to new environments and supporting their children’s education.
At the same time, Charlie and his family, like thousands of other Armenian families, persevered courageously and with immense sacrifice to preserve, protect and defend their Armenian culture, language and religion. Charlie made a lifetime commitment to pursue a just resolution to the Armenian Cause and was pleased that he lived long enough to witness the official recognition of the Armenian Genocide through congressional resolutions passed by both houses of the United States Congress in the fall of 2019.
Charlie was equally proud to be an American. He loved the country of his birth and appreciated the numerous freedoms, opportunities and safety it provided him, his family and his fellow Armenians and Americans. He courageously risked his life in the service of the USA during World War II. From 1943 to 1946, he was an Armorer Gunner assigned to the 400th bomber group of B-24s.
Charlie was the ultimate Renaissance Man, always dapper, charming and gifted with many artistic talents, skills and areas of knowledge. Charlie was well read in world history and the fine arts. Two of his favorite figures were Michelangelo and Leonardo de Vinci. Their life stories inspired him to always move forward and strive to expand his knowledge and improve his skills. He was never satisfied with being good at anything. He had to be the best in all he attempted to do. It can be said that Charlie earned the right to proudly walk in the footsteps of his two heroes.
Charlie had a wry and dry sense of humor. He aptly chose ‘Luke Skywalker’ to be his email moniker. Skywalker was a Tatooine farm boy who rose from humble beginnings to become one of the greatest Jedi the galaxy has ever known. Charlie, too, rose from humble beginnings and became one of the most accomplished and respected members of our community.
Charlie was a lifelong learner. Whenever or wherever there was an opportunity to learn, Charlie was there to take advantage of it. He graduated from Galvani Junior High in 1937 and then enrolled in the Manhattan High School of Aviation Trades, where he studied the making and servicing of aircraft and aircraft engines, graduating in 1941. After his military service, he attended the Pratt Institute for two years to study art and then went on to the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied the history, development and the building and restoration of wind and string instruments. He spent endless hours at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, studying and sketching all forms of art and musical instruments. His studies and talents led him to a lucrative 25-year career in graphic arts as a photo-engraver. He then joined the GAF Corp as a salesman of graphic arts products. In less than a year, he was promoted to district sales manager covering the states of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
He retired to Arizona at age 58 and took advantage of the sculpting and painting classes offered at the Glendale Community College. He attended four years winning multiple ribbons in juried art shows. In 1985, word of Charlie’s talents had reached Washington, DC. He was asked to fill a position at the Smithsonian Musical Instrument Department. He was honored but compelled to refuse, because he was in Arizona enjoying his retirement.
The honors, the awards, the certificates of merit, the first place ribbons, the multiple trophies and accolades bestowed upon Charlie for his skills and talent as an artist, sculptor, stained glass designer, poet, writer, luthier, photo engraver, salesman, and yes, even a marksman, are literally in the hundreds, and yet he remained a humble man of dignity and grace. Two of his most noteworthy artistic accomplishments are on display in the St. Apkar Armenian Apostolic Church in Scottsdale, AZ. A splendid 16 inch, gold plated cross, mounted on a beautiful marble base was the first cross to grace the church’s altar since its inception. The second is a masterful sculpture of Christ displayed in the church foyer. Charlie was blessed with a host of unique aptitudes and capabilities. He was grateful for them and worked hard to develop them. He earned and deserved each and every honor granted him!
Charlie’s life was a blessing. He was the author of his destiny, a role model for all of us. Our lives were enriched to know him and be his friend. We are heartbroken by his passing and will miss him, but we understand that grief is the price we pay for love. We have a choice to make. We can be sad and shed tears because Charlie is gone, or we can do what he would want us to do: cherish his memory and let it live on; celebrate his life and remember all the loving memories we shared. What a beautiful difference one single life has made!
Louise Najarian of Waltham passed away on August 19, 2021.
Devoted mother of Linda Marsoubian and her late husband Masrob Michael Marsoubian. Loving grandmother of Chantal Marsoubian Kelly and her husband Brian and Paul Marsoubian and his wife Christina. Cherished great grandmother of Liam. Loving sister of the late Hagop Nadjarian and Asadour Nadjarian
Funeral service will be held at Saint James Armenian Church, 465 Mount Auburn Street, Watertown on Wednesday, August 25 at 11:00 am. Visiting hours will be held at church on Wednesday morning from 10:00-11:00, immediately prior to the funeral service. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to SOAR (Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief) 150 N. Radnor Chester Road, Suite F200, Radnor, PA 19087 or Saint James Armenian Church. Interment at Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge.
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Since word spread of Prof. George Bournoutian’s passing on August 22, there have been many tributes in his memory, and the Armenian Weekly joins in mourning the loss of this prolific and esteemed scholar.
Bournoutian was born and raised in Isfahan, Iran and immigrated to the United States in 1964. Multilingual, he was fluent in Armenian, Persian, Russian and Polish, and had a reading command of French. He attended UCLA and received his MA in 1971 and PhD in history in 1976 with his dissertation on Eastern Armenia on the eve of the Russian conquest.
Bournoutian taught Iranian history at UCLA and Armenian history at Columbia University, Tufts University, New York University, Rutgers University, the University of Connecticut, Ramapo College and Glendale Community College. Recently, he retired after many years of teaching Russian and Soviet history at Iona College.
In a career spanning more than 40 years, Bournoutian was the author and translator of more than 30 books, with a particular focus on Armenian, Iranian, and Caucasian history. Among his many publications are The Khanate of Erevan Under Qajar Rule, The History of Vardapet Arakel of Tabriz, Two Chronicles on the History of Karabagh, The Travel Accounts of Simeon of Poland, Jambr, The 1823 Russian Survey of the Karabagh Province: A Primary Source on the Demography and Economy of Karabagh in the Early 19th Century, A Brief History of the Aghuank Region, The 1829-1832 Russian Surveys of the Khanate of Nakhichevan, Armenia and Imperial Decline: The Yerevan Province, 1900-1914 and A Concise History of the Armenian People, which had its seventh printing in 2018. Many of his publications have been translated into Armenian, Farsi, Turkish, Polish, Japanese, Spanish, and Arabic.
A member of the Middle Eastern Studies Association, Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies, Iranian Studies Association, Society for Armenian Studies, and Association Internationale des Etudes Armeniennes, Bournoutian also was one of 40 editors of the Encyclopaedia Iranica.
The Society for Armenian Studies (SAS) honored Prof. Bournoutian in May 2021 with its “Lifetime Achievement Award” for his outstanding service and contributions to the field of Armenian Studies. During the special online event, Richard Hovannisian Endowed Chair in Modern Armenian History Prof. Sebouh Aslanian, Dr. Asya Darbinyan and Prof. Stephen Badalyan Riegg offered remarks and accolades about Bournoutian’s work.
Spotlighting his many accomplishments, Aslanian discussed Bournoutian’s work in the field of early modern Armenian history, while Darbinyan highlighted how he contributed to the understanding of Transcaucasia from political and socio-economic perspectives. Badalyan Riegg continued with Bournoutian’s contributions to the history of Russian imperialism in the first decades of the 19th century.
“More than any other scholar in our field, Bournoutian has not only identified the key Armenian-language primary sources of this period but more importantly made them accessible to a larger body of scholars through his reliable and readable English-language translations,” said Aslanian in his comments during the event. “The upshot of a lifetime of dedicated translation work is a set of foundational texts that has informed and inspired numerous scholars in fields auxiliary to Armenian studies who have long known of these sources but were unable to profit from them due to the obstacles of language.”
“Prof. Bournoutian’s tremendous body of research allows us to look at the past of the South Caucasus in its intricate details,” stated Darbinyan during her remarks. “The research opens a door to understanding Transcaucasia in its past relationships with the local imperial powers, as well as in the larger context of ‘The Great Game’ and draws some conclusions about the present geopolitical interests of the Western and regional powers.”
Badalyan Riegg focused specifically on Bournoutian’s latest work From the Kur to Aras: A Military History of Russia’s Move into the South Caucasus and the First Russo-Iranian War(2020. The book is a military history of the Russo-Iranian War between 1801-1813. “To my knowledge, no other scholar, writing in English or Russian, has examined this conflict in such detail,” commented Badalyan Riegg. “Bournoutian meticulously documents every armed unit, movement, skirmish, and tense debate between the two combatants and among the various allies.”
Bournoutian expressed sincere gratitude to SAS for the honor of its Lifetime Achievement Award. “Being acknowledged by your peers is the best satisfaction one can hope for,” he said. “I am also happy to know that our new generation of scholars are better equipped and have already produced significant works.” In a now-poignant conclusion to his remarks, Bournoutian said, “I can sleep well knowing that the torch is in capable hands.”
The National Association of Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) offered the following thoughts:
NAASR joins with scholars and friends all over the world in mourning the passing of an esteemed colleague, Prof. George Bournoutian… out of respect for his enormous contributions we offer this brief appreciation and extend our deepest sympathies to his family.
In addition to his writings, George was a prolific lecturer, giving innumerable talks including many for NAASR over the years in Belmont and all over the U.S. and Canada. He was also a world traveler and led NAASR’s first Armenian Heritage Tour in decades in 2006 to the Republic of Armenia and Historic Armenia.
In 2008, he enriched NAASR’s library immeasurably when he transferred his huge scholarly library, the Ani and George Bournoutian Collection, which has become a cornerstone of the Mardigian Library. NAASR, in turn, was proud to support his work through grants for several of his publications.
Former NAASR Chairman Nancy Kolligian recalled that George “was an outstanding scholar who electrified the room when he entered it. I will remember going to Armenia and Historic Armenia with him on our 2006 NAASR trip—we had such a great time.” Current Chairman Yervant Chekijian remembered Bournoutian as “totally committed to the honest exploration of Armenia’s history.”
NAASR Academic Director Marc Mamigonian remarked that “George was warm, opinionated, unfiltered, brilliant, hilarious, and utterly indefatigable. He was always in the middle of a book project and excited about the next one. While it is difficult to accept that there will be no next book, no one can say that George Bournoutian didn’t get the most out of life, and he leaves an incredible legacy.”
Anyone who ever met George Bournoutian or heard one of his lectures could feel his energy and boundless vitality. Those qualities will endure in his huge scholarly output, which will continue to enrich us, and in our memories of him as a friend and a scholar. He will indeed be missed.
President of SAS Bedross Der Matossian stated the following at the special event honoring Bournoutian in May: “Bournoutian’s scholarship has always been relevant. However, today it is much more needed as Armenia and Artsakh are facing monumental challenges due to the 2020 War,” he said. “One of these challenges deals with falsification of Artsakh’s history by Azeri scholars. Bournoutian has been on the forefront of combating this revisionist history which has now entered western academia.” Upon Bournoutian’s passing, Der Matossian expressed sadness and sincere condolences to his “family and beloved ones.”
“As a historian who works in the fields that George tilled for many decades, I can say that his passing marks a sad milestone for the rest of us. I am grateful that his work has brought back to life and made widely accessible sources that have been for too long been sidelined even or especially by Armenian scholars in the diaspora. George will be missed by his friends and colleagues, and I offer my sincere condolences to his family and loved ones. May his memory be blessed, and may it inspire us to work more creatively and tirelessly,” said Prof. Aslanian, who also serves as Director of the Armenian Studies Center within the UCLA Promise Armenian Institute.
Prelate Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian and the executive and religious councils of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church expressed sorrow and extended their condolences to Prof. Bournoutian’s family members and loved ones. May God illuminate his soul. Asdvatz hokeen lousavoreh.
The Zoryan Institute is saddened to learn about the passing of longtime supporter and friend Zaruhy Sara Chitjian. 
Her support for EPIC was unwavering and in 2019, she funded a 10-day experience for a 
Louise Najarian of Waltham passed away on August 19, 2021.