WATERTOWN, Mass. — On Monday, December 4, St. James Armenian Church will host a Men’s Club dinner meeting at the St James Charles Mosesian Cultural and Youth Center. The speaker will be Sushil K. Tuli.
Tuli has been one of the leading figures in lending and banking in Massachusetts for nearly 30 years. He founded Leader Bank in May 2002, opening a single branch in East Arlington with seven employees and $6.5 million in assets. He has guided Leader Bank to become one of the top community banks in the country, with well over 225 employees across seven full service branches and three loan production centers, and more than $1 billion in assets. During his time as president, chairman and CEO, Tuli has grown all facets of Leader Bank’s business, with a particular focus on retail banking, residential mortgages and both commercial and small business lending.
Tuli and Leader Bank have been repeatedly honored for their success over the last decade. Under Tuli’s leadership, Leader Bank has received both a 5-Star Superior Rating from Bauer Financial in every quarter since 2010 and an “A” or “Excellent” rating from Weiss Ratings. In 2013, Banker & Tradesman named Tuli as a Community Bank Hero, and in 2015, the Boston Business Journal named him Leader in Diversity. Tuli also recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award from TiE-Boston for his work mentoring and supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses, and the 2015 President’s Award from HomeStart, Inc., for his dedication to combating homelessness in Massachusetts.
Tuli’s leadership extends beyond his work with Leader Bank, having served in 1999 as the chairman of the Massachusetts Mortgage Bankers Association, the largest mortgage banking industry association in New England. Tuli is currently serving as a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston’s Community Depository Institution Advisory Council and the Massachusetts Home Ownership Advisory Committee. Governor Charles Baker also recently appointed Tuli to the Massachusetts Economic Development Council, and until recently, he also served on Fannie Mae’s Affordable Housing Advisory Council.
Tuli is regularly interviewed and quoted regarding his experience in and knowledge of lending and banking in Massachusetts and nationwide, and has been the subject of personal profiles in publications such as the Boston Globe and Banker & Tradesman.
The program will begin with a social hour and mezza at 6:15 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15/person.
BELMONT, Mass. — On November 1, 2017, Dr. Bayara Aroutunova-Manusevitch turned 101 in her beautifully appointed home. Born in 1916 to a Russified Armenian family in Novyi Nakhichevan (New Nakhichevan, now in Rostov, where in 1778 Catherine II forcibly re-located over 200,000 Armenians from Crimea), she was named after her maternal grandmother Bayar.
“Bahar,” the little girl was told, in Armenian means “spring” that she must always youthfully emulate.
Bayara’s father, Haroutun Haroutunian, born in Karabakh, from age 6 was educated in the family of a wealthy Anglicized relative, Ekizler, who financed the bright lad’s entire education: Gymnasium, the exclusive Lazarev Institute in Moscow, and study of engineering in Paris. In Paris Haroutun met Kristina Iablokova (Khndzarian) of a cultured Russified Armenian family, whose wealthy great-grandfather had attained Russian nobility. Educated at the Rostov Gymnasium, Kristina moved to Moscow for the Higher Women’s Courses of Guerrier (3 years). Kristina was traveling in France with her fellow student friend Aleksandra (Asia) Ekster, later a world famous Russian artist, whose gifted paintings and decorated boxes little Bayara liked to “improve upon,” to Kristina’s chagrin. Married in 1913, Kristina and Haroutun’s happy family life was immersed in music, books, and art, and vacations in Crimea.
At Rostov University, Bayara graduated with high honors (1935-39) and in 1940 was admitted for a master’s degree in linguistics at the Rostov Pedagogical Institute, where she completed her examinations in two years, and wrote her dissertation, but World War II disrupted its defense. Well before the war, however, tragedy and suffering shook their idyllic family. In 1937 Haroutun Haroutunian, now a prominent engineer, was arrested as an “enemy of the people” by the NKVD, and sentenced to 10 years “without the right to correspond,” which meant immediate execution. His parting words to Bayara were, “Complete your education.” Six months later Kristina was arrested, and fortunately released in nine months; Bayara could not recognize the old emaciated woman who came to the door as Kristina. In the meantime, in this despondent situation, Bayara appreciated the moral strength and love of her brilliant sympathetic professor Georgii Gaevsky, but their marriage was short-lived when in February 1941 he was arrested and executed.
During World War II, Bayara and Kristina ended up in Germany as “house servants” to one of Kristina’s long-established brothers. Their living nightmares would gradually come to an end. In December 1952, with US help, Bayara arrived in New York, where she received a stipend to continue her education in the graduate program of her choice. In 1953, her choice fell on Harvard’s Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures with world-renowned luminaries Roman Jakobson and Mikhail Karpovich. Kristina and Bayara were re-united in 1954, and permanently in 1956 thanks to the efforts of then Sen. John F. Kennedy. Mother and daughter rejoiced as Bayara defended her PhD dissertation titled “Linguistic and Stylistic Problems of Word Order in Modern Russian” in 1958 with Jakobson as her main advisor. The department invited her to remain, and therefore Bayara Aroutunova became a tenured senior lecturer for 30 productive years teaching impeccable Russian Stylistics, Advanced Russian and Literature in Russian until her retirement in 1987. A great asset to the department with her superb vibrant intelligence, stupendous Russian, articulated in her beautiful voice and intonation, fine training, dedicated teaching, vivacious genial personality and superior elegance, Bayara prepared many of the lucky best American specialists in Russian language and literature.
Finding Love Again
Bayara and Victor Manusevitch fell in love at the Slavic Department where he was studying Russian literature and was continuing toward his PhD.
However, the multitalented Manusevitch already was an accomplished violinist in the Boston Symphony Orchestra under Serge Koussevitzky. He and Bayara had much in common, they loved hospitality, enjoyed many illustrious friends, music, literature, art. Together they purchased their Belmont home, enjoyed their life of concerts, art, socializing with many friends, built their own summer place in Stockbridge, (Bayara made corrections to their architect’s vision, so the amazed architect asked if he could use her ideas; she agreed but rejected payment), near the BSO summer home in Lenox, Tanglewood.
In his youth in Leningrad Victor had met the Russian poet Anna Akhmatova at a friend’s gathering. They had sat chatting on a sofa, but Victor told me he now wished he had asked certain questions. As a scholar, Bayara researched in the Vatican archives and in cities of Europe, but never returned to visit the Soviet Union that had shattered her life, depriving her of a happy youth and her adored father and much-lamented first husband Georgii Gaevsky.
Meeting a Mentor
In 1965, I met Bayara Artemevna at the Slavic Department as a neophyte graduate student who came to greatly admire this elegant, beautiful, sophisticated talented scholar and instructor for her knowledge, love of culture and life (“Liubliu krasivo zhit’”—I love to live beautifully—I heard her say). Being a native speaker of Russian, I was never her student (my loss), but did substitute for her when she was hospitalized years ago. Bayara values friendships, the longer the better, and goes out of her way for friends.
Never to be forgotten was the time I was teaching at Dartmouth College and at my initiative we invited Bayara to come to lecture in Russian on a topic of her choice. She spoke on Solzhenitsyn to a mesmerized audience of students of Russian and faculty and entertained questions in Russian to an energized audience. The next year my students wanted me to invite Bayara again. “What will my chairman think? He will not believe it was not my idea to invite Bayara again. I won’t.”
My students assured me, “You’ll do it because you like us!”
My chairman, Richard Sheldon, was happy to accommodate the initiative of the students by inviting Bayara for a repeat magnificent presentation, this time on the poetry of Boris Pasternak.
Bayara participated in national and international conferences and published articles on Gogol, Pushkin, Dostoevsky, Pasternak, and others. Her first book, Lives in Letters: Princess Zinaida Volkonskaya and Her Correspondence (Columbus, Ohio: Slavica, 1994), recently appeared in Russian translation. Her memoir, Nedavno proshedshee (Recently past) was published in Russia in 2014, co-edited with Alla Mymbaeva. Much appreciated by her former students and colleagues, Bayara was acknowledged with a Festschrift: Studies Presented to Bayara Aroutunova (Eds. A.L. Crone and Catherine Chvany. Columbus, Ohio: Slavica, 1987). It features my article among the contributions.
Happy Birthday to Bayara Aroutunova Manusevitch whose youthful spirit and love of humanity have turned adversity and tragedy into successful intellectual service to students, scholarship, colleagues, friends, family, and her adopted United States!!!
(Sonia I. Ketchian teaches at the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, Harvard University.)
BOSTON — New Paths-Bridging Armenian Women started over a cup of coffee while chatting with my friend and co-founder, Armine Hovhannissian. With technology and advancements in social media, we thought Armenian women have no “online” presence offered with absolutely no membership fees, an inclusive space for fragmented Armenian communities, a place where women may connect to share their stories, professional and personal experiences, setbacks and achievements. That was October 2016. It has been an organically growing and ongoing learning experience for the Believing Committee of Volunteers since the initial cup of coffee. Should you wish to continue reading our story, you will quickly find majority of New Paths (NP) members to be from the New England area, yet thanks to Facebook, we engage and connect with our sisters all over the world. Our success stories validate our vision and believing in the power of unity, we are bridging Armenian women.
The inaugural meeting of New Paths, which featured Yn. Natasha Aljalian as speaker
On January 29, NP launched a kick-off event held and generously sponsored by Phinix Grill, Belmont, with Guest Speaker, Yn. Natasha Aljalian, an attorney and an active member of St. James Armenian Church, who also happens to be married to Rev. Arakel Aljalian. Natasha Aljalian spoke about the significance of uplifting one another as women, and the importance of educating, inspiring and empowering women in our community. She shared examples from her childhood to present day life, reconfirming the importance of women having helpful discussions with a circle of support.
Embracing the perks of social media, the group members have created a series of informative career oriented topics via Facebook Live Feed. From the comfort of their homes, members had opportunity to view a committee member, Araxi Postaljian discuss resume writing, best sources for job search and tips for interviewing. The group was fortunate also to have guest speaker Rita Balian Allen, president of Rita B. Allen Associates, a national career management firm specializing in executive coaching and career development and author of the book titled Personal Branding and Marketing Yourself. Allen shared valuable insight from her book on the topic.
An on-line survey led by Lusine Hagopian Baghsarian, marketing professional and committee member, resulted in the number one topic of interest: confidence. On May, a forum titled “Women Walking with Confidence” was sponsored and held at the Armenian Museum of America in Watertown. President of the Armenian Museum Board Michele Kolligian eloquently defined the group’s mission: “New Paths-Bridging Armenian Women is a community for women of Armenian heritage to share personal and professional experiences in an unthreatening and supportive environment. Knowledge is power; I applaud Rosalyn Minassian and Armine Hovhannissian for developing this much-needed platform and initiative for Armenian women to share their stories, exchange ideas, offer advice and ultimately raise awareness in areas that otherwise may have been overlooked. Sharing the same cultural background is an added bonus.”
Guest Speaker Kristin Asadourian, a professional life coach, went right to the core of the subject, it was an emotionally moving session packed with women from all walks of life and everyone left the evening more inspired and empowered. As one of NP’s members shouted: “We have all been hungry for these types of events in our community!”
Keynote speaker Rachel Kaprielian, a former Massachusetts state representative, shared her experiences on the campaign trail and election. Leaving a lasting impression on attendees, the crowd was in awe of her courage and confidence. She said about the group: “New Paths has an almost magical quality to it. It’s a group of smart, accomplished familiar ‘khnamie’ and the support we give and derive from one another is incredible. These are the women I want to know; in work, in my neighborhood, and in my circle of trust. I believe it will help us to accomplish great things as individuals, as a sisterhood and as a part of the larger community.”
In September, to wrap up a year of live events, the group organized a program called “Hello Gorgeous” bringing together beauty experts. The significant theme to the event was three competing professionals in the same field can collaborate and be successful together. Close to a hundred women enjoyed learning about the importance in skin care from Arlene Maserejian, award-winning, LME CLT Licensed aesthetician owner of Blush Spa. Garineh Ashjian, makeup artist, owner of Glamour Cosmetics gave a tutorial about how to conceal dark circles and Ani Davtyan, a fellow makeup artist and owner of Makeup by Ani, taught those attending about formal evening makeup.
Siranush Hakobyan and Hasmik Tatian, owners of KaterArt in Rhode Island, generously catered the event. Artist Larisa Martino of Larisa Designs of Cranston, RI shared her beautiful works of art and Michele Kolligian hosted the event at the Armenian Museum.
Without support from strong and passionate women none of this would have been possible.
The Believing Committee Members also want to thank business donors, Accessory Designer, Anet Abnous of California, decorative dandle designer Susana Seropyan-Der Kosrofian, designer Karine Abgaryan and Ksenia Verdiyan, photographer of Verdi Studio.
Armenian-Ameircan veterans from the Corp. Paul Marsoubian Post presented a check for $10,000. From left, Edward Sahagian, Rev. Mampre Kouzouian, Jerry Boghosian George Haroutunian, Cynthia Kazanjian Gerald Boghosian and Rev. Vasken Kouzouian
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — This September, two doctors from the Muratsan Oncology Clinic in Yerevan, specializing in pediatric cancers, came to Boston, where they met with local members of the community at a gathering at Holy Trinity Armenian Church.
The doctors were invited by local resident Cynthia Kazanjian and came to visit area hospitals as well as raise funds for their clinic.
So far, the hospital has raised a total of $30,000 in Massachusetts this year.
During the September program, Armenian American Veterans of the Corporal Paul Marsoubian Post presented the hospital with a check for $10,000.
Vaughan Kriokorian, and his father, Neil, take donations for the center.
Speaking at the program were doctors Liana Safaryan and Gevorg Tamamyan.
One of the volunteers raising funds for the hospital who was present at the program was Vaughan Krikorian, 12, the grandson of Cynthia Kazanjian. Last year he raised $2,000 for the clinic, while this year, so far, he has raised $1,000.
It was his question — “What are we going to do about this?” — that began the journey to raise the money for the clinic while the family was visiting Armenia as part of a tour organized by the Holy Trinity Armenian Church.
He told the audience about seeing children his age or younger who had hair loss, needles in their arms, bedridden and too sick to pick up their heads, and the impression they made on him. The guests that evening were so touched by his presentation. They were amazed at his comfort level, holding a microphone and speaking with such a genuine nature, to the group. Many of the attendees donated that evening.
It was after that presenation that George Haroutunian came to the front of the room and talked about the Armenian American Veterans (AMVETS). He told the audience that he had come with a blank check, that his fellow veterans agreed, unanimously, to donate and that he had their approval of $10,000 for a worthy cause. He wrote the check after listening to the Doctors from Armenia and Dr. Leslie Lehmann the Clinical Director of the Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant Center at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorder Center.
Safaryan is an Oncologist at Muratsan and assistant professor of oncology at Yerevan State Medical University. Tamamyan is a physican and also holds a doctorate.
There was a representation of Clergy at the event as well. Rev. Mampre Kouzouian, pastor emeritus of Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Rev. Vasken Kouzouian, Pastor at Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Deacon Levon Asdourian, Intern at Holy Trinity (in a separate picture with Arpie Kouzouian) newly Ordained Minister, Joseph Garabedian, First Armenian Church.
Kazanjian will be meeting with Dana Farber in December to tie up loose ends and determine how the funds will be forwarded to Muratsan Chemotherapy Clinic.
Journalism and ‘Fake News’: The Armenian Genocide and Karabakh
The Armenian Mirror-Spectator 85th Anniversary Symposium at Wellesley, with journalists Robert Fisk, David Barsamian, Philip Terzian and Amberin Zaman, moderated by Aram Arkun.
Journalism and ‘Fake News’: The Armenian Genocide and Karabakh
The Armenian Mirror-Spectator 85th Anniversary Symposium at Wellesley, with journalists Robert Fisk, David Barsamian, Philip Terzian and Amberin Zaman, moderated by Aram Arkun.
Journalism and ‘Fake News’: The Armenian Genocide and Karabakh
The Armenian Mirror-Spectator 85th Anniversary Symposium at Wellesley, with journalists Robert Fisk, David Barsamian, Philip Terzian and Amberin Zaman, moderated by Aram Arkun.
Journalism and ‘Fake News’: The Armenian Genocide and Karabakh
The Armenian Mirror-Spectator 85th Anniversary Symposium at Wellesley, with journalists Robert Fisk, David Barsamian, Philip Terzian and Amberin Zaman, moderated by Aram Arkun.
BOSTON – The American Urological Association (AUA) Annual meeting was held at the Boston Convention Center on May 12-16, 2017. The meeting was presided over by Dr. Richard K. Babayan, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Urology at Boston University School of Medicine, the first Armenian urologist to become president of the AUA in its 112-year history.
The meeting was attended by more than 16,000 participants from 37 countries including the Republic of Armenia. During the course of the meeting 32 Armenian urologists gathered to discuss ways that diasporan urologists could assist in the development of standards for urologic care within the Republic of Armenia.
Dr. Babayan summarized the activity of a small delegation of diasporan Armenian urologists who attended the 20th anniversary of the Armenian Association of Urology (AAU) in Yerevan in September, 2017. Joining Dr. Babayan in Yerevan were Drs. Garo Tertzakian, from Santa Ana, California, Stephen Boorjian, from the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, Peter Boorjian, from Glen Ridge, New Jersey and Paul Merguerian from Seattle, Washington. At that meeting in Yerevan, Dr. Babayan announced that through the generous donation of diasporan Armenian urologists, a fund was established to provide free on-line membership to the American Urological Association for all Armenian urology residents in training. This membership provides all of the educational materials available to US residents including the core curriculum, AUA guidelines, videos, The Journal of Urology and a host of educational materials within the AUA University and the AUA Office of Education to advance their training.
At the Boston AUA meeting, diasporan urologists renewed their pledges to continue to assist the Republic of Armenia in advancing urologic training and practice standards and bring new and advanced urologic techniques to the people of Armenia. In addition to the educational efforts for resident training in Armenia, the group will organize efforts to provide state of the art lectures, seminars and demonstrations of surgical techniques to practicing urologists in Armenia and will work closely with the Armenian Association of Urology, which was represented in Boston by its President, Dr. Artur Grabsky. The diasporan Armenian urologists attending the AUA included Sero Andonian from Montreal, Armen Aprikian from Montreal, Chant Balian from France, Kevin Basralian, from New Jersey, Jean Pierre Berberian from France, Stephen Boorjian from Minnesota, Armen Dikranian from California, Leo Doumanian, from Los Angeles, George Haleblian from Boston, Zareh Kassardjian from Beirut, Garegin Khachatryan from Qatar, Bill Larchian from Cleveland, George Kasyan from Moscow, Vigen Malkhasyan from Moscow, Paul Merguerian from Seattle, Mikhail Mosoyan from St. Petersberg,, Alice and Hrant Semerjian from Washington, DC, and Margarett Shnorhavorian from Seattle. Several dozen other urologists have offered their assistance but were unable to attend the meeting in Boston.
A highlight of the annual meeting was the Awards dinner, where Dr. Babayan had the honor of presenting Dr. Tertzakian with a AUA Presidential Citation in recognition of his 30 years of philanthropic efforts in Armenia.
NEWTON, Mass. – The Public TV Company of Armenia (formerly known as H1) covered the Armenian Mirror-Spectator’s 85th anniversary gala event at the Boston Marriott Newton on November 3. Its coverage is in Armenian of course.
LOS ANGELES — The annual Thanksgiving Day fundraiser by the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund Telethon raised more than $12.5 million that it plans to mostly spend on the support of agricultural-development projects in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Armenian Fund raised almost $15.5 million during last year’s televised fundraiser earmarked for the reconstruction of war-ravaged communities in Nagorno-Karabakh and other local infrastructure projects.
The focus of the 2017 telethon was support for two major agricultural-development projects in Nagorno-Karabakh: the drilling of deep-water wells and construction of irrigation networks; and the installation of solar power stations.
An anonymous Armenian-American entrepreneur made the single largest donation of $2.5 million. He was followed by Russian-Armenian tycoon Samvel Karapetian, who donated $2.25 million. Armenia’s Copper-Molybdenum Plant donated $350,000, Armenia-based business owner Samvel Aleksanian contributed $200,000 for the cause and the Vardanian family donated $125,000. The Valex Group donated $100,000. Several families from the United States, Iran and Armenia provided hefty donations ranging from $50,000 to $100,000. Thousands of Armenians from around the world also made smaller contributions, ranging from a few dollars to several thousand dollars.
In recent years the fund has partly financed the construction of a second 116-kilometer-long highway connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia.
PARAMUS, N.J. — More than 250 friends and supporters of the Tekeyan Cultural Association (TCA) on Saturday, November 18, celebrated its 70th anniversary in grand style. The event was held under the auspices of Eastern Diocesan Primate Archbishop Khajag Barsamian at the Terrace at Biagio’s.
Standing, from left, Khoren Kalinian, Mr. and Mrs. Kassardjian, Ambassador and Mrs. Mnatskanian, Vartan Nazerian, Berta Baghjajian, Nar Khachatourian and Hagop Vartivarain; seated from left, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Edmond and Nora Azadian, and Dr. Arshavir and Nadia Gundjian
Guests included Armenia’s Ambassador to the United Nations Zohrab Mnatsakanian and his wife Irina Igitkhanyan, philanthropists and sponsors of this anniversary, Nazar and Artemis Nazarian, and TCA leaders Edmond Azadian and Hagop Kassardjian. Representatives of several organizations were present, including the Armenian Diocese, Armenian Missionary Association of America, Armenia Fund, the Armenian General Benevolent Union and the Armenian National Committee of America.
Following a reception and the singing of the American and Armenian national anthems by Jeny Sarian, the Very Rev. Oshagan Gulgulian of Sts. Sahag and St. Mesrob Armenian Church of Wynnewood, Penn., offered the invocation, adding, “I am also a Tekeyan member and a graduate of the Vahan Tekeyan School in Beirut.”
From left, Kevork Marashlian, Edmond Azadian and Daniel Youssefian
Jerry Misk, a TCA Greater NY member, was master of ceremonies, offering insight and a unique style.
In warm remarks, Hilda Hartounian, chairperson of the TCA Greater NY, welcomed all present and stated that members and friends had traveled from Armenia, Lebanon, Egypt, France, Argentina, Canada and throughout the US for this event. She stated that the TCA’s “goal and mission has been and always will be to proudly promote
cultural and educational activities in all communities around the globe, as well as our motherland, Armenia.”
From left, Seta Nazarian, Artemis and Nazar Nazarian, and Claudia Nazarian
Honorary Chair of the TCA Greater New York Committee Hagop Vartivarian, and Hartounian participated in presenting the evening’s honorees Nazar and Artemis Nazarian with the Lifetime Benefactor Award, an etched crystal plaque, for their generosity, which has included schools, hospitals, churches, camps and buildings built by them from Armenia to the farthest corners of the Armenian world.
To thunderous applause and a standing ovation, the couple graciously accepted the honor. Daughter Seta, speaking for the family, stated in a short and eloquent phrase, “Our parents have taught us how to live and give,” which brought on lengthy applause.
Hagop Kassardjian, chairman of the TCA Founders Committee of Lebanon, as well as a leader in the AGBU and the Armenian Democratic Liberal party, and elected twice to the Lebanese Parliament, spoke in Armenian about the TCA’s beginnings, history and exalted leaders. He said that in the last few years in Lebanon, the Yervant Odian theatrical group had been formed, and emphasized that the TCA is an important institution for the diaspora, and for the future.
Aram Arkun, TCA Executive Director of the US and Canada, and assistant editor of the Armenian Mirror-Spectator, announced that the Tekeyan building in Armenia has been completed. A video detailing the history and founders of the TCA showing the many personalities involved, was shown.
From left, Edmond Azadian, Dr. Arshavir and Nadia Gundjian, Hagop Vartivarian, Very Rev. Oshagan Gulgulian, Ani and Hagop Kassardjian and Nora Azadian
To the delight of the audience, artist Nora Azadian, who had been a student of the legendary poet Vahan Tekeyan, a close friend of her grandfather, recited with powerful emotion and passion, Tekeyan’s soulful and heartfelt poem “Hayou Hokeen.” It was rewarded with a lengthy standing ovation.
Noted author and editor, founding member and Chairman of the TCA Central Board of the US and Canada Edmond Azadian, in an eloquent keynote address in English and Armenian, spoke about the main components of the organization. “Words have power and poetic words have torrential power which can inspire and move masses of human beings. That is why the words of the poet Vahan Tekeyan reverberated in space and time, motivating multitudes and guiding them by means of the ideals which had molded his persona and his heritage.”
It was two years after Tekeyan’s death that the TCA was founded in 1947, he related, and detailed the many missions of the organization, including education, the publication of several literary magazines, daily and weekly newspapers, literary and scholarly books, and the promotion of literature, the arts, music, dance, theater, and the bringing of that culture to the diaspora.
“Today, the poet’s voice resonates louder than ever, even far beyond the boundaries of our people, to touch mankind,” Azadian declared. On behalf of his people and mankind, Tekeyan passionately implored: “Tear down all fortresses and impregnable walls. And lance your wrath against the barricades of armored ignorance. Divide the world’s wealth evenly. Let crowds through the entrance to your pastures stampede at the last fall of the last tower – But, O lord, let them break no trees, nor crush a single flower.”
Before the benediction, closing remarks were delivered by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian. “It is our encounter with writers like Vahan Tekeyan, as well as the artists, musicians and cultural forces of our heritage that led us into a deeper appreciation of the Armenian identity, as well as a deep desire of our younger generation to know their identity as Armenians. This is the great influence the Tekeyan Cultural Association has had on our community. This enduring mission must continue and expand well beyond the 70th anniversary.”
During the evening a silent auction featuring valuable prizes had been held. At the conclusion of the memorable event, the lucky winners were announced, and then the crowd enthusiastically took to the floor dancing to the catchy beats of Elie Berberian and Ensemble, joyously concluding a momentous and historic event that will long be remembered.
Honorary Chair of the TCA Greater New York Committee Hagop Vartivarian, and Hartounian participated in presenting the evening’s honorees Nazar and Artemis Nazarian with the Lifetime Benefactor Award, an etched crystal plaque, for their generosity, which has included schools, hospitals, churches, camps and buildings built by them from Armenia to the farthest corners of the Armenian world.
To thunderous applause and a standing ovation, the couple graciously accepted the honor. Daughter Seta, speaking for the family, stated in a short and eloquent phrase, “Our parents have taught us how to live and give,” which brought on lengthy applause.
Hagop Kassardjian, chairman of the TCA Founders Committee of Lebanon, as well as a leader in the AGBU and the Armenian Democratic Liberal party, and elected twice to the Lebanese Parliament, spoke in Armenian about the TCA’s beginnings, history and leaders. He said that in the last few years in Lebanon, the Yervant Odian theatrical group had been formed, and emphasized that the TCA is an important institution for the diaspora, and for the future.
Aram Arkun, TCA executive director of the US and Canada, and assistant editor of the
Carmen and Ed Gulbenkian
, spoke about the legacy and bequest to the TCA of ADL leader and intellectual Dr. Nubar Berberian, on the first anniversary of his death. A video detailing the history and founders of the TCA showing the many personalities involved, was shown.
To the delight of the audience, artist Nora Azadian, who had been a student of the legendary poet Vahan Tekeyan, a close friend of her grandfather, recited with powerful emotion and passion, Tekeyan’s soulful and heartfelt poem “Hayou Hokeen.” It was rewarded with a lengthy standing ovation.
Noted author and editor, founding member and Chairman of the TCA Central Board of the US and Canada Edmond Azadian, in an eloquent keynote address in English and Armenian, spoke about the main components of the organization. “Words have power and poetic words have torrential power which can inspire and move masses of human beings. That is why the words of the poet Vahan Tekeyan reverberated in space and time, motivating multitudes and guiding them by means of the ideals which had molded his persona and his heritage.”
It was two years after Tekeyan’s death that the TCA was founded in 1947, he related, and detailed the many missions of the organization, including education, the publication of several literary magazines, daily and weekly newspapers, literary and scholarly books, and the promotion of literature, the arts, music, dance, theater, and the bringing of that culture to the diaspora.
“Today, the poet’s voice resonates louder than ever, even far beyond the boundaries of our people, to touch mankind,” Azadian declared. On behalf of his people and mankind, Tekeyan passionately implored: “Tear down all fortresses and impregnable walls. And lance your wrath against the barricades of armored ignorance. Divide the world’s wealth evenly. Let crowds through the entrance to your pastures stampede at the last fall of the last tower – But, O lord, let them break no trees, nor crush a single flower.”
Before the benediction, closing remarks were delivered by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian. “It is our encounter with writers like Vahan Tekeyan, as well as the artists, musicians and cultural forces of our heritage that led us into a deeper appreciation of the Armenian identity, as well as a deep desire of our younger generation to know their identity as Armenians. This is the great influence the Tekeyan Cultural Association has had on our community. This enduring mission must continue and expand well beyond the 70th anniversary.”
During the evening a silent auction featuring valuable prizes had been held. At the conclusion of the memorable event, the lucky winners were announced, and then the crowd enthusiastically took to the floor dancing to the catchy beats of Elie Berberian and Ensemble, joyously concluding a momentous and historic event that will long be remembered.
BOSTON — Lucas Cowan, public art curator of the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy, spoke recently at a HUBweek event and had the following to say about the Armenian Heritage Park on The Greenway: “Every day the Park is filled with families, children and adults…Just as the sculptural element changes yearly and is reconfigured…this place grants permission for contemplative thought, meditation and solace…”
So many are visiting, spending time at this “gem on the Greenway” (Boston Globe 2015). Some relax on a bench or read, and some enjoy lunch or share a moment with a friend or colleague. Many walk the labyrinth — a daily ritual to quiet the mind — and most marvel at the abstract sculpture, returning each year to view its newest sculptural shape, and all pause to read the inscription on the reflecting pool.
On Sunday, December 17, the annual Candlelit Labyrinth Peace Walk will wrap up a series of programs at the park for the year. All are invited to enjoy the sparkle of the park in the evening from 4:30 to 6 p.m., considered “Boston’s Newest Holiday Tradition” (Metro, 2015). Many will walk the candlelit labyrinth, some will tie a colorful ribbon with a wish on the Wishing Tree and all will enjoy hot chocolate and delicious cookies, hosted by the Bostonian Hotel. At 5:45 p.m., Ladies First, an a cappella group from Wellesley High School, will perform. Although there is no charge, an RSVP is appreciated by email hello@Armenian HeritagePark.org.
During the year, programs are varied and interesting to build community, to come together on common ground. Several programs are supported by one of the Park’s endowed funds; most all depend on generous gifts-in-kind. Some are featured programs during ArtWeek Boston and HubWeek. Most programs are offered in collaboration with leading organizations and institutions among them Age-Friendly Boston, The Bostonian Hotel, The Bostonian Society/Old State House, City of Boston, The Eliot K-8 Innovation School/Boston Public Schools, Faneuil Hall, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Friends of Christopher Columbus Park, Greenway Conservancy, Hollister Staffing, Labyrinth Guild of New England, MEM Tea Imports, Museum of Fine Arts, NorthEndWaterfront.com, Sharon Merrill Associates, US District Court Massachusetts and Webster Bank. Friends of the Heritage Park, open to all, plan and implement many of the programs. The Friends is an initiative of the Armenian Heritage Foundation. Dedicated volunteers also oversee the Park’s care and the annual reconfiguration of the Abstract Sculpture.
Each new year begins with the annual reconfiguration of the abstract sculpture. Every year, during a Sunday morning in late March or early April, the sculpture, a split rhomboid dodecahedron, is reconfigured into a new sculptural shape, symbolic of all who were pulled away from their country of origin and came to these shores, establishing themselves in new and different ways. A crane lifts and reconfigures the two halves, made of steel and aluminum, under the direction of A&A Industries, fabricator of the abstract sculpture, their generous gift-in-kind. The park’s Charles and Doreen Bilezikian Endowed Fund supports the annual configuration.
During April, the annual April 24 Genocide Commemoration at the Park, planned by the Massachusetts Armenian Genocide Commemoration Committee is a “remembrance that both honors and commemorates lives lost…and to reflect on the lessons it holds for our lives today.” Speakers included the Primate of the Armenian Diocese (Eastern) Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, former US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans, Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian and performances by Sayat Nova Dance Company and violinist Sammy Andonian.
Also in April is the annual Walk Against Genocide at the Park, planned by the Massachusetts Coalition to Save Darfur. The walk starts at the New England Holocaust Memorial and proceeds to Armenian Heritage Park. Speakers at both sites focused on the genocides during the 20th and 21st centuries.
On the first Saturday in May, Experience Public Art, an ArtWeek Boston featured program, was held at the park. The two-part program opened with World Labyrinth Day: Walk as One at 1 p.m. followed by the reception to view the abstract sculpture’s new configuration. On May 6, several walked the labyrinth under the mist, some under umbrellas, joining people in cities and towns in 35 countries world-wide, all participating in World Labyrinth Day, the international initiative of the Labyrinth Society. The reception to view the 2017 configuration of the sculpture was to follow with WGBH Arts Editor Jared Bowen offering remarks, if it were not for the rain. Tea and Desserts were to have been hosted by Eastern Lamejun and MEM Tea Imports.
ArtWeek Boston is the annual award-winning festival that features unique and creative experiences.
In early June, Let’s Party @The Kitchen was held at the Boston Public Market to benefit the Park’s year-round care. The evening featured four Chefs preparing a signature dish — Bedros DerVartanian, Eastern Lamejun Bakers; Andrew Janjigian, American’s Test Kitchen and Cook’s Illustrated; Jason Reed, Vicki Lee’s and Nathan Kibarian, Bastille Kitchen.
Wines were provided by Tutunjian Estate Vineyards; hand-roasted nuts were courtesy of Fastachi. Wendy Semonian, publisher of the Improper Bostonian was the evening’s mistress of ceremonies.
During June, July and August and in collaboration with Age-Friendly Boston, the inaugural Tea & Tranquility series was held on the third Wednesday of the month from 5:30-7 p.m. Many working and living in downtown and greater Boston came together to meet and greet, walk the Labyrinth and enjoy Tea & Desserts, hosted by the Bostonian Hotel and MEM Tea Imports. For first-time walkers, an introduction to walking a Labyrinth was offered.
September is the month for the annual. Sunday Afternoon at the Park is a delightful afternoon on Sunday, September 17 for all ages. WCVB TV5 Cindy Fitzgibbon was emcee, joined by her young son. Greg Krikorian’s All-Star Ensemble played as many danced, including the Red Sox’s Wally the Green Monster and his little sister, Tessie. Face painting “for kids by kids” was new this year and also a highlight: HP Hood ice cream sandwiches.
In celebration of the immigrant experience on Thursday, September 21, the welcome reception for new citizens following the naturalization ceremony at Faneuil Hall was held at the park. Funded by the Anna and Noubar Afeyan Fund, the annual welcome reception is in keeping with a key theme of the park to acknowledge the history of Boston as a port of entry for immigrants worldwide and celebrate contributions to the richness of American life and culture. This year, Judge Indira Talwani, US District Court of Massachusetts presided over the naturalization ceremony at Faneuil Hall and, at the invitation of Judge Rya Zobel (retired), offered the welcoming remarks during the reception at the park. Talwani was introduced by Koutoujian. Each new citizen received a gift from the Bostonian Society/Old State House, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston and Greenway Conservancy.
During October, Celebrating Public Art! two HUBweek featured programs were held at the park. HUBweek, founded by the Boston Globe, Harvard, MIT and MGH, “brings together the most creative and inventive minds in art, science and technology.”
The two-day program opened on October 10 with the fourth annual “Reducing and Managing Stress: Walking the Labyrinth.” Kip Hollister, president and founder of Hollister Staffing and Hollister Institute, introduced the benefits of walking a labyrinth, or meditative walking. David Calusdian, president of the Boston-based Sharon Merrill Associates offered the introduction. A networking reception followed at Hollister Staffing, 75 State St. The October 11 program, “Geometry as Public Art: Celebrating the Immigrant Experience,” featured Greg Kerkorian, principal, GB Kerkorian Partners Insurance; Lucas Cowan, public art curator, Greenway Conservancy; Don Tellalian, AIA and Morgan Atkins, coordinator of culture and school climate for the Eliot K-8 Innovation School, Boston Public School in the North End with three students who shared experiences through poetry and verse. A reception followed at the park hosted by the Bostonian Hotel and MEM Tea Imports.
Inspired by the visits of school children to the park, a team of educators from Friends of Heritage Park have developed an innovative school-based curriculum — Geometry as Public Art: Telling a Story. The curriculum is designed to spark greater awareness of geometry as art and to celebrate what unites and connects us, while building common ground. Presently, the curriculum is being piloted by the fourth-grade classes at the Eliot School in the North End.
Fundraising continues to fully endow the park’s Endowed Fund for Care so that the park is impeccably maintained year-round. Contributions may be made on-line at ArmenianHeritagePark.org or by mail with a check, made payable to the Armenian Heritage Foundation, to Lucy Hoosian, Secretary, Armenian Heritage Foundation, 22 Richards Road, Watertown, MA 02472. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent of the law.
WATERTOWN — At 88, Bob Sanasarian jauntily walks through the streets and byways of East Watertown to recollect the shops that once were, in many buildings that still are. With a keen memory for names and places, my pen can hardly keep up with his recall of shops, fruit-ripening facilities, cleaners and of course, his family’s Ideal Market. With a penchant for storytelling, a gift for elaboration, and quick wit, Bob could keep even the sleepiest audience awake for hours.
A lifelong resident of Watertown, Sanasarian is a weekly presence at St. James Armenian Church in Watertown, both as a choir member on Sundays for the past 73 years and as a volunteer at Bingo on Tuesdays. He may well hold the record for longevity in the choir; he recalls that the only time he couldn’t be in church was many decade ago when he would be “on call” for duty during a nearly 12-year stint in the US Naval Air Reserves. But no matter which way he would he would go, he would always go in the direction of St. James when he was in town.
Indeed, a film starring Bing Crosby could well be the anthem of his life. As a youthful usher at the one-screen Coolidge Theatre in East Watertown, he still remembers tiny details from the film “Going My Way” that he viewed scores of times, all week long. In those days, only one film was viewed at a time, and that film could play for weeks at a time.
“In one scene from the film, they are setting a table. Bing Crosby has a fork in his hand. He pokes around the food a lot with his fork but never puts the fork to his mouth,” reminisces Sanasarian, imitating the star, with a gleeful smile.
Growing up in Watertown meant lifelong friendships among and between people from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds. According to him, the East Watertown neighborhood included mostly Irish, Italians, Greeks and Armenians. Many of the Armenians stuck together for play, work and church. Indeed, in testament to the notable presence and deeds of Armenian immigrants in East Watertown, there is a sign named “Missak and Sarkis Parsekian Square” in the immediate vicinity. “The older Armenian men — not the young people — would sit on boxes or old fruit and vegetable crates on Nichols Avenue and would play tavloo,” shares Sanasarian. “They would set up the tavloo table on one crate and then would sit on the other crates. On Quimby Street, we played tag, and hide and seek. Our neighbors included Harry Parsekian and his family. By the way, I now sing in the choir with Harry’s wife [Hrip] — she’s an alto.”
“On my summer vacation when I was about 16, I worked on shoes at Hood Rubber and made a grand total of $60 for the summer. Then I was learning to drive and got in a little car accident with my aunt’s borrowed car and it costs $60 to fix the car so that was it for the $60. At Hood Rubber, we roughed up the inner part of the sole and buffed the soles so the cement would stick to the canvas sneaker.” Bob also cleaned the frames and rubber off the windows on military paraphernalia.
Some years ago, filmmaker Roger Hagopian made a film on Hood Rubber that even included Sanasarian’s reminiscences of his work there. “The odor was bad. The Armenians joked a lot with one another. Mrs. Gulbankian and Mrs. Mouradian worked on the cutting machines and they nicknamed me ‘Bobby.’ There was camaraderie for the war effort. There were many huge buildings from Nichols Avenue to Arsenal Street. There was even a Goodrich store on Bigelow Avenue where those apartments are now and at that time Hood made some of their products.”
Immigrants in Watertown
With such a profound influence on the immigrant community when everyday goods were expensive, it was no wonder that many young residents lined up to try Hood Rubber’s “test sneakers. They were testing for wear ability. The sneakers were free and would be used for two or three weeks. The company would evaluate them for extended use. I never got sneakers since I never got there quick enough. My mom would say that sneakers weren’t good for you, that leather shoes were better. But look, I have rubber sneakers now,” said Sanasarian with a chuckle.
Shops were a place for immigrants to connect, and Sanasarian’s family played an integral part in that part of community life.
“Ideal Market on Dexter Avenue was bought by my father from a couple moving to California; they later came back from California and wanted to rebuy the Ideal Market but my father, Aram, didn’t sell it back to them. The couple then opened a competitive market nearby on Nichols Ave. and called it called the New Deal Market. My father’s business went down a bit but then my father moved the Ideal Market to Mt Auburn Street in 1940.”
Walking down Mt. Auburn in East Watertown is a trip down memory lane as my guide points out significant sites. “Across the street from what is now Giragosian Funeral Home, starting from Lloyd Road, there was Lloyd’s Pharmacy, Ideal Market, Berberian’s Armenian Shoe Repair, Charlie’s Barber Shop and at the corner of Irma Road and Mt. Auburn Street was the Ivy dry cleaning shop,” he continued. “After some years, my dad closed the Ideal Market and went to do welding at Fore River in Fall River with Mr. Atamian, the Mt. Auburn Grill owner, and an Italian guy. They wore Navy clothes since it was a navy contract they were working on.”
Soon Aram Sanasarian was able to buy a family home on Carver Road East, and later worked at the commissary at Hood Rubber.
“When my father closed the Ideal Market on Mt. Auburn Street, Kirk Kaloustian’s mother and father opened a grocery store, elongating three stores into one; they used the space that was the Ideal Market, the shoe repair, and the barber shop and they called it Kay’s Market, and they were in business for a long time. Kirk Kaloustian’s mother was a beautiful lady,” Sanasarian reminisces.
“Back then, there was a gas station on the corner of Arlington Street and a bowling alley next door to the Mount Auburn Grill. When we were young, we worked at the bowling alley and would set up the pins — we would take turns, jump up when the pins fell down and then put the pins back up.” On the stretch between Elton Avenue and Melendy Avenue was Victoria Spa, a men’s haberdashery, a bar, Nahigian’s grocery store and Gelesian’s five-and-dime store. Near Melendy Avenue was the Atlantic Gas Station owned by the Kaloostians and a luncheonette/diner run by two Armenian women (now Massis Bakery), a few other shops and Scott Cleaners on the corner of Mt. Auburn Street, just before Dexter Avenue.”
Indeed, according to Sanasarian’s recollections, most of the businesses on Mt. Auburn Street in East Watertown seemed to have had some Armenian connection. For example, he recalls that under the building that now houses the Post Office was where the Patapanians ripened bananas and tomatoes and that his cousin Billy Derderian’s grandfather owned the Watertown Builder’s Supply on Arsenal Street.
Dexter and Nichols
A short drive away to the corner of Dexter Avenue and Nichols Avenue brings up the Dexter Spa, a popular landmark. “Mr. Chapazian had a printing shop right on Dexter Avenue next to the Ideal market. Then there was Dickie Bakalyan, part of the Junior Rat Pack; he went to California. He had an older brother, Willie, my friend. They lived in an attic apartment in a three-story building on Dexter Avenue. Dexter Spa was on the opposite corner of Nichols Avenue and Dexter Avenue. Then they moved across the street. Behind the Dexter Spa, where JKT Garage once sat, you can now find an empty lot. In the same block of Dexter Avenue was a printing shop, then Ideal Market. Barber Toros had a shop across the street at #57 Dexter Avenue. With an entrance on Nichols Avenue, the Sevan Club — on the second floor above the Ideal Market — had connections to the Progressive Party,” he recalls. Decades ago, Sanasarian even recalls seeing a movie there from the Tsarist days, with memorable scenes of an uprising and Russian soldiers shooting the protesting people.
A grocery store was on the corner of Dexter and Hazel Streets and diagonally across is where three sons lived on the first floor. These young men served in the Korean War and World War II. Their family bought a market across from the Ideal Market. Peter and John Airasian owned a textile shop on the second floor on Dexter Avenue; there was a garage downstairs. “Then they opened a stitching shop on Cypress Street — my mom even worked there. Then the shop moved to Kondizian Street and it became Eastern Clothing. Lots of Armenian girls worked there,” shares Sanasarian with a glimmer in his eyes.
Working in the printing/offset business kept Bob busy for many decades. Starting off at the Quincy Ledger newspaper, he soon joined Harvard Engraving. Three of the four owners included Harry Sarkisian, Vahe Boyajian and Mr. Semerjian. (If a reader knows the name of the fourth, let us know.) The Boston-based Armenian-owned business was on the second floor of High Street and later moved to the 7th floor at 79 Essex St. “My father used to play cards with Mr. Semerjian at the AYF Club. In those days, you needed a little pull to get in, to make a connection to get a start in the photo engraving field,” he confides.
Working by day as an engraver at the Christian Science Monitor, Sanasarian took on a part-time evening job as a photo engraver at the Boston Herald, first with letter press and later offset.
Worcester and Beyond
Now mind you, Sanasarian’s knowledge isn’t just focused on Watertown; he can easily tell you a thing or two about Worcester or even Albuquerque. “My uncle, Dr. Sempat Paretchanian (Pachanian), delivered Fr. Dajad Davidian and a lot of Armenian babies born in the Worcester area. Sam, Sempat’s son, opened the Spud Nut donut shop on Pleasant Street in Worcester. He used dehydrated potato flour to make the donuts. Sam went to Albuquerque, New Mexico where he opened a Spud Nut shop there and produced flour and provided it for his own shop and other donut shops. By the way, Sam was married to Ronaldine Ekserjian from Scotland; her sister, Nadine, was in the French Parliament. Sam and Ronaldine’s two daughters, Bonnie and Nadine, still live in New Mexico. One of Ronaldine’s brothers was in the British Admiralty while her other brother was a brigadier general in the Scottish army,” Sanasarian recounts with a proud grin.
As far as his family’s roots and history, Sanasarian recounts, “My Uncle Vahakn Jerian was a Gamavor, in the French Foreign Legion. The French gave Adana to the Turks. My mother and family were in Cyprus. My oldest aunt’s husband, Dr. Sempat Paretchanian, was from Marash. He had come to the US, attended Yale University and became a doctor. He was a US citizen. He went back to Turkey, opened a practice in Adana and then cured and treated my grandmother. There he fell in love with my Aunt Sirvart. Adana was given back to Turks so my uncle was asked to treat Turkish soldiers. They said, ‘We’ll care for your family,’ so he served as a doctor in the Turkish army. The wounded came in droves. He went to the front and there was a British war ship there. Turkish soldiers were walking on the beach and were getting popped off. My uncle was wondering why there were so many Turkish soldiers wounded or killed. ‘Why don’t they dig in and protect themselves?’ he asked a Turkish officer. ‘Don’t worry, there’s more to take their place,’ the officer replied. They were so cruel to their own people. My grandmother went to Cyprus and then to America and my grandfather Manoog went to Lebanon; his eyesight and sight was later saved with eye surgery at Mass General,” he said.
“Bob is close to us. We’re also Vanetsi and he even knows some Vanetsi words. He’s more than a friend — he’s a kind, peaceful and helpful man,” confides Vartan Krikorian of Watertown.
The offspring of two regions in Armenia, Bob Sanasarian was born in Everett, Mass., just before Christmas 1928, to Aram Sanasarian of Van who came to the US in 1912, and Vartouhi Jerian of Adana, who immigrated here in 1920 via Cyprus. Vartouhi initially lived in Lowell but soon moved to Watertown where she was very active in the Armenian community, became chairwoman of the Senior Women’s Guild of St. James and baked a lot.
Sanasarian shares, “Everything she cooked was delicious. The senior ladies still use a lot of her recipes to this day.”
Indeed, I first met Vartouhi, a sweet and outgoing woman, on a tour bus by the Pyramids when she attended a large anniversary celebration in Egypt in the early 1980s in honor of the founding in Egypt of the AGBU.
In his early years, Sanasarian attended two Protestant churches; one was an Armenian Protestant Church on Arlington Street in Watertown. “I went to St James as soon as they started the Sunday School, and I’ve been there ever since,” says Sanasarian with a chuckle. “I started to sing, as a bass, in the choir decades ago.”
In fact, in recognition of his continued heartfelt dedication to the St. James Armenian Church community, he was honored with a Parish Service Award at their 83rd Anniversary and Name Day Banquet in 2014. “He’s one of the kindest and most devoted church goers and choir members I’ve ever known,” said parishioner George Tarvezian Jr.
Besides singing for the church choir, Sanasarian sang with the Armenian Choral Society (ACS) for many years. Under the direction of Siranoush Der Manuelian, ACS sang at various events, colleges and even private families. A highlight of many earlier summers was when ACS members from one Rockport family invited members of the Choral Society to congregate and perform there at their Victorian ocean-side home.
When asked about the block on the corner of Mount Auburn and School Streets, Bob of course chimes in, “Where the St. James Cultural Center now stands were two homes: my friend Aram Horhorouny’s family had a yellow house, and then there was the Campbell Estate with an iron fence, on the corner of School and Mt. Auburn Streets. Aram’s father, Joe, invented a noiseless and flash-less machine gun, and he worked at the navy yard. He was a machinist, had lots of inventions and he received commendations for his work. In the garage below the house, Joe had his workshop where he invented many things. There was the valve for the b29 airplane – oil valves were made out of brass in the beginning and later made with aluminum to make them lighter. Joe paid Aram and I to tab the grooves, then Joe would check each one with a gauge to make sure we went deep enough and that they were perfect since they were going into a plane so he would check each one very carefully.”
Korean War Veteran
Sanasarian joined the US Naval Air Reserves starting in 1948. The Korean War started in 1950. Bob describes himself and others in his squadron as “weekend warriors.” Sanasarian would report one weekend a month but the squadron as a whole was never activated. One memorable time was when he served on the FDR carrier for a week.
In the Torpedo Bomber Squadron (TBM), he usually reported to Weymouth where blimps were kept. In his role as an aerial photographer, he used K20, K25 and F56 (that weighed about 50 pounds) aerial cameras and a Speed Graphic land camera. Bob shares, “I was in one plane, opened the hatch, and took a photo while in mid-air of an individual pilot in one plane in the squadron, then continued to take photos of the other pilots in their planes. So, there could be 12 planes in the squadron and I usually would fly with the commanding officer in the lead plane. We also used the F56, would take the photos, and later develop the film, take prints and match them up to overlap so then you would have a panoramic, topographic picture of the entire landscape.”
Residing in Watertown his whole life, the Sanasarian family lived on Arlington Street, subsequently moved “to the Zakarian house” on Quimby Street, then bought the house on Carver Road East. As to his immediate family, Sanasarian’s parents, sisters Audrey and Arpie, and one nephew, have passed away but he spends a lot of time with his nieces Roxanne Baker and Joy Morgan and nephew Kevin Baker.
“My family had a big influence on my life, especially my mother, father, Uncles Vahakn Jerian and Sempat Paretchanian. I am proud of my mother. She was a hard worker and provided a good model for me to follow.”
While Sanasarian has followed in the steps of his close family members, he has also moved in his own direction continuing to make a solid mark on this community.
(There were extensive names and places to research and/or cross check for spelling in the writing of this piece and the writer apologies in advance for any unintentional corrections that might be needed.)
WALTHAM, Mass. — Project Save Armenian Photograph Archives turned the tables on its supporters on November 19; instead of asking them, as any small non-profit does regularly, for their support, staff and a committee hosted a brunch at the Westin Hotel to thank all donors and volunteers.
From left, Connie Koutoujian, Anita Shishmanian and Adrienne Amirian (Winslow Martin photo)
As guests were heading into the main hall for lunch and speeches, the hotel lost power as a result of a howling storm. The mood was not dampened however; in fact, because of the lack of microphones, a certain less formal spirit took over.
The afternoon provided the opportunity to see the transition of leadership from founder and former executive director Ruth Thomasian to Tsoleen Sarian as well as the announcement of the organization’s new ventures.
“The objective of today is to say thank you. In appreciation to Ruth Thomasian our founder, to you our supporters and friends, to our photo donors, staff, and volunteers. I will also share with you what is ahead for Project SAVE, and how you are a part of our future,” said Sarian.
Sarian spoke about the new collaborations Project Save has embarked upon with Houshamadyan (houshamadyan.org), a project which seeks to recreate a picture of life in the Ottoman Armenian towns and villages.
“It is a vibrant and dynamic organization and is growing and expanding,” Sarian said.
Next, she said, Project Save is collaborating with Digital Commonwealth, which provides access to materials through a consortium of libraries, museums, archives, and historical societies from across Massachusetts. It has shared 220 banquet and panorama photos with Digital Commonwealth.
“This collaboration brings awareness to our work beyond the Armenian community, as the photos can be explored across a variety of websites,” she said.
She also announced that Project SAVE has signed an agreement with the USC Shoah Foundation (https://sfi.usc.edu/) to work together to develop educational resources centered around the use of Project SAVE. “By expanding their IWitness program to include Armenian photographs from Project SAVE, this collaboration will afford teachers and students the opportunity to gain insight to a more complete story of the Armenian people, pre-genocide to post-genocide,” she said.
Legacy of Ruth Thomasian
Sarian invited Dorothy Keverian to speak, adding that she and her husband, Jack, have been longtime sponsors. Keverian, beaming with delight, asked for a standing ovation for Thomasian, who in keeping with the light mood, ran from the back of the room to the front, waving a napkin.
“You are incredible, giving of yourself for 42 years,” Keverian said. She also pointed out to an enlarged picture on display of the late speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, George Keverian, her husband’s brother, on horseback as a child, one of the many the family has donated to Project Save.
“He said ‘work with Ruth Thomasian. I just gave her photos of yesteryear,’” said Keverian, quoting her brother-in-law.
“The photographs allow us to see the Genocide and the happiness before the Genocide and life today,” Keverian added. “My children have found this valuable, particularly with the calendar.”
Every year, Project Save publishes a calendar with a specific theme. This year’s theme is “Our Armenian Journey,” focusing on immigrants and refugees in recent times.
“Jack and I have found this to be our favorite philanthropy and George had something to do with that,” Keverian said. “It keeps the photographic heritage of the Armenian community worldwide and [makes available] visual resources to researchers.”
Then she concluded, “The new executive director [Sarian] has done a fabulous job,” before adding in jest, “The only reason Ruth picked her was that she was Aintabsi.”
Next, the program turned to Thomasian in earnest. Said Sarian, “Someone recently described Ruth and her work as ‘an admirable project started and managed by one determined woman to preserve and disseminate historically significant photo record of Armenian life both before and after the genocide and both in historic Armenian land and in the diaspora.’
“Ruth has taught me to be aware of keeping an egalitarian balance: of gender, location, decade, and also class — not just the successful business owners and highly educated, but also to focus on the regular people. She is tenacious to ensure that people recognize and value the professional work of Project Save. Thank you for giving me the freedom to lead Project Save, as I proceed with humility and great respect,” she noted.
Sarian thanked all those who have donated photographs to the Project Save archives. “Our 45,000 photos are collected on kitchen tables and living rooms, from over 1,200 individuals and families. Photos from before the Genocide, photos from missionaries during the genocide and photos of Armenian life through the Diaspora. The individuals captured in the photos, their names, and stories are documented. We are able to teach their stories, give their testimony, and share their information to the greater world.”
She also thanked longtime archivist Suzanne Adams as well as volunteers Joseph Chau, Marc Fogel, Edward Kazanjian, Jirair Libaridian, Daiga Lorena, Laurence Mini, Elizabeth Wood, John Kebadjian, Marlin Keshishian, Sophie Tolajian and Ed Der Kazarian.
She stressed that she wanted to make the archives available to the greater Armenian community as well as the greater global community. She asked for the “shoebox of photos and albums that you have in your family. We want them.”
Thomasian, now the CEO of Project Save, wasted little time in speaking about the organization she had founded 42 years ago.
“I’ve always loved history. I recently found an analogy for what history is,” she explained, “a rearview mirror.”
“We have to see what came behind us. That is why history is so important,” she said. “The mirror helps guide you on a safe path from one’s life road for the future generations.”
In the past, she said, talking about history in the Armenian community was not something that everyone was comfortable doing. In fact, she recalled that her grandfather discouraged speaking at dinner, saying “this is an eating table, not a talking table.”
As for her stepping down as executive director, she said it was time. “I am not going to live forever,” leading to the concept of change. The one change that has come to Project Save is the digital age. She praised Sarian and archivist Suzanne Adams for digitizing the photos.
All those speaking about Project Save stressed that the organization does not simply take the photos but speaks to the donors at length in order to have the most precise information about what the photos have captured. The donor interviews are taped and archived.
Thomasian joked about her new role, “I collect photos very well. Now, I collect money.”
More seriously, she added, “My heart is so warm with love for Tsoleen.”
The keynote speaker was Dr. Hayk Demoyan, the former longtime director of the Armenian Genocide Museum Institute in Yerevan, Armenia, who is currently a visiting scholar at Harvard’s Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies.
Demoyan praised the organization for doing “a wonderful and exceptional job.” He first became aware of them when he started looking for photos from the era of the Armenian Genocide. He eventually used many photos from the organization in Yerevan at the Genocide Museum for the centennial event.
He then spoke about the more obscure history of Armenians in the US, noting that he is researching Martin the Armenian, the first ethnic Armenian to settle in the US, in his case Virginia.
“Just keep collecting photos,” he suggested, “as a historian and as a customer.”
The program was sponsored by Nicole Babikian Hajjar and Dr. Jean-Jacques Hajjar and Adrienne Tashjian. Serving on the event committee were Nicole Babikian Hajjar, including, Vartus Varadian, Taline Badrikian, Armine Manukian and Lorky Libaridian
Said Hajjar at the end of the program, “I am heartened to see the amount of support and enthusiasm for this organization, especially as it is at a turning point as it shifts gear. It is extremely promising in the very good hands of Tsoleen Sarian.”
To purchase a calendar or to find out more about the organization, visit www.projectsave.org
BOSTON — About 700 community, business and education leaders from around Massachusetts gathered on November 30 at the InterContinental Boston at the annual International Institute of New England (IINE) fundraiser, to honor Dr. Noubar Afeyan as he received the organization’s top award, the Golden Door.
Rep. Joe Kennedy (D-Boston) with guest Purni Karki
The century-old organization aids immigrants and refugees as they arrive in the US, providing them with housing, English lessons and job training. They often meet the people they help at either Logan Airport or Manchester, NH’s airport and take them directly to their new residences.
The theme of the evening was not only charity (of which there was plenty, with the event raising more than $768,000) but combating the current insular tenor of the administration of President Donald Trump.
Those helped by the organization, at first glance, seemed worlds away from the well-heeled crowd of movers and shakers sipping cocktails and munching on tiny hors d’oeuvres. However, the honoree and many guests happened to be one-time immigrants and refugees themselves.
The Golden Door Award is given annually by the IINE to a former immigrant or refugee who has become a true force in the US. And Afeyan has certainly become one in biotech, with recognition not only statewide, but globally. He is the founder, CEO and senior managing partner of Flagship Pioneering, a Cambridge-based incubator for life sciences companies. The firm’s Flagship VentureLabs is where its team of scientific entrepreneurs turn far-fetched ideas into reality.
Compassion in Intolerant Times
Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D-Boston) kicked off the evening by speaking before the formal portion of the program. He stressed that support for the IINE was especially important now. After congratulating Afeyan, he said that the honoree represented the best of history, traditions and values.
“Given the times we are in, we need to take a moment to understand our histories and stories,” Kennedy said. Immigrants are all around and they add to the mix, he said, noting that during the evening, he had met people from Sudan, Afghanistan, Congo, Syria and Iraq, among others. “It is pretty extraordinary,” he said. “I am cognizant of my own family ’s history,” he said, including his mother’s side, who fled religious intolerance in Europe to his father’s side who fled Ireland for economic reasons.
He continued with the theme of compassion, speaking about the Choctaw Nation whose members, forcibly moved by the US government to Oklahoma from their homes in the Southeast after a long march on the Trail of Tears in the 1830s, had sent much of their savings to the starving victims of the Potato Famine in Ireland in the 1840s.
He asked what it would mean when “society says no to those fleeing danger.” He also said that “polarization and tweets” are not what this country is about.
Shari Loessberg, a member of the IINE Board of Directors, read a letter from the president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, L. Rafael Reif, in which he said he was “thrilled to hear of the selection and am deeply grateful for your services to MIT.”
Dr. Afeyan is a member of the Corporation (Board of Trustees) of MIT, from which he had received his PhD in biochemical engineering in 1987. He is a former senior lecturer at the university’s Sloan School of Management. He is currently a lecturer at Harvard Business School.
Helping Immigrants
IINE has three centers — Boston, Lowell and Nashua, NH. According to one staffer, the individual refugees are often resettled in Boston whereas families go to the other two locations because of housing costs in Boston.
IINE President and CEO Jeffrey Thielman, who at the start of the program greeted every single person walking into the hall, praised the evening’s honoree for all he has done for immigrants. He also gave the grim statistics that currently around the world there are 65 million displaced persons, with 22 million refugees.
“It is the greatest humanitarian crisis our generation,” Thielman said.
Thielman also gave some information about the IINE. He noted that last year the organization had helped 2,000 persons in New Hampshire and Massachusetts from 66 different countries.
He praised the evening’s honoree, saying “people need you to make a difference in the years to come.”
Another speaker, Rob Perez, founder and chair of Life Sciences Cares, said his organization “collectively aggregates resources and deploys them toward [battling] poverty in Boston.” Perez said that by helping provide “economic survivability” to the poor residents of Massachusetts, the biotech community was able to give back. He also announced establishing a partnership with IINE before saying that Afeyan is “one of the architects of our industry.”
Stelios Papadopoulos, chair Biogen
Another speaker was Stelios Papadopoulos, chair of the board of Biogen, who also chaired this year’s Golden Door Award.
A Greek immigrant himself, he stressed that often in reality there is little difference between refugees and immigrants once they land in their new country. They often suffer from similar problems, poverty and lack of familiarity with the new country. He also suggested that refugees and immigrants often become innovators. He noted that “21 percent of companies [in biotech] were started by immigrants or children of immigrants — a bunch of foreigners,” he joked.
The US, he said, has traditionally appreciated diversity, “though there is a temporary lapse in judgment and ineptitude” at this moment.
He spoke about meeting Afeyan 30 years ago while the latter was at MIT.
“Noubar is not smart; he is off the charts,” he said. “He has the uncanny ability to see the future as yesterday.”
Papadopoulos read a letter from Dr. Vartan Gregorian, president of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the former president of Brown University. “I congratulate you and the International Institute of New England for their wisdom for their selection of Noubar,” he had written. “He knows that with wealth comes responsibility. He now is determined to give back. … To me he personifies the spirit of plurality.”
Honoring Afeyan
Dr. Noubar Afeyan
Previous winners of the Golden Door Award have included former Massachusetts Supreme Court Chief Justice Margaret Marshall, cellist Yo-Yo Ma and Stephen Mugar, making Afeyan the 36th US citizen of foreign birth to receive the honor.
The Golden Door is derived from a quote at the foot of the Statute of Liberty which concludes with the lines “Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Afeyan, when he finally came on stage to pick up his award, confessed that he was going to talk far longer than usual because he had so much to cover. He praised the IINE and added, “The life sciences community gathering to support them is very important in creating a lot of financial resources” for them. “We have to take a bigger and bigger responsibility” in the state.
Not only is he an immigrant, he said, but his many close friends who had attended the evening supporting him were also immigrants from the Middle East.
He gave some background on himself, from his birth and growing up in Lebanon, which he and his family fled because of the civil war, to landing as refugees in Montreal, Canada in 1975. Yet he went back further, detailing the story of his ancestors’ survival in the former Armenian lands in the Ottoman Empire during the Armenian Genocide. His father’s family came from Adabazar and his mother’s from Urfa. One grandfather eventually found his way to Bulgaria while another ended up in Lebanon.
“Anywhere we move, people have to worry. Calamity follows us,” he joked.
On a more serious note he continued, “All innovation is intellectual immigration. The feeling of utter fear and determination when we try to discover some new technology.”
That is why, he suggested, “immigrants aspire to fields of innovation.”
He spoke at length about the Armenian Genocide and how it had affected his family. His grandfather and a brother had gotten a second chance on the very last stop on the Baghdad-Berlin train, on which they were forced to travel, part of the throngs sent to die in the forced marches along the Deir Zor Desert. They were saved by a German officer at the very last moment because they spoke German. They, in turn, were able to save many Armenians that followed them on the train.
Reading an excerpt from Peter Balakian’s The Burning Tigris, he noted his debt of gratitude to the US for all its citizens had done to help the victims of the Armenian Genocide. In a hall “a couple of blocks away,” he said, at Faneuil Hall.
“It’s November 26, 1894, the Monday before Thanksgiving, a windy and clear evening, as men and women file into Faneuil Hall from all over Boston and from the suburbs of Cambridge, Watertown, Winchester, and as far out as Quincy and Andover. They have come to this public meeting place near the harbor to talk about the most pressing international human rights issue of the day,” the massacre of the Armenians by the Ottoman governmen, he read.
This, he said, led to the creation of the first US self-organized effort to help people outside the US. The group raised what is equal to $1 billion in today’s currency, before evolving into the Near East Foundation and going under the control of the US Congress.
Then he switched to Syria, where the civil war has led to the deaths of millions and the forcible evacuation of millions of others. Armenia has accepted more than 20,000 Syrian refugees, he said, “when they realized that 100 years ago, a whole lot of people took them.”
He dedicated a large portion of his acceptance speech to explaining his latest philanthropic endeavor in the Armenian world, the Aurora Prize for Humanity, which is “gratitude in action.”
In essence, the organization gifts one individual with a $100,000 award for their humanitarian actions and gives them the chance to pick, in turn, a group that has inspired them with their humanity and gift them up to $1 million and to keep the cycle of giving going.
According to the group’s website, the Aurora Prize parent group, the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative (AHI) was launched on behalf of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and in gratitude to their saviors. Those fortunate few who survived were saved by the courageous and heroic acts of institutions and individuals who intervened, at great risk. A century later, the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative seeks to express gratitude, share remarkable stories of survivors and their saviors, and celebrate the strength of the human spirit.
The Aurora Prize was founded jointly by Afeyan, Vartan Gregorian and Ruben Vardanyan.
Afeyan serves on the boards of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Armenian General Benevolent Union, the IDeA Foundation, the UWC Dilijan College in Armenia, and the Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology.
Giving Voice to Immigrants
Several immigrants and refugees were among the speakers. The program was kicked off by U-Meleni Mhalaba-Abedo and Rodgigue Kalambayi as part of Suitcase Stories. Mhalaba-Abedo been born in the US but eventually returned to Africa, witnessing the birth of modern Zimbabwe from Rhodesia and the dismantling of Apartheid in South Africa. Eventually she made her way back to Boston.
Kalambayi of Congo, spoke about the murder of his father and later he and his mother and numerous siblings made their way to Uganda where they lived for 11 years before making their way to the US. “I am so happy, going to school. I have a job for the first time in 11 years. I can smile again. I can dream again.”
Another speaker was Tamara Jasim, a refugee from Iraq, who spoke about the hard years they faced in Iraq before fleeing first to Northern Iraq, then Turkey and finally the US. Her husband, Ahmed, an electrical engineer, worked for the government and was therefore considered suspect. She, her husband and their then 2-year-old son were helped in resettlement in the US, where volunteers from IINE met them at Logan Airport and directly took them to their new furnished apartment in Lowell. Now, she said, her husband works as a technician and the couple have bought a home in Tyngsboro, where their children go to school.
With deep emotion, she thanked those gathered and in return, received thunderous applause.
To learn more about the International Institute, visit iine.org; for more about Aurora Prize visit auroraprize.com.
WELLESLEY, Mass. — Customers gathered for a reception on November 9 at Impulse, a chic jewelry store on Linden Street, featuring original, fierce and elegant designs, could take solace in splurging on beautiful pieces as a portion of sales benefitted the Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB).
Over drinks and appetizers at the jewelry store, owner Veronica Aboyan Sagherian teamed up with the GBFB, with 10 percent of sales going to the organization.
In addition, the names of those who donated a minimum of $25 to the GBFB were entered into a raffle to win a print by Boston artist Seth B. Minkin.
The event featured a trunk show of extra-large scarves with imprints of various paintings by Minkin. In fact, the scarves proved to be so popular that they will be on sale through the holidays.
Impulse is a sister store to Adamas Fine Jewelry in Newton. The two stores are owned and operated by siblings Sagherian and Anto Aboyan.
Said Sagherian, “Adamas Fine Jewelry and Impulse have a long history of supporting causes that are dear to our hearts and to those of the communities we serve…from supporting local schools to Boston Children’s hospital, we want to leave a positive impact on our communities. We started supporting the Greater Boston Food Bank a couple of years ago when we learned how widespread their efforts are in providing food to local pantries around the area. To date, along with the generosity of our clients and friends and other local businesses, have raised several thousand dollars for the GBFB and look forward to increasing our fundraising dollars year after year.”
According to the GBFB, November 2017 was the biggest distribution month in the organization’s history: 5,021,443 meals. (Providing five healthy holiday meals costs $20).
WASHINGTON — Oscar Tatosian, a member of the board of the Armenian Assembly of America, was recently appointed the newest honorary consul of the Republic of Armenia based in Chicago. The Chicago Consular Office is Armenia’s third Honorary Consulate in the United States, following the establishment of offices in Fresno (2014) and Las Vegas (2015). In this position, Tatosian will run the representative office of the Republic of Armenia in the Midwest region of the United States, help foster friendships and partnerships between the two nations, facilitate trade and cooperation in various fields, and host cultural events.
Oscar Tatosian
“Oscar Tatosian’s passion for Armenia and the Armenian community is amply demonstrated by his philanthropy and active involvement within the community. We know that he will serve as Honorary Consul of the Republic of Armenia in the state of Illinois with great distinction,” Assembly Co-Chairs Anthony Barsamian and Van Krikorian said. “Over the decades, Oscar has proven to be a strong, dedicated, and reliable leader who, through his hard work and tenacity, has contributed greatly to the Armenian cause. He knows the challenges that Armenia and Artsakh face, as well as understands American politics and how to work with community members and our elected officials to bring about positive results for our homeland,” they added.
Tatosian has been a noted leader in the Armenian American community for decades. He is a longtime member of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church and has served as a past Diocesan Council chair. Tatosian is also on the Board of the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR). Chicago-born Tatosian is President of Oscar Isberian Rugs, Inc., an importer and retailer of oriental carpets, with manufacturing relationships in the Near and Middle East.
“Congratulations to Mr. Oscar Tatosian, who comes from a business background and brings to the job his numerous talents, years of experience and community service,” the Embassy to the Republic of Armenia noted in a written statement.
TENAFLY, N.J. — The Tekeyan Cultural Association’s Mher Megerdchian Theater Group held its annual holiday gala, featuring singer Elie Berberian, on Saturday, December 9, at St. Thomas Armenian Church.
Celebrating a successful year, the group welcomed more than 250 people who attended the yearly concert and fundraiser that benefits the theater group’s productions.
“Elie Berberian proved himself to be one of the best singers in the Diaspora,” said Harout Chatmajian, director and chairman of the Mher Megerdichian Theater Group. “He has a big repertoire and created a very good atmosphere by putting his all into his performances.”
The group’s accomplishments over the past year included a well-received performance of the Genocide-themed “All Rise” (Tadaran Vodkee) for the Detroit Armenian community. A nationalistic play that can be performed for all Diasporan communities, the theater group plans to continue staging “All Rise” around the world.
New productions that will hit the stage include Agatha Christie’s murder mystery “The Unexpected Guest,” (Angoch Hyruh) that will be presented in April 2018 in New Jersey. The theater group’s popular “Comedy Club” will also take place next spring.
The upcoming year will be a special one for the Mher Megerdichian Theater Group because they will be celebrating the troupe’s 20-year milestone in 2018.
“Over the course of two decades, we have performed 30 different plays,” said Chatmajian, whose group comprises 80 actors. “We have never skipped a year and each year we present a new play.”
Ani Chatmajian, Talar Sesetyan Sarafian and Marie Zokian (Photo credit: Serpouhi Vartivarian)
The mission of the theater group over the past two decades has been to promote the Armenian culture in the Diaspora and reflect on its on rich historic past.
“Armenian theater started over 2,000 years ago,” said Chatmajian. “We have to keep the Armenian theatrical tradition here in the Diaspora, which brings people together and in turn creates its own community.”
Chatmajian likens the theater group to a school, where actors learn about the Armenian culture, history and language while studying plays by revered playwrights such as Hagop Baronian and William Saroyan. Citing actor, writer and director Krikor Satamian as his mentor, Chatmajian said he hopes to do the same for the actors in his theater troupe and pass on his knowledge and experience so the Armenian theatrical tradition can continue well into the future.
“The success and longevity of the Mher Megerdichian Theater Group is because we play different authors and we work with various directors, from Tamar Megerdichian to Krikor Satamian to Berj Fazlian to Gerard Papazian,” said Chatmajian.
The Mher Megerdichian Theater Group was founded 19 years ago and its board is now comprised of Marie Zokian as vice-chair, Ani Chatmajian as treasurer and Talar Sesetyan Sarafian as secretary, who all work together with their members to present plays in the Armenian language for the diaspora.
“Our theater troupe has always been close to our people’s hearts,” said Hagop Vartivarian, honorary chair of the Tekeyan Cultural Association of Greater New York. “The theater itself is a school, and, in our case, it is a school far from the homeland that keeps the Armenian language and literature alive.”
Vartivarian noted the well-known directors who have worked with the theater group and who injected a new spirit and enthusiasm into their productions. “I have the utmost respect to our directors, actors and technical crew who believe in our theater group’s mission.”
Supported by the Tekeyan Cultural Association, the two groups work hand in hand to uplift the Armenian diaspora through the arts.
“The holiday gala benefiting Tekeyan’s theater group was another wonderful opportunity to bring our community together and celebrate our culture,” said Hilda Hartounian, chair of the Tekeyan Cultural Association of Greater New York. “We are proud of the TCA’s cultural contributions, in our symbolic 70th year, and look forward to continuing to preserve our heritage.”
NEW YORK – Tom Hanks, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ariana Grande, Conan O’Brien and Vanessa Williams are just some of the American celebrities that support the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF). During COAF’s gala event at New York’s Cipriani 42nd Street on December 16, $3.6 million was raised thanks to the generous donations of the Armenian community, their friends, and an auction. Andrea Martin, the Emmy-award winning American-Canadian actress of Armenian heritage, hosted the event and prominent art auctioneer Simon de Pury headed the auction.
Actress Andrea Martin speaks to the attendees at the Children of Armenia Fund 13th Annual Holiday Gala at Cipriani 42 in New York, NY on December 9, 2016. (Photo by Stephen Smith/Guest of a Guest)
Garo Armen, the chairman of COAF, personally donated 1 million dollars to the fund. Istanbul-born benefactor, businessman and inventor Garo Armen donated the same amount at 2016’s gala evening.
From left, supporter Armen Avanessians and COAF Founder Dr. Garo Armen attend the Children of Armenia Fund 13th Annual Holiday Gala at Cipriani 42 in New York, NY on December 9, 2016. (Photo by Stephen Smith/Guest of a Guest)
Special guests present included actress, singer and performer Vanessa Williams, art dealer Tony Shafrazi, designer Michael Aram, and chef Geoffrey Zakarian. Williams performed her Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning song Colors of the Wind and paid tribute to Emmy Award-winning costume designer and fashion icon Patricia Field (“Sex and the City,” “The Devil Wears Prada”), who received COAF’s Humanitarian Award. Field, who is of Armenian and Greek heritage, has been a longtime supporter of COAF, sharing its vision of empowering people to realize their full potential, embrace originality, and achieve their individual greatness.
L-R: COAF Founder Dr. Garo Armen, auctioneer Simon de Pury and Gala Chair Tony Shafrazi (R) on stage at the Children of Armenia Fund 13th Annual Holiday Gala at Cipriani 42 in New York, NY on December 9, 2016. (Photo by Stephen Smith/Guest of a Guest)
COAF started its activities in 2000 by renovating the school building of Karakert village in Armavir province of Armenia. As of 2017 COAF has expanded its work to 44 villages. The key project that COAF has been working on for the last few years is the construction of the state-of-art “Smart Center” in Lori’s D’segh village. The work on about 18 acres of land is nearing its completion. Children from about 30 villages in proximity to the campus will be able to study IT, engineering, robotics, and master English skills at this center. COAF is planning on constructing more Smart Centers across Armenia.
The evening included performances from 14-year-old saxophonist Aleksandr Avetisyan and 9-year-old vocalist Ani Margaryan, both from Armenia, a speech on opportunities created by COAF from 16-year-old Nareh Galstyan, from the village of Lernagog and many other celebrity presentations.
Dr. Eric Esrailian speaks to the attendees as “The Promise” director Terry George looks on at the Children of Armenia Fund 13th Annual Holiday Gala at Cipriani 42 in New York, NY on December 9, 2016. (Photo by Stephen Smith/Guest of a Guest)
As Vanessa Williams said in the interview to Armenia’s Public TV Company presented here, she supports COAF because “100 percent of the proceeds go directly to COAF from the gala – it is phenomenal that it goes directly to changing people’s lives in Armenia.”
By Nancy Kalajian
