In the United States, on 9 December 2022, a exemplary party member and a pure Armenian, Dr. Artin (Arto) Poladyan (born 1936), passed away.
The funeral service of the deceased will take place in Burbank, on Thursday, 29 December 2022, at 10:30 a.m., at St. Levon Armenian Cathedral (3325 N. Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank, CA 91504), followed by the burial service at Forest Lawn Memorial Park – Hollywood Hills (6300 Forest Lawn Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068).
At the request of the deceased’s family, in lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be made to the building fund of the Hollywood St. John the Baptist Armenian Church of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, or to “Nor Or”.
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Endowed with multifaceted merits, Dr. Arto Poladyan was born in Cairo, where he spent the first three decades of his life in the once-flourishing Armenian-Egyptian community, and established himself in his profession as a skilled pharmacist and druggist. He worked at the “Pfizer” pharmaceutical company in Cairo, while also owning his personal pharmacy. After a successful pharmaceutical career, due to circumstances, he moved to the United States (1968), where he continued his professional work with the same success and new achievements, obtaining his doctoral degree (1970). He worked for over 30 years at the “Kaiser” Foundation hospital, in the pharmacy department, rising to the position of director.
Poladyan chose as his life partner his like-minded colleague Aida Kupelyan, and together they built a happy family home, blessed with two children: Arto Jr. and Tamar.
Distinguished by pure patriotism, Poladyan, with unwavering devotion for more than five decades, made it his life’s mission to serve the Homeland, the Armenian people, and the Armenian Apostolic Church silently and unreservedly. Throughout his rich national-social activities, he undertook numerous responsible positions within the ranks of the ADL and the TMA.
As an active member of the Tekeyan Cultural Association, Dr. Poladyan served as treasurer of the TCA Arshak Tigranian School for 20 consecutive years.
He was one of the founding members of the Hollywood St. John the Baptist Armenian Apostolic Church, served as a member of the parish council, was its chairman, and then treasurer. He served as a member of the Diocesan Council for two terms.
He was a member of the executive council of the “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund (2001).
In 1973, he joined the ranks of the ADL. He was the chairman and treasurer of the Hollywood Eugene Babazyan Club for various terms.
Poladyan made a significant contribution to the pursuit of the Armenian Cause. He participated in the formation efforts of the ADL’s Armenian Rights Council of America, within the scope of whose activities he carried out important pro-Armenian work with American local bodies and state and political figures.
He was part of the delegation of California Senator Jack Scott, visiting Armenia and Artsakh (2005).
For his invaluable services, Poladyan was awarded a number of medals. He received certificates of appreciation and commendations from the Tekeyan Cultural Association, the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party, the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, the Hollywood St. John the Baptist Armenian Apostolic Church, and others.
In 1996, for his church-loving activities, he was awarded the highest medal of “St. Nerses Shnorhali” by Catholicos Karekin II of All Armenians.
On the occasion of the ADL’s centennial, he was honored with a commemorative gift and the “Highest Appreciation” for his nation-devoted services and prolific party work.
His name will always remain bright in our memory as a devoted Armenian and national, party figure.
Therefore, in the name of the entire membership of the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party, we express our deepest condolences to the spouse of the deceased comrade, Aida Kupelyan-Poladyan, to his son, Arto Jr., to his daughter, ADL Central Board member Tamar Poladyan-Perron, and to his son-in-law John, to his grandchildren, and to all relatives.
May the memory of the righteous be blessed.
ADL Central Board
