On Sunday, August 21, 2022, at 5:00 p.m., the presentation of the volume “Armenian Democratic Liberal Party” and a memorial evening for our dear colleague took place at the Tekeyan Cultural Association’s Beshgeturian Center.
Very rarely have we enjoyed such a glorious, impressive, and captivating event as that day’s occasion.
Members of the Aharonian Family
Program Participants
A magnificent mistress of ceremonies, the splendid speeches of the members of the ADL Central Board, the highly engaging remarks of the day’s main speaker and the editor of the volume, the soul-stirring performances of the artists — everything was organized down to the last detail, with exceptional meticulousness, elegance, and the neatness befitting Ara Aharonian.
That day, the spirit of our colleague Ara Aharonian hovered within the hall, creating a national and patriotic party atmosphere.
Reverend Henrik Shahnazarian
Rev. Manoug A.K. Markarian
The event was honored by the presence of the representative of our Diocese’s Prelate, the Very Rev. Fr. Manoug A.K. Markarian, as well as the President of the Armenian Evangelical Church in the USA, Reverend Henrik Shahnazarian, the deceased’s family members and relatives, state officials, union representatives, press representatives, public figures, and a large crowd.
After the opening and welcome remarks of the day’s gracious mistress of ceremonies, Sevan Der Bedrosian, she invited those present to observe a minute of silence in honor of our colleague’s blessed memory and the memory of the compatriots who fell victim to the Surmalu explosion in the homeland.
Dr. Raffi Balian
Sevan Der Bedrosian
Then Dr. Raffi Balian, Chairman of the Regional Board of the ADL’s Western Region of the USA, took the floor. After appreciating Ara Aharonian’s years of party, national, and patriotic service, he said: “The Regional Board, in appreciation of our colleague’s years of service, decided to publish this volume to perpetuate his memory.”
The late Ara Aharonian was a member of the Party’s Central Board and of numerous unions and organizations. His biography was presented with very beautiful and impressive words by Kevork Haleblian, a member of the ADL Central Board.
Kevork Haleblian
Dr. Minas Gojayian
Then the floor was given to Dr. Minas Gojayian, editor of the volume “Armenian Democratic Liberal Party,” a well-known intellectual of the homeland and especially of the diaspora, and a longtime educator, to present the edited volume. Dr. Gojayian, together with his wife Nazig, worked for about a year to organize, edit, condense, and avoid repetitions in the information contained in this volume.
“My wife and I feel privileged to bring such a highly engaging book to light, and by publishing this book, we realized Ara Aharonian’s years of work and dream, thanks to the financial support of the Regional Board,” said Dr. Gojayian.
Nazig Gojayian
The book’s proofreader, Nazig Gojayian, read excerpts from the book with emotion.
This 350-page book consists of four sections, has 127 chapters, and the author has provided the history of the Armenakan Party, the precursor of this party, up to the founding year of the ADL in 1921 and its subsequent centennial.
Suzie Mazmanian
In this volume we read the history of our people over the last 100 years, the national organizations, party congresses, the work of the ADL-HBES Union, the ADL-TCA, and relations with the homeland. Like the previous speakers, Dr. Minas Gojayian’s remarks were received with prolonged and warm applause.
That day, the well-known singer of our community, Suzie Mazmanian, accompanied on the piano by Dr. Isabelle Kayayan, charmed those present with her beautiful voice and performances, stirring the souls of the audience with the spiritual hymn “Havun Havun” and the song “Asum e Urin” from the opera Anoush, earning prolonged applause.
Panig Keshishian
Tamar Poladian Peron
Panig Keshishian, a longtime member of the ADL Central Board and former chairman of the Western Region Regional Board of the USA (in Armenian), and Tamar Poladian Peron, a lawyer and member of the ADL Central Board (in English), took the floor. Both speakers, being very close to Ara Aharonian personally and within the party, spoke about their memories with the late Ara Aharonian and his fruitful activities. Both speakers deeply satisfied those present with their delivery and the information they shared.
Mayda Kurejian
Speaking from the heart, Mayda Kurejian, executive secretary of the TCA Western Region, who knows the Aharonian family closely from Beirut, addressed Ara’s wife and children, urging them to continue their father’s honorable work. Similarly, the current beloved and respected Mayor of Glendale, Ardi Kasakhian, spoke about his collaboration with Ara and, after expressing his deep respect, conveyed his condolences to the Aharonian, Kanimian, and Depanian families and relatives.
Honarable Vrej Agajanian – Previous Glendale Mayor
Honarable Ardi Kasakhian – Glendale Mayor
Former Mayor of Glendale, Vrej Agajanian, well-known owner of two 24-hour television stations, took the floor and recalled how he had appointed Ara to one of the Glendale City Council committees as a member, and that he had fulfilled that position with great conscientiousness and dedication.
And California State Senator Anthony Portantino, taking the floor, recalled how close Ara was, recounting a few episodes of their work together, and expressed his condolences to Ara’s wife, children, relatives, and ADL members.
Rita Aharonian Saroukhanian
The daughter of the late Ara Aharonian, Rita Aharonian Saroukhanian, took the floor and, in Armenian and English, expressed her gratitude to the ADL’s Western Region Regional Board of the USA and the members of the organizing committee for organizing such a memorial evening for her father and for publishing the volume representing her father’s years of work. On behalf of herself, her mother, her brother, her father’s sister’s Kanimian family, and the Depanian families, she thanked the large crowd filling the hall who were present that evening.
Ara Aharonian was not only the author of this book but of four other books, and was also a talented singer (K.J.).
That night, two of Ara Aharonian’s recorded songs were played, which received thunderous applause from those present.
David Samuelian and Aram Lepejian
David Samuelian, a close friend and longtime colleague of the Aharonian family (Paylak’s and Ara’s), gave a performance, singing two songs (“Tun mer Hayreni”), which was heard for the first time that night, and Ara’s favorite (“Darinere antsan”), earning loud bravos and applause from those present.
Finally, Khachig Janoyan, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, took the floor and, after a brief speech about Ara, on behalf of all members of the committee he chaired, thanked all those present who had left their comfort, homes, and places to attend this memorial evening.
Khachig Janoyan
Honarable Senator Anthony Portantino
“Ara Aharonian is not physically with us, but he is with us through his family, his children, his relatives, and especially through his volumes and his service.”
Janoyan invited the representative of the Diocesan Prelate, His Grace Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, the Very Rev. Fr. Manoug A.K. Markarian, and the Spiritual Supervisor of the Armenian Evangelical Church in America, Reverend Henrik Shahnazarian, who closed that day’s event with words from the heart and a prayer.
All those present were invited to a very lavish reception, provided by Mr. and Mrs. Shahe and Arpi Kanimian and their children (Mrs. Arpi Kanimian is the sister of the late Ara).
“May the memory of the righteous be blessed.”
Attendees
Khachig Janoyan
“Nor Or”
