16 The <strong>Armenian</strong> <strong>Reporter</strong> | November 22, 2008CommunityPeter Khanbegian, 87,working on third bookamaa holds “Children Helping Children”benefit <strong>for</strong> Armeniaby Tom VartabedianWINDHAM, N.H. – At an agewhen most people <strong>are</strong> saddled byinertia, Pete Khanbegian is writingbooks, flying planes, and feeling inthe prime of life.So much <strong>for</strong> an 87-year-old whodoesn’t know the meaning of retirement.In fact, he’s enamored by it.T<strong>we</strong>nty years ago, Khanbegianmade his debut as a successful authorwith Garoong, a fictional workbased upon stories and charactershe encountered as a youth born inLawrence, MA and raised in NewYork City.A decade later came the sequel,Flames of Artsakh, which followsthe c<strong>are</strong>ers of his previous charactersthrough the devastating earthquakeand ongoing saga of Turkishoppression.So why stop now?A third book, Onnig, is in process.Khanbegian will say only that it’sabout a family friend with a remarkablelife story that should be told.“Since it’s still a work in progress, Idon’t wish to speak too much aboutit right now,” he confirms. “You’llhave to wait <strong>for</strong> the book.”If it’s anything like the first two,look <strong>for</strong> brisk sales and a delightfulread. The books found themselvesin many <strong>Armenian</strong> homes andbookstores with buoyant reviews.Mention his age and it draws instantdebate.“It’s only a matter of numbers,”he admits with a debonair look. “Imay be older chronologically, butnot old.”So what keeps him going? Theliterary scene, <strong>for</strong> one, still writingbooks <strong>for</strong> publication.Flying, <strong>for</strong> another. Khanbegianis a licensed pilot who finds a sensationof being in control above theclouds that’s difficult to match.Then there’s the call of the volunteergroup of pilots in Angel Flightswho transport sick people to hospitalsthat cannot otherwise af<strong>for</strong>dthe cost. Many children with cancer<strong>we</strong>re flown to Boston from NorthernMaine with Khanbegian in control.<strong>And</strong> finally, there’s his job as aquality control manager <strong>for</strong> a precisionmachine company in Salem.Khanbegian writes procedures,handles inspections and interfaceswith vendors to make certain thefinished product meets militaryspecifications.A regular and disciplined exerciseroutine, nourishing food, his spiritualbelief and creative view of life<strong>are</strong> all prerequisites <strong>for</strong> a long andrewarding life.“I’ve always enjoyed working withyounger people,” he says. “Theykeep me sharp and on top of myjob. I happen to be a one-man operation<strong>for</strong> my company.”When Khanbegian decided towrite Garoong 20 years ago, at theripe age of 67, he wanted to tell the<strong>Armenian</strong> story in such a way thatwould also appeal to outsiders.Based on fact, the book spoke tomany first-generation children of immigrantsand their struggle to assimilatein such a way that it read ef<strong>for</strong>tlessly.The novel follows three generationsthrough their life cycles, muchlike Pearl Buck’s The Good Earth.“So often, readers have confessedto me they found a relationship withthe characters and the challengesthey faced,” Khanbegian broughtout. “Non-<strong>Armenian</strong>s expresseddisbelief and shock when they readof the genocide and how our racewas dismantled and thrown to thefar corners of the world.”The sequel turned into a naturalprogression <strong>for</strong> Khanbegian in hisPeter Khanbegian.attempt to portray a family’s <strong>we</strong>lf<strong>are</strong>in what has become society’s“melting pot.” There is pathos, understanding,joy and sadness woveninto the plot.Khanbegian and three siblings<strong>we</strong>re born in Lawrence, Mass., athriving <strong>Armenian</strong> community surroundedby churches and organizations.Both his p<strong>are</strong>nts hailed fromthe <strong>Armenian</strong> village of Chemishgezekjust be<strong>for</strong>e the genocide.“My mother decided to hide allthe family valuables, believing alwaysin her eventual return to Armenia,”said Khanbegian.Aurora Mardiganian, a first cousinto Khanbegian’s father, remainedbehind and suffered through theatrocities. Through certain Christiancharities, she managed to escapeher captors and eventually arrivedin America.With the help of a couple whobecame her guardians, she wrote abook about her experiences titledAuction of Souls, which was publishedin 1918. The work was convertedinto a film the followingyear which created quite a furorthroughout the Western world.Ravished Armenia, the story ofAurora Mardiganian, is available onthe Internet.The Khanbegians moved to NewYork City when Peter was 4 andsettled in Brooklyn where the fatheroperated a dry cleaning and tailorshop. After graduating from BrooklynTechnical High School, he servedwith the Navy in World War 2 wherehe rose from an ordinary seaman toMachinist’s Mate First Class.His wife Jean is a professionalartist who ran her own gallery inBar Harbor, Maine, <strong>for</strong> 20 years. Thetwo decided to go out on a limb andpurchased a small hotel and restaurantin Bar Harbor which theyturned into a successful venture.“Although she’s an ‘odar’, Jeanhas adapted <strong>we</strong>ll to <strong>Armenian</strong> culture,especially from a culinarystandpoint,” he says. “She learnedmany of the special recipes frommy mother.”A correspondence with Cali<strong>for</strong>niaauthor Laura Kalpakian has led tomutual respect and lasting impressionsof one another’s literary talents.Kalpakian has authored severalworks, including Cosette, a sequelto Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables.Khanbegian finds Armenia on avery crucial threshold today, withRussia trying its best to re-establishits influence throughout theEastern Bloc countries like Ukraine,Estonia and Poland.He would like nothing betterthan to see Armenia become aneconomic free trade republic.“With the blockade by Turkeyand Azerbaijan, Armenia’s onlyhope is to have good relations withGeorgia in terms of exports andimports, even though they <strong>we</strong>renever sympathetic to our problems,”he feels. “Georgia is a Christiancountry and one would expectthat it be on friendly terms with itsneighbors.”.BELMONT, Mass. – The amaaOrphan/Child C<strong>are</strong> Committee’s13th annual luncheon, held October16 at the Belmont Country Club,gathered <strong>are</strong>a supporters to benefitneedy children in Armenia. Thisyear’s event featured an live auctionhosted by wcvb-TV Channel5 Meteorologist Mike Wankumtogether with wbz Newsradio HostJordan Rich.Supporters arrived early tobrowse the auction and sale items,including sports, theater, and concerttickets, as <strong>we</strong>ll as gift packages.This year’s book event showcased<strong>Armenian</strong>-American novelist NancyKricorian.Michele Simourian, the cofounderof the amaa Orphan/ChildC<strong>are</strong> Committee, thanked the committeemembers and <strong>we</strong>lcomed theguests, including amaa’s Field Director,Dikran Youmshakian, andthe Rev. Samvel Kirakossian, thepastor of the Evangelical Churchin Vanatzor, Armenia. A children’sfashion show by Elite Bebe of Belmontrounded out the program.This luncheon was one of manysimilar functions organized byWATERTOWN, Mass. – “Undercertain circumstances, there<strong>are</strong> few hours in life more agreeablethan the hour dedicated to theceremony known as afternoon tea,”begins The Portrait of a Lady, the1908 novel by American-born AnglophileHenry James. Whether ornot one partakes of the beverage,he added, “the situation is itself delightful.”On a Saturday afternoon onecentury later, over 300 <strong>Armenian</strong>ladies found themselves in justsuch a delightful situation at theThird “Hye Tea” of St. James <strong>Armenian</strong>Church in Watertown, not farfrom the novelist’s old haunts inBoston and Cambridge.Passing through the flo<strong>we</strong>r-filledlobby of St. James Cultural Center,the guests entered Keljik Hall,where more than 30 tables presentedsuch themes as an elegant Britishtea, a garden party, India, Jerusalem,a beehive, a spa, and “green”environmental protection. Givenhis sympathy <strong>for</strong> the <strong>Armenian</strong>sduring the 1890s, James mighthave appreciated the <strong>Armenian</strong> delicaciesserved alongside the moreSt. James hosts screening of WilliamSaroyan: The Man, The WriterWATERTOWN, Mass. – “Try asmuch as possible to be wholly alive,with all your might,” William Saroyanonce wrote. The documentaryfilm William Saroyan: The Man, TheWriter, a study of Saroyan’s family,accomplishments, personality, and<strong>Armenian</strong> heritage, illuminated aman who took his own advice.William Saroyan was screened atSt. James <strong>Armenian</strong> Church on Oct.3, follo<strong>we</strong>d by a discussion with producerSusie Kalinian and her father,writer-director Paul Kalinian. Duringthe Q&A, the more than 200guests learned more about the Kalinians’personal relationship withSaroyan, the evolution of the film,and Saroyan himself.Children helping children.the amaa Orphan/ Child C<strong>are</strong>Committee to raise funds andprovide aid to needy children inArmenia. The growing annualevent draws contributors andattendees from all Boston <strong>are</strong>achurches.“Thanks to the ef<strong>for</strong>ts of thecommittee, children today have abetter chance to survive the hardshipsin our homeland,” organizerstraditional cucumber sandwiches,salmon sandwiches, and scones.The music of the Erebuni women’schorus and remarks fromMary Richardson of New England’sChronicle newsmagazine roundedMr. Kalinian, whose photographof his good friend William Saroyanappe<strong>are</strong>d on a joint us-ussr commemorativepostage stamp in 1991,was inspired to create the documentaryafter Saroyan’s death in1981. Ten years in the making, WilliamSaroyan: The Man, The Writerreceived six awards from severalInternational Film Festivals, includingthe Gold Award <strong>for</strong> BestDocumentary Film. Since 1991, thefilm has been vie<strong>we</strong>d by more than4 million people in 72 cities and 26countries.In addition to producing thefilm, Susie Kalinian, a parishionerat St. James, was responsible <strong>for</strong>script research, costume design,say. “They <strong>are</strong> provided with food,clothing, medical c<strong>are</strong>, educationand most of all reason to know thatGod loves them all.” Each year thousandsof children attend summercamps, receive gifts on Christmasand experience the joy of Easter,amaa reports.connect:www.amaa.org“Hye Tea” ceremony takes place at St.James <strong>Armenian</strong> ChurchMary Goudsouzian and Carol Yeghiayan with Mary Richardson.out the Nov. 1 event, which wasorganized by event chairs MaryGoudsouzian and Carol Yeghiayanand their able team of hostesses,with assistance from Faith Cass ofCass the Florist.make-up, casting, and public relations.Dr. Kalinian continues totour and promote the documentary,while practicing dentistry inCambridge, Massachusetts. connect:www.kalinian-saroyan.comEditor’s NoteIn our Nov. 8 edition, on pageC6, <strong>we</strong> published the iconicphotograph of William Saroyanby Paul Kalinian withpermission but without givingcredit. We regret the error.
The <strong>Armenian</strong> <strong>Reporter</strong> | November 22, 2008 17CommunityGuroian speaks on being American in the <strong>Armenian</strong> churchby Ovsanna MooradianWATERVLIET, N.Y. – Manyestablished <strong>Armenian</strong> churches inAmerica <strong>are</strong> losing strength eventhough new churches <strong>are</strong> beingbuilt, observed University of VirginiaOrthodox theologian VigenGuroian in a Nov. 9 lecture co-hostedby St. Peter <strong>Armenian</strong> Church ofWatervliet and Holy Cross <strong>Armenian</strong>Church of Troy.Although one can preserveheritage, preservation cannot beguaranteed, said Prof. Guroian, a<strong>for</strong>mer director of St. Nersess <strong>Armenian</strong>Seminary. Eventually, he added,all the ethnic churches will integrate.In his lecture, “Being Americanin the <strong>Armenian</strong> Church: Mission& Renewal,” Prof. Guroian notedthat Will Herberg, who wrote“Protestant – Catholic – Jew,” andArchbishop Tiran Nersoyan, tracedthe changes that took place in thechurch among immigrants andtheir descendants. The immigrantchurch cannot continue just fromthe arrival of new immigrants, hesaid. Intermarriage is taking place,and local leaders must be raised up.To <strong>Armenian</strong>s who live in an <strong>are</strong>athat lacks an <strong>Armenian</strong> church,Prof. Guroian recommended attendingsister churches, such as theCoptic church. He also suggestedthat <strong>Armenian</strong>s become involvedin the religious life of America andmeet with other Christian clergy.A discussion and booksigningfollo<strong>we</strong>d the lecture in the St. PeterChurch Gdanian Auditorium. Prof.Guroian is the author of Ethicsafter Christendom, Life’s Living TowardDying, Inheriting Paradise, andFaith, Church, Mission, among otherworks. Luncheon was providedby the St. Peter Women’s Guild andthe Holy Cross Ladies Guild. Prof. Vigen Guroian.agbu Toronto exhibit of art by Alexander Saroukhan, HagopHagopian, and <strong>Armenian</strong>-Canadian artistsTORONTO – From October 31to November 2, 2008, agbu Torontoorganized an art exhibitionat the agbu Alex Manoogian CulturalCentre in honor of Egyptian-<strong>Armenian</strong>artist AlexanderSaroukhan, who is widely consideredthe leading caricaturist of20th-century <strong>Armenian</strong> life. Alsoincluded in the exhibition <strong>we</strong>reart works by Hagop Hagopian ofArmenia and local <strong>Armenian</strong> Canadianartists.On <strong>this</strong> occasion, Edmond Azadianwas invited from Southfield,Michigan to speak about the lifeand work of Saroukhan. He alsospoke about the work of Hagopianas one of the leading contemporary<strong>Armenian</strong> painters. Azadianintroduced both artists to thecrowd and sh<strong>are</strong>d his personal experienceswith them while he wasthe editor of “Arev” (Sun) dailynewspaper in Cairo, Egypt. BothSaroukhan and Hagopian originallyhail from Egypt, while Hagopianrepatriated to Armenia during theSoviet period.Other participating artists <strong>we</strong>reNatalie Avanessian, Oleg Danilyants,Shushanik Danilyants, SilvaDjarahyan, Nina Dmitrieva, SeyranGasbarian, Marine Hakopyan, TamaraHarutyunyan, Hari Ketenjian,Jack Koca, Harout Mardirossian,Tatiyana Menjolian Newyniak andAlina Sahakian.Spiritual music festival took place in ProvidenceEdmond Azadianspeaks about thelife and workof AlexanderSaroukhanduring a specialevent thathonored theartist at agbuToronto.PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The recentlyrenovated sanctuary ofSts. Sahag and Mesrob <strong>Armenian</strong>Church was filled to capacity aschoirs and faithful of Rhode Island’sOriental and Eastern OrthodoxChurches congregated <strong>for</strong>an exceptionally uplifting spiritualmusical experience on the eveningof Sunday, October 26.The concert was co-sponsored bythe Rhode Island Orthodox ClergyFellowship and the Cultural Committeeof Sts. Sahag and Mesrob<strong>Armenian</strong> Church. The parish’sWomen’s Guild provided a generoustable of hospitality <strong>for</strong> themany guests gathered in the EgavianCultural Hall after the program.Each of the church choirs wasinvited to present selections fromtheir unique liturgical music traditions.Besides <strong>Armenian</strong>, thosepresent had the opportunity tohear hymns sung in Greek, English,Coptic as <strong>we</strong>ll as Aramaic, theancient tongue spoken by the LordJesus.Choirs from eight parishes participated:Annunciation Greek Orthodox(Cranston), St. EphraimSyrian Orthodox (Central Falls),Assumption of the Virgin MaryGreek Orthodox (Pawtucket), HolyDormition Orthodox (Cumberland),St. Mary Antiochian Orthodox(Pawtucket), Sts. Vartanantz<strong>Armenian</strong> Apostolic (Providence),Sts. Mary and Mena Coptic (Cranston),and Sts. Sahag and Mesrob<strong>Armenian</strong> Apostolic - Jr. and Sr.choirs - (Providence).The vice-president of the RI OrthodoxClergy Fellowship, Fr. Dr.George Economou warmly <strong>we</strong>lcomedthe choirs and guests tothe concert. Each choir and itsrepertoire <strong>we</strong>re introduced eitherby their priest or choir director.The wide spectrum of genres includedchants of Holy Week, theDivine Liturgy, Exaltation of theHoly Cross, Feast of St. Demetrios,Holy Mother of God, Annunciation,Communion Hymn and music ofTheophany. The faithful audiencewas treated to an impressive varietyof sacred music styles rangingfrom recitative Slavonic to melismaticSyriac melodies.Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church’spastor, Father Simeon Odabashian,offered a few closing remarks andthe benediction. Just prior to thebenediction, the choirs of Sts. Sahagand Mesrob Church and Sts.Vartanantz Church joined togetherin a most inspiring rendering of M.University of Michigan unveils archive of Hunchakian leaderEkmalian’s “Hayr Mer,” a setting ofthe Lord’s Prayer, directed by ArchdeaconSouren Mouradjian.The evening’s event was mostably coordinated by Maestro KonstantinPetrossian, parish culturaland music director, and earnedthe unanimous admiration of theapproximately 300 in attendance.Two years ago Sts. Sahag and Mesrob<strong>Armenian</strong> Church had theprivilege of hosting a similar event.Based on the positive spirit evidentat <strong>this</strong> last concert, the parish eagerlylooks <strong>for</strong>ward to again <strong>we</strong>lcomebrothers and sisters of theEastern Christian churches.. ANN ARBOR, Mich. – At aspecial event October 31, the <strong>Armenian</strong>Studies Program and SpecialCollections of the Universityof Michigan unveiled the archiveof Hamparzoum Arzoumanian, aleader of the Hnchakian Party from1891 to 1909.The Arzoumanian Archive, consistingof some 1200 pages of partyrelated and personal correspondence,Hnchakian Center circularsand related materials, mostly in<strong>Armenian</strong>, had been donated tothe University of Michigan by thegranddaughter of the Hnchakianleader, Mrs. Marguerite Harms,and the Arzoumanian family,some time ago. The archive wasorganized and documents classifiedrecently.Hamparzoum Arzoumanianwas born in historic Gantzak; hestarted his political activities inTabriz, Iran, as a field worker <strong>for</strong>the party and continued as organizer,propagandist and ideologuein Russia, Europe, and the UnitedStates until his death in New Yorkin 1909, where his life ended at age43 as a factory worker. His archivespreads light on a variety of issues,including the battles withinthe Hnchakian Party, the organizationof chapters in places like Baku,Novorossisk and cities in the U.S.Throughout his life he remaineda staunch believer in socialismand its relevance to the <strong>Armenian</strong>struggle <strong>for</strong> liberation. Throughou<strong>this</strong> c<strong>are</strong>er Arzoumanian had thefull support of his wife Sona.More than 60 faculty members,students, administrators andmembers of the family participatedin the presentation of the archives.Fifteen grandchildren and their offspringhad traveled to Ann Arborfrom Cali<strong>for</strong>nia, Pennsylvania andother states to attend the eventand learn about the Arzoumanians.Ms. Marg<strong>are</strong>t McKinley, Directorof Development of the UniversityLibraries opened the eveningwith remarks on the value of specialcollections and archives. Ms.Peggy Daub, Director of SpecialCollections discussed the placeof the Arzoumanian Archive inthe Special Collections. HistorianDr. Nora Nercessian, specialconsultant <strong>for</strong> the project andorganizer of the ArzoumanianArchive, presented the life of theArzoumanians and the contentsof the archive, while Prof. GerardLibaridian, Director of the <strong>Armenian</strong>Studies Program, assessedthe value of the archive <strong>for</strong> <strong>Armenian</strong>and regional history.The Arzoumanian Archive is currentlybeing digitized and placed onthe <strong>we</strong>bsite of the University SpecialCollections gradually. In<strong>for</strong>mationregarding the Arzoumanian papersand the documents themselvescan be accessed on the <strong>we</strong>b (http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/f/findaid/Let us know what’s on your mind.Write to us atletters@reporter.amfindaid-idx?c=sclead&idno=umichscl-arzoumanian)or through theUniversity Special Collections (History)and <strong>Armenian</strong> Studies Program<strong>we</strong>bsites; the archive is alsoopen to researchers who wish to accessthem at the Special Collections.“One reason <strong>we</strong> wanted to organize<strong>this</strong> event and present theArzoumanian Archive is to encourageothers to preserve familypapers and prod organizations toopen their archives to researchers,”stated Prof. Libaridian. “The <strong>Armenian</strong>Studies Program and theSpecial Collections at the Universityof Michigan <strong>are</strong> ready to assistin achieving these goals, includingreceiving papers, organizingthem and making them availableto researchers in a safe and professionalenvironment.” connect:(734) 763-0622gcaudill@umich.eduLooking <strong>for</strong> the best and the brightest?Help Wanted with the <strong>Armenian</strong> <strong>Reporter</strong>classifieds@reporter.am 818-955-8407Need cash be<strong>for</strong>e the holidays?Sell your stuff with the <strong>Armenian</strong> <strong>Reporter</strong>classifieds@reporter.am818-955-8407