WATERTOWN, Mass. (A.W.)—On May 28, the 99th anniversary of the First Republic of Armenia, a special memorial was held at the St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church hall, to mark the 25th anniversary of the passing of the founder of the Armenian Independent Broadcasting of Boston, Jerair Gharibian.
Several community members came together to remember Gharibian and to pay homage to his years of service to the Armenian community of Greater Boston.
Opening remarks were delivered by Armenian Independent Broadcasting Committee President Garbis Zerdelian, who provided details about Gharibian’s life and active involvement in the community as a writer, intellectual, and founding director of the Armenian Independent Broadcasting of Boston. Zerdelian then invited Master of Ceremonies Marine Margarian to the stage.
Following remarks by Misak Barsoumian, Avik Derentz Deirmenjian, and Grigor Janikyan from Armenia, vocalists Anahit Ohanyan and Hovhaness Khacheryan performed a medley of songs accompanied by pianist Gegham Margarian. Tigran Avetisyan then played “Krunk” on the duduk and Boston’s Meghedi Children’s Vocal Group sang a medley of traditional Armenian songs, directed by Marine Margarian.
The Armenian Independent Broadcasting of Boston was founded by the late Jerair Gharibian in October of 1980. For 11 years, the relentless efforts of Gharibian made it possible for the program to air every Saturday, reaching the Greater Boston area’s nearly 50,000 Armenian listeners. The program, broadcast in two languages, covered national, political, and cultural news and events both in the diaspora and in Armenia.
Gharibian’s devotion to his homeland was the inspiration for the weekly reportage and updates on the political and social events taking place in Armenia.
The late founder’s wife, Yevgine Gharibian, who was also present at the event, had along with her husband, volunteered her services in the production of the radio hour from the very first day of broadcasting. She took over the weekly programming after Jerair’s death and continues to direct it to this day.