PROVIDENCE, R.I.—The ultimate philanthropist, a Camp Haiastan icon, and an AYF Olympic mainstay for half a century are this year’s winners of the Varadian Spirit Award from Providence.
Recognized were Maro Garabedian Dionisopoulos, Antranig Mesrobian, and Ralph Rafaelian.
The award was instituted a year ago in Detroit with Sonny and Violet Gavoor as the initial recipients. It is named in honor of a prominent Providence family of athletes and catalysts.
Maro Garabedian Dionisopoulos
Maro joined the AYF in 1953 and attended her first Olympics two years later in Watertown, driven by advisor Mal Varadian.
The spirit began there and never subsided in 54 years. Year after year, she and her AYF friends would do whatever it took to perpetuate the spirit and enthusiasm of the games.
In the 1950’s and 1960’s, Maro served on dance committees, ad book committees, and as a delegate to AYF Conventions, along with serving AYF Junior and Senior Executive Committees. She competed in golf, swimming, and baseball throw. Today you’ll find her hosting countless friends in her hotel room with boundless hospitality, enjoying the music and dancing like the good old days.
You’ll often hear Maro reminiscing about the past. Her stories continue to regale one and all. Her love for Providence and its venerable history will never subside.
She’s the mother of another activist, Fotini, who’s cast in the same mold as her mother. Maro is a true hamagir to the AYF, ARF, and ANC, and remains an active member of the Armenian Relief Society and her church.
Her advice to others?
“No matter where you are in life, no matter what’s going on, make time for your precious heritage. You always have to make the time.”
Antranig Mesrobian
Antranig Mesrobian is as solid to the Providence AYF community as the trophy cases, cabinets, frames, and walls he has built. Throughout his life, he has constructed a world dedicated to family, church, and the Armenian Cause.
Known affectionately as Anto, he joined the AYF in 1948 and the organization soon recognized his God-given talents. He was quickly recruited to build Camp Haiastan during those early history-making years.
Much of his time was dedicated to the ARF, like his father before him. When each of his three children came of age, they immediately joined the AYF.
Always one to protect but never one to conceal the sometimes-difficult realities of being Armenian, he chaperoned busloads of Armenians in the 70’s and 80’s to demonstrations in New York for genocide recognition.
Never one to refuse a request, Anto’s support and love of the AYF manifests not only in the tangible objects he has created around Sts. Vartanantz Church, but also in the fervent spirit he has instilled in his children.
Ralph Rafaelian
Ralph Rafaelian remains a true philanthropist in every sense of the word. His generosity extends beyond the monetary. He embodies benevolence and magnanimity with a keen sense of purpose, clearly with the AYF, ARF, Camp Haiastan, ANC, ARS, St. Vartanantz Church, and Prelacy.
Ralph was an exemplary student of AYF ideals, went on to become widely successful in business, and has constantly given back to the community as his life’s mission.
Ralph was an AYFer as soon as he was eligible with five children following a similar example. Never a high-scoring athlete, his children more than made up the deficit. During the 80’s and 90’s, the Green Machine was never without a Rafaelian on the track and field winning gold medals.
For anyone ever winning an Olympic medal, it’s been Ralph Rafaelian who’s supplied those coveted medallions the past two decades.
The cheering never ceases with eight grandchildren, ranging in age from 8 months to 23 years—from AYF Olympic medalists to a Camp Haiastan ungerouhi.
Tom Vartabedian
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