Scouts to Honor Vartabedian as Distinguished Citizen

On May 6, Armenian Weekly contributor and The Haverhill Gazette columnist Tom Vartabedian will receive a Yankee Clipper Council Distinguished Citizen Award at the organization’s annual dinner, which will also mark the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America.

Vartabedian who has recently retired from a 40 year career as an award-winning writer and photographer with The Haverhill Gazette, still contributes a weekly column, Poor Tom’s Almanac.  For the past 46 years he has volunteered his services as a columnist and correspondent with the Armenian Weekly, where his pet project has been the publication of a yearly special issue on the AYF Olympics.

Vartabedian and his sons have all been active members of the Boy Scouts, which has been a source of pride for him.

His two sons, Raffi and Ara will introduce Vartabedian at the dinner.  Last year Vartabedian introduced the Distinguished Citizen Award recipient Dan Harrington.

“Having spent a good portion of my life in Scouting with two Eagle Scout sons, I can personally vouch for the good this movement has done – and continues to do – throughout Essex County and the North Shore,” said Vartabedian. 

Joan Stygles Hull, Executive Director of Home Health VNA, will also receive a Distinguished Citizen Award.

State Rep. Brian Dempsey, a 2009 recipient of the award and the chairman of the upcoming dinner, said Vartabedian and Hull “have been very active in their support of our community.  Each has made numerous contributions both as professionals and volunteers through their personal involvement and caring for the well being of our neighbors,” reports The Haverhill Gazette.

The last Armenian to receive the award was Highgaz DerBogosian in 1999, who is co-founder of Kenoza Vending Co. of Merrimac.

The dinner will take place on Thursday, May 6, at DiBurro’s Function Facility in Ward Hill, beginning at 6 p.m. with a social hour followed by the presentation of awards.