As proud and conscientious Armenians, we have understood the value of a sound education.
It begins when your immigrant parents send you to a college and ends when you send your children there.
In many cases, they wind up attending the same university—and seem to have become all the better and wiser for it.
With the Daghlians of North Andover, Mass., it all began with a priest. When Rev. Arshag Daghlian was assigned to pastor St. Gregory Church in 1970, he enrolled at Merrimack College, preparing for his masters in theology. Two decades later, he graduated summa cum laude from Trinity College.
Merrimack made such an impression upon the cleric, he wound up sending all five of his children there.
Sonia graduated summa cum laude in ’78 from the School of Nursing and is a registered nurse in the intensive care unit of Lawrence General Hospital.
Nora secured her degree in civil engineering three years later and served as president of the American Society of Civil Engineers, receiving the Howe Walker Award for Excellence.
Aida wound up with her degree in English in 1984 before suffering an impromptu death as a young mother.
Two years later, John secured his degree in civil engineering, served as president of the American Society of Civil Engineers and, like his sister Nora, was also honored with the Howe Walker Award for Excellence. He now works as an associate city engineer in Newton.
Last on the Daghlian list was Houry, who graduated as a dual major in 1989 with degrees in art history and chemistry. She currently works at Rite Aid Pharmacy.
It was only fitting that a third generation would follow suit when Nora (Sarajian) watched her son Ara graduate from Merrimack this year with a degree in business management. Ara is currently pursuing a career in sports marketing while participating in the Capitol Gateway Program with the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) in Washington, D.C.
As president of the Student Government Association, he got to lead the 2009 Academic Convocation. There was never any doubt Merrimack would be his college. A photo of him as a 12-month-old appeared in a college bulletin under the banner headline: “From Dreams to Reality.”
“I chose Merrimack because the school was very personal to my family,” said Sarajian. “My aunts and uncles, my grandfather, attended there. It had an idyllic history, not to mention my grandmother’s cooking and the fact this school was literally in their backyard. They sold the school to me. You could tell they were passionate about the place.”
Prior to being ordained in his early 40s, Rev. Daghlian worked as a machinist in Lebanon. The fact he went on toward priesthood and secured a master’s degree summa cum laude at such an advanced age proved an incentive for his family.
The day his grandson graduated from his alma mater was bittersweet. Though he was confined to him home with illness, and didn’t attend the commencement, he did get to offer his congratulations later that day.
“I could always tell my grandfather loved the school and was very proud that I, too, would be attending there,” Sarajian pointed out. “This meant a lot to me and I loved being close to all of them. I would enjoy dinner with them twice a week and update my grandfather on Merrimack. The dialogue was always positive.”
Being elected student government president proved a revelation to the Daghlian-Sarajian family. Under Ara’s reign, the association passed a referendum that added an additional $175,000 to the student government budget. This led to creating a full club sports program, the addition of a big name band to the spring concert itinerary, and adding all sorts of other student activities to the campus.
“Many people go to big schools, famous schools with name recognition,” said his mom Nora. “My father aced every course he ever took since childhood. For himself, my siblings and nephew, Merrimack was the perfect fit. Many of our professors became our good friends over the years.”
When Shant Chebookjian was discharged from the military after serving in World War II, he attended Dartmouth College on a GI Bill. He majored in mathematics and worked a year at a textile company before a long career at Polaroid. An early retirement in the late 1980’s gave him an opportunity to open his own travel business.
Along came son Richard and there was no second guessing. After a star-studded academic and football career at Waltham High, he was a top recruit for this prestigious Ivy League college nestled in the foothills of New Hampshire.
Richard graduated in 1975, worked a couple years for Polaroid before heading off to Harvard Business School (Class of ’79). He now works as an independent investment advisor in Pennsylvania and spends his free time coaching the Philadelphia AYF to Olympic titles.
Latest to enter Dartmouth this year was his niece Anoush Arakelian of Bedford, Mass.—his sister Sema’s daughter and Shant’s grandchild.
For all of this, the lineage represents a Dartmouth tradition. Anoush’s entrance had been predetermined well in advance.
“The day she was born in 1992, Shant sent an announcement to the Dean of Admissions at Dartmouth informing him of his granddaughter’s birth and interest of having her attend there when the time came,” Sema revealed. “We framed their response. The school indicated they would keep her information on file and send her the application forms at an appropriate time.”
Eighteen years later, Anoush applied for admission and was accepted after building up an impressive resume at Bedford High, where she was inducted into the National Honor Society and co-captained both the cross country and tennis teams.
Who gave her the all-inclusive Dartmouth tour but Uncle Richard, joined by his mom Rosanne.
“He promised himself not to influence her decision,” added Sema. “I remember getting a call from him saying Anoush not only loved the school but would apply for early admission. On decision day, she learned of her fate via the internet. Richard was ‘skyped’ in at the time so we could all share the moment with her. I’m not sure who was more excited, my daughter, my mother, or my brother.”
Anoush is a member of the Greater Boston “Nejdeh” AYF Chapter, served as an assistant Sunday School teacher at St. Stephen’s Church in Watertown, and was a lifeguard this past summer at Camp Haiastan.
Probably her greatest passion is the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, where she walks in honor of her grandmother Rosanne, a two-time cancer survivor, and her aunt, another cancer survivor. She proudly accompanies them both on their annual survivor’s lap.
The University of Michigan is blessed by three generations of the Gavoor-Merian family. First came Suzanne Merian Arzoian, who secured a master’s degree in education there in 1965 after teaching five years at the University of California.
Suzanne later taught dance at Eastern Michigan University at a time when such degrees were in their infancy. Upon marriage, she raised two children. Her husband’s work took the family abroad: five years in Vietnam and four years in Malawi, Africa, before settling in Reno, Nev.
She became an AYF Olympic “Queen” like her brother-in-law Sonny Gavoor and niece Nancy Gavoor. Just as prominent was the ARS Armenian Dance Group she started in Dearborn, Mich.
Nephew Mark Gavoor also found the University of Michigan much to his liking. He secured a math degree in 1974 and a master’s there four years later before furthering his education at Wayne State University. He is now a founding partner of Cadent Resources Group, LLC with his good friend Ara Surenian and is an adjunct professor of mathematics at College of Lake County in Grayslake, Ill.
“I chose Michigan because it was the best school in the area that allowed me to fulfill my academic objectives, be near home, and continue playing in the Armenian band (Johnites),” he pointed out. “My aunt Suzie was a great influence upon me to do well.”
When Mark’s son Aram ventured upon Michigan, the trifecta was fulfilled. The younger Gavoor followed in dad’s footsteps as an honors graduate in 2003, securing his degree in language studies while participating on the crew team. He later proceeded to George Washington University Law School and today works as a trial lawyer for the United States Department of Justice (Civil Division) and as a professional lecturer of law at George Washington University.
“My son applied to Michigan because it was a legacy school,” said his dad Mark. “He saw how I valued the school academically and what a diehard football fan I was—and still am—as a season ticket holder for 40 years. I continue to maintain ties there with the Math Department as well as the Armenian Studies Department.
“We have no grandchildren yet,” he added. “But you can rest assured that when any and all are born, they will have ample Michigan logo toys and clothing.”
Tom Vartabedian
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Great article!
Mark Gavoor is also a very talented Armenian musician. “Children of Armenia” nice.