By Harry Derderian
Mal Varadian was one of four brothers—all AYF Olympic Kings—who truly reflected and enhanced the AYF spirit. The message: Be an AYF member, be an active participant and supporter in your community, and give back when you leave the organization to maintain and improve it for others to come.
The AYF has created the Annual AYF Varadian Spirit Award, given to an individual(s) who best exemplifies the fraternal “spirit” of the AYF. This award is a fitting extension of the entire family’s love for the AYF and for the people who, to quote one of Mal’s most famous statements, continue to “Make it better than it was.”
This year’s recipients were two AYFers, Hasmig Eskandarian and Barbara Tutelian, both of whom had AYF roots in New England, who more than met the spirit of Mal’s meaningful statement. They were presented with the Varadian Spirit Award on Friday night at the alumni gathering.
In active fashion, Hasmig, a former member of the Providence AYF, was also a member of the Washington “Ani” AYF chapter.” She served on chapter executives and was a hard-working member of many committees over the years, as well as often a convention delegate. She also served as a staff member at Camp Haiastan for many years.
As an alumna, Hasmig was an active member of the Washington AYF Olympic Committees in 1997, 2005, and this year. She is a member of the Washington ARS “Satenig” chapter and currently serves on its executive. She is often not seen, preferring to do the fundamental background work to have a successful event.
Barbara Tutelian’s AYF roots and membership were with the Boston “Siamanto” Chapter, where she was an AYF member starting at age 13. She served as CE secretary for over five years, and held executive positions for multiple years. She attended almost every AYF Olympics and also represented her chapter at five (or more) AYF Conventions.
Barbara was an active participant in chapter athletic and social events. The Boston chapter at the time would ask all of their members to participate in some Olympics event, and Barbara chose golf. After a quick lesson from fellow chapter member Ken Hachikian, she brought home an Olympic Gold.
She was a consummate organizer and volunteer, the go-to person who made sure organizational activities ran smoothly, often working behind the scenes for the betterment of the organization. As an alumna, her support has not wavered. In D.C., she has been a consistent leader and volunteer at successive AYF Olympics (serving on committees in 1997, 2005, and 2013). She is active with the Soorp Khatch Ladies’ Guild and an outspoken advocate for community priorities.
“We really have two super recipients,” said Michael Varadian, Mal’s son, on behalf of the Varadian family as he presented the award to Hasmig Eskandarian and Barbara Tutelian, in this sixth year of the award.
“The purpose of the award is to honor those who did not particularly achieve in Olympic events, but who really contributed to the overall betterment of the AYF, and Hasmig and Barbara really reflect this AYF spirit,” he added. “That is the AYF spirit that dad and my uncles—Varad, Haig, and Jay, and their sister Maro—revered and passed along to us.” Let me add that others, both in and outside of Providence, also gained from the devotion and inspiration of the Varadian family.
The Varadian brothers did indeed pass on the spirit, to a total of 16 children, 25 grandchildren, and 5 great grand-children (thus far!), most all AYF members.
“Not known to many, dad and two of his brothers, Varad and Haig, served overseas in World War II at the same time, in different theaters in Europe and Africa,” Mike said. “Dad once told me that he was in a foxhole at 18 years old, ironically on a Sunday of Labor Day weekend, and kept thinking about coming back home and being where he belonged—at the AYF Olympics.”
The AYF presents several awards at the games to honor Olympic achievement. Clearly, the most significant one honoring AYF achievement is the AYF Varadian Spirit Award, reflecting the true meaning of the AYF spirit, whether on a track, at seminar, a meeting, or convention, or setting up tables for a dance. No one has done it better than the Varadian family. They made it better than it was. And Barbara and Hasmig made it better, too.
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A wonderful award and outstanding choices. The Varadian family has had an incredible legacy of serving the Armenian community….. Starting with the patriarch Sarkis’ service as a gamavor in the Armenian Legion. We should all be inspired.