In Sight
Inspiring Memories on 120/85
We love milestones. They remind us of our accomplishments and soften the feelings of past failures. To survive through history usually means your accomplishments are greater than your shortcomings. At times, we are criticized for looking in the rear view mirror too often, but we must never forget that the past also inspires the present. By any account, the Hairenik Association’s anniversary of 120/85 is a profound milestone. Resembling many of my generation, I adored my survivor generation gra
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Nice article Stepan! Brought back very fond memories of Jimmy.
Thank you Stepan. It brought back many memories of Arthur Gregian here in Providence. He was such a great orator. When he spoke, you listened and came away inspired. Also for James Tashjian and 212 Stuart Street. The good old days.
Oh my 212 was magical. I would travel to the building for our Siamanto AYF meetings and always stopped in to say hello to Jimmy. He always had a story for me. He could talk about everything. He always included that Armenian were apart of the story….like there were Armenians on the Mayflower and C Columbus was part Armenian. His office was. Full of books that over flowed into the hallway. The AYF meetings always had an educational but I was lucky to have a pre-meeting lesson from Unger Jimmy T. I was also lucky to help out at Mrs Tashjian’s (Auntie Vergine) Sunday School Kindergarden Class. Both Mr and Mrs were special Hyes.
I enjoyed reading this piece too. It portrayed such a vivid picture of the way it was and evoked memories. I came to the U.S. in 1976 and stayed in NJ where my late classmate and brother-in-law lived and picked me up from the Kennedy Airport.. My first out of the state visit was to the Hairenik at 212 Stuart Street and stayed with my HS classmate Ohan Armenian. The longstanding editors of Hairenik Daily, the late Kevork Donabedian and Minas Tololyan were family friends and I knew them personally . Kevork Donabedian graciously hosted me for lunch and after which I visited the Totolyans not far from the Hairenik Building. Hairenik Daily and its editors enjoyed a Diaspora wide reputation.
Thanks to Stepan for creating visibility to this glorious page in history.
212 Stuart Street was Hallowed Ground.
After classes at B. U., I would take the MTA to our “kingdom/mecca” and chat with the likes of Jimmy, Mandal and Azablar.
The generations of us who knew these people–plus Arthur, Popken and uncle Bozo–were fortunate to know these pillars who helped form and motivate communities.
Collectively, they were our founding fathers.
I join the others who have expressed pleasure reading this article. I am a life-long Detroit guy, but whenever Jimmy or Arthur were in Detroit during my membership in the ARF, we would have the pleasure of their company most likely at a gathering at Hagop and Pearl Mooradian’s home.
I assume the Arthur Gregian you wrote about is Arthur Giragosian – is that correct – the description can’t be about anyone else? I can’t remember the circumstance, I but stood outside somewhere in Boston and Arthur, in his booming voice, gave a speech outside about the Turkish denial of the Genocide.
Jimmy Tashjian – what a treasure – what an intellectual – what a patriot (Armenian AND American). I miss that very much.
Yes of course the Arthur….. they have left this earth but have gifted us with a lifetime of inspiration. We must never forget the sacrifices of their spouses also Virginia and Sue Gregian who was a Papazian from a wonderful a wonderful New Britain family. Sue sister Varsig was my Mom’s best friend friend growing up in the New Britain community. God bless them.
This article brought back so many wonderful memories. All of the folks mentioned were friends of our family. Arthur routinely had Sunday breakfast with us when he live in Hartford. Bless them all.