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Looking back at Detroit’s 16 AYF Olympic wins
As Detroit prepares to host its 10th AYF Olympic Games, the AYF “Kopernik Tandourjian” Chapter seeks its second straight and 17th overall Olympic victory after last year’s winning performance in Washington.
In the big picture, Providence leads all chapters with 41 wins, Detroit is second with 16, and Philadelphia rounds out the top three victory sweepstakes with seven wins.
It is interesting to note that, looking back to the initial years from the first Olympics in 1934 to Detroit’
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Great article Harry! You really did your homework, what a great read! I look forward to seeing you in Detroit next week. And being that I still swim, I have to add the code that I live by….Swim, it does a body good🏊♂️🏊♂️🏊♂️
Awesome job Harry. Great retrospective leading in the AYF Olympics in Detroit!
If you look at the photo in the upper right corner of the September 20, 1980 issue, you will note the four torch bearers for the Detroit Kopernik Tandourjian team. They are George Sarkisian, Yeretzegeen Patty Sarkisian Dagley, Dirouhi Shrikian and Paul Arakelian.
Sadly, Yeretgeen Patty Sarkisian Dagley and Dirouhi Shrikian died at a much too early age. Yeretzgeen Patty was only 50 years old in 2009 when she died of Salivary Duct Cancer. Dirouhi Shrikian also died of cancer in 2023 at the age of 64.
God rest their souls.
In the lower left hand corner of the same page is a picture of the author of this article, Harry Derderian, with his family (wife Margo and children Kristen, Kara and Armen). Harry Derderian was being honored at the AYF Olympics King of 1980.
Much of the success of the 1970-1980 Detroit Kopernik Tandourjian Chapter should be credited to a group of concerned parents who felt it was important for the Detroit Team to present itself in a co-ordinated team uniform. This group called itself “THE DETROIT BOOSTERS”. Various fundraising activities were initiated by the group to raise money to pay for these uniforms.
Members of the group included (but not limited to): Aram Sonny Gavoor, Harry Sarkisian, Jerry Zakarian, Cory Tosoian, Nick Stepanian, Mike Kajo Kajoian, Larry Avedesian, Vaughn Solakian, Ed Derbabian, Manoog Tarpinian, Don Arslanian, Don Sarafian, Jack Tian, Harry Yangouyian and Meran Sarafian.
Mike Kajo Kajoian was the last surviving member of this group until he died at age 90 in 2019.
With his passing, the Detroit Armenian Community lost a group of first generation Armenian men who provided the building blocks for the growth and leadership of the Detroit Armenians that has now been passed on to second and third generations.
God rest all their souls.
What an excellent, thorough article! I was president of the New Jersey “Arsen” junior chapter in the early 1970’s and the names and events referenced here brought back great memories. (Special greetings to George Sarkisian, whom I met at the 1976 Olympics.)
A fantastic, in depth article, Harry.
Very impressive and you must have spent a great amount of time obtaining all this information.
Thanks for efforts.
As an aside, your article refreshed my memory of all the fantastic contributions that many of my friends have made throughout the years.
I tip my hat to them and you.