There was an Armenian flag pinned up on the front door—a sign that said, yes, this is the place.
I gathered my things and straightened out my old Camp Haiastan t-shirt (a relic from my years as a camper) and before I even reached the front steps, the door swung open gently and Sona Avakian met me with a smile.
We had been corresponding throughout the summer, hoping to pin down a time for this very moment. She welcomed me inside, invited me into the den and there on the couch sat her
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Unger Baron Bob,
(cousin to Vaghinag)
You were the “glue” that held the camp together . . . preserving Camp for today and all the tomorrows to come, along with your wife Zabelle and your beautiful daughters by your side. THANK YOU isn’t at all enough to tell you how much you mean to everyone who knew you, who knows you and those who are now enjoying Camp Haiastan because of you❣️
with much love and pride
Arev, thank you for your wonderful coverage of an amazing man who deserves a million HyeFive’s ♥️💙🧡 🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲
Arev Dinkjian has crystallized and immortalized the contributions of Robert Avakian, the Founders and Camp Haiastan. Where would our community be today if not for Baron Bob, the Founders and the myriad volunteers who have followed in their steps?
Harry Kushigian
Thank you Arev for the wonderful article on the Camp legendary Bob Avakian who was my counselor in my early Camp days as a camper. For those of us that continued as Camp staff, he was a terrific role model, instructor and friend.
As to the mentioned AYF volunteers, I can vividly recall each of them coming to our young Camp throughout the week to help somehow
Bless all for their dedication to Camp Haiastan, and, especially to Bob’s great family for their support.
Bob has humbled himself, therefore, before the mighty hand of God.
This is the most important message from the Bible in my opinion.
Giving credit to others. Yet we all know it was he and his wife that watched over these hallowed grounds.
Great leaders surround themselves with good qualified, competent people. That’s what they did and the results speak for themselves.
Job well done Arev and Mr and Mrs. Robert Avakian.
Bob you were the only person I ever said yes Sir to except my Dad as you had the same value system & respect for what was right. Cases of Gatorade were sent to the camp long after Dad’s death all for a promise to you. All of us are better for knowing you and working at the camp with you. Many of us who were bound for the classroom learned from working with you. Thank you cannot cover your family’s dedication to our camp.
Arev…..Abris… what a wonderful legacy you have captured. Thank you for making the effort to interview Bob and Sona. We miss Zabel terribly and I do miss my visits to their lovely home with both of them. I hope Bob still has his garden!