When tragedy strikes close to home

Human beings traditionally greet the New Year by bidding farewell to the old one. We lay past experiences to rest, mature from their lessons and step forward with hope as the calendar resets. Sometimes, though, turning the page is nearly impossible — especially when tragedy strikes close to home.

The Greater Boston Armenian community is painfully aware that such a tragedy struck at its very heart on Dec. 23, 2025. It happened just as our schools were closing for Christmas break and families were preparing to celebrate the New Year and Christmas: a sudden and unexpected multi-vehicle car accident, on the corner of Bigelow Avenue and Mount Auburn Street. Many of the passengers in and around the crash were Armenian: members from the various surrounding church communities, but part of the one, united Armenian family. Most knew each other; some were even coworkers. If Watertown is the little Armenia of the East, then Bigelow and Mt. Auburn are its epicenter.