Lest We Forget: Heroes in their own right

 Vahe H. Apelian

Eric Bogosian ends his “Operation Nemesis” book stating that the story that fired his imagination and took seven years of his life to write was his grandfather’s gift to him. In an introspective mood he further notes, “We come into this world with nothing and we leave with nothing. We all know, either implicitly or explicitly, that all we really have is our place in the memories of others. We exist to the degree that we know and remember one another; even the most isolated among us. We share a collective understanding that we are all part of a greater whole”.

I was reminded of Eric Bogosian’s passage while reading Dr. Zaven Messerlian’s book titled “Excerpts Salvaged From the Press” (Մամուլէն Փրկուած Էջեր). The 390-age book is a selection from the many articles Messerlian has written in the Armenian press from 1963 to 2010. Most of the selected articles pertain to Armenian issues and were overwhelmingly posted in the Lebanese-Armenian press. Meticulous record keeping is Dr. Zaven Messerlian’s hallmark.

In addition to the perennial and vital topics such as the Genocide, the "Armenian Question", Diaspora schools, and the Armenian General Benevolent Union, the bilingual (Armenian and English) book contains the eulogies of the late Catholicos of All Armenians of Blessed Memory Vazken I, the acclaimed benefactor Alex Manougian along with many other leading Lebanese-Armenians who are lesser known than these two luminaries but are no less heroes in their own right. The eulogies are replete with biographical information about these Armenians whom the author has known personally. Dr. Messerlian provides vital information about these individuals whose selfless efforts contributed in the budding and blossoming of the post genocide Armenian Diaspora.

Dr. Messerlian has eulogized the following as well: 

Rev. Dikran Kherlopian, 1891-1968. He was an eminent educator, community leader. He founded the Armenological department of the Haigazian University. 

Megerdich Messerlian, his father, 1898-1979. He was a community leader, activist, eminent philanthropist and a noted Lebanese Armenian trader.

Kersam Aharonian, 1916-1981. He was an educator, author and a long-time editor of the Armenian newspaper 'Zartonk' daily. 

Maitre Khosrof Tutunjian, 1894-1982. He was community political leader, editor and an author. 

Ferida Salibian, 1922-1989. She was a long-standing educator. 

Goruyn Keshishian, 1914-1990. He was the longtime director of the Gulbenkian Foundation Armenian Department. Many Armenian students remember reading with trepidation the letter they received from him letting the students know whether they were to receive scholarship from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon, Portugal. Generations of Armenian students owe furthering their education to this foundation, including I. 

Khacher Kaloustian, 1915-1985.  In a comment in Keghart.com, his son noted the following about him: “He spent several years in orphanages and managed to earn his own living and school fees starting from the age of seven. His challenge was to pursue his education and obtained his PhD degree from Temple University, USA, in 1966 in education and pedagogy after his BA degree in 1944 from AUB, Lebanon. His dream was to have his own school, which he achieved in 1974. His concern was to educate teachers to teach youngsters and new generations from early childhood. He was ahead of his time by 50 years in his approach. After his demise a center was established in his name, at the Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias, Lebanon, with official recognition by the Ministry and qualified on a University Level, where teachers in Armenian schools are taught the methodology of teaching early-age children.”

Papken Megerdichian, MD, 1911-1985. He was a surgeon and director of the Lebanese Armenian Sanatorium, community advocate. 

Asbed Donabedian, 1923-1993. He was an educator and a noted Armenian numismatist who amassed the largest private collection of ancient Armenian coins. 

Ardashes Der Khachadourian, 1931-1993. He was an educator, an eminent Armenian linguist and an author. He was an expert on the history Armenian journalism and had amassed the largest private collection of Armenian journals, newspapers and periodicals.

Hovsep Yenikomishian MD, 1895-1994. He was a noted physician, Armenian community advocate.

Prof. Levon Babigian, 1917-1996. He was a professor of biology at the American University of Beirut, a scientist and an Armenian community advocate,

Levon Vartan, 1925-1997. He was an educator, author and an editor,

 Esther Shirejian, 1908-1999. She was a veteran educator, and a long-standing librarian, 

Dr. Houseg Donabedian, 1916-2003. He was a pharmacist, lecturer and a community leader. 

Antranig Manougian MD, 1910-2008. He was a psychiatrist, longtime director of the Lebanese national psychiatric hospital and the only Armenian evangelical who represented the evangelical community of Lebanon in the Lebanese Parliament.  

Vazken Tutunjian, 1915-2006. He was an educator, author, and a miniaturist. 

 

In final analysis the existence of these dedicated individuals is affirmed only as long as the succeeding generations remember them and appreciate their contributions. Thanks to Dr. Zaven Messerlian they are now enshrined in a book.

Dr. Zaven Messerlian has authored at least 10 books, mostly in Armenian and at least three of them in English. His contribution to Armenian literature and journalism becomes even more impressive when we bear in mind that he is an educator who has been the principal of the Armenian Evangelical College since 1967. Nowadays the school is named after its benefactors Yeprem and Martha Philibosian. He started his teaching career at the same school in 1960 when he was still a graduate student in history at the American University of Beirut. He was not yet thirty when he was entrusted with the mantle of the school's leadership. He remains steadfast on his calling to educate succeeding generations through the heyday of the school when it boasted almost 800 students in 1974-1975--the year that marked the start of the Lebanese Civil War. Along with his administrative and educational responsibilities, Dr. Zaven Messerlian has also established himself as an authoritative historian. 

The publication of the book has been made possible by the foundation set up by Mimi and Armen Haroutunian to cover the printing expenses of Armenian books. So far the foundation has made possible the publication of 40 books.  Dr. Zaven Messerlian may be contacted at P.O.Box 11-129, Beirut, Lebanon or through the school’s email (A_E_C@cyberia.net.lb).