Kessabtsis: U.S.A., Canada, and Australia – 63rd KEA Yearbook and Directory

Vahe H. Apelian

 

The 63^rd edition of the Kessab Educational Association (KEA) of Los Angeles’ yearbook and directory was in our mail box today. It might have been delivered yesterday but I had not checked the mail box. It had snowed yesterday and our mail box is at the end of our long driveway. But I was  waiting to receive it, especially that Mike Apelian had told me that he had found this year’s yearbook and directory well prepared and had praised to me Tsolag Apelian for having edited the yearbook and directory. Mike Apelian edited the yearbook for over a quarter of century at at time when word processing was not available and he painstakingly typed the entire yearbook. 

The 63^rd edition boasts a colorful cover depicting aspects of Kessab and Kessabtsis and is 275 pages long. Its table of content is as follows, as listed bilingually in the yearbook:

Chairperson’s Message – Ատենապետին Խօսքը

The board members are: Soghomon Poladian, Garin Demirjian, Vartan Poladian, Esther Chelebian Tognozzi (Chairperson), Hratch Marjanian, Suzan Ayanian, Sevag Terterian, Nichan Hovsepian. Chairperson Esther Chelebian Tognozzi’s message is bilingual. (Pages 4-7)

Editorial – Խմբագրական

The Editorial Board consiss of Nora Demirjian-Kardzair, Tsolag Apelian, and Garin Demirjian. The editorial is a bilingual message from the editorial board. (Pages 8-10)

The Honoree - Մեծառեալը

The Board of the Trustees has designated Haig Manjikian M.D. as this year’s KEA of LA’s honoree and has presented a bilingual biography, and his and as well as his family’s contributions to Kessab and to Armenia during the past many decades. (Pages 11-17)

Directory- Հասցէարան

The directory lists the addresses of Kessabtsis living in the U.S.A., Canada and Australia. Obviously, those who have not sent their addresses to the editorial board are not included. The director lists the family, naming the children, the telephone numbers, at times listing only the land line, the email. The directory has been and remains one of the main features of the directory and yearbook so that Kessabtsis will be able to remain in contact with each other. This section starts from page 18 to page 146. The last page lists only 3 addresses. The addresses are listed alphabetically. The Abadjian family is the first listed family and Zinzalian family is the last. Consequently, 128 pages are devoted for the directory. Each page lists 8 addresses, save the last. Therefore, approximately 1019 addresses are listed. I detailed this section to draw attention to the work the editorial board does just to keep the directory section of the annual yearbook updated year after year. (Pages 18-146).

Births – Ծնունդներ

Having done with the directory section of the yearbook, the next section begins and it starts with the the listing of the newly born, the Kessabtsis families have brought to the attention of the board to share and rejoice with their compatriot Kessabtsis the birth of their child . Each new born is listing with the newborn’s name, the names of the parents and both paternal and maternal grandparents and naturally the pictures of the new borns are included. This year the yearbook lists 12 births. (Pages 147-152).

Graduates – Շրջանաւարտներ

This year, the names of 17 graduates are listed as high school and college graduates in different disciplines. Along with the graduate’s name and picture; the names of the proud parents and maternal and paternal grandparents are listed, understandably as long as the information is provided to the editorial board. (Pages 153-162)

Weddings – Պսակներ

In the 63^rd edition of the KEA of LA’s legendary yearbook the names of 8 weddings are included listing the couple’s picture and the newlyweds parents and maternal and paternal grandparents. As said earlier, as long as the information has been provided ot eh board. (Pages 163-166).

Family Corner – Ընտանեկան Անկիւն

This section is devoted to family milestones, such as celebrations of wedding anniversaries and special family celebratory occasions Kessabtsi families have opted to share with their comptriorts in the U.S.A., Australia and Canada. (Pages 167-169).

Achievements - կատարումներ

This section is devoted to the literary, academic, artistic, athletic and social achievements of Kessabtsis. This year the yearbook lists an author, a Fullbright scholar, a 3^rd Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo achiever and other notable achievements. (Pages 171-186).

Articles - Յօդուածներ

This section is devoted to articles that Kessabtsis have written pertaining to Kessab and to their experiences as Kessabtsis.  (Pages 187-216).

Obituaries - Դամբանականներ

This section is devoted to the obituaries for the Kessabtsis who passed away during the year. It is the most emotionally laden section of the yearbook as the Kessabtsis relate to each other in many ways, be it family ties, shared experiences and legacy. Nine obituaries are listed this year. (Pages 217-241)

Donations - Նուիրատուութիւններ

The donners to Kessab Educational Association of LA are acknowledged in this section, whether they were made in memory of a deceased Kessabtsi, or  are memorials, or in response to appeals by the Board. (Pages 244-258).

Events & Galley – Առիթներ եւ Նկարներ

This section displays pictures of event that the KEA Board has organized or has participated. (Pages 259-275).

Arguably nothing of this sort has been done by another compatriotic organization. For 63 years, Kessabtsis have volunteered their time and vested effort to have KEA yearbook and directory published year after year. Over the years it has grown in size and enriched in its content. Naturally, it is the participation of the Kessabtsis in sharing with the rest of their compatriots the year’s events pertaining to their lives, that enriches the yearbook and renders it a valuable archive. 

I am very encouraged to read the names from the upcoming generation who have taken the responsibility of editing this year’s KEA yearbook and directory. Their input is palpable this year with their inclusion, of what I learned today are called, QR notes, which open a whole new read by hoovering a smart phone, such as iPhone, over them.

Nora Demirjian-Kardzair, Tsolag Apelian, and Garin Demirjian, bravo, thank you and well done.