HOME FOR THE ARMENIAN AGED (No.1): INCEPTION OF THE IDEA

By Vahe H. Apelian

The founders of the Home For The Armenian Aged named it to unmistakably convey that the “Home” is for the Armenian Aged and that it is not an Armenian home for the aged. That was when the Armenian community alone supported the “home”. Things are much different nowadays in this sector. The government through its various programs assists the care of the elderly who may not be able to afford it otherwise. The “Home” nowadays is called “Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center”.

The attached is the history of its founding and is reproduced from the 1993 special issue of “Hyedoun”, the “Home’s” newsletter, devoted to the history of its founding I wrote.

LAYING THE FOUNDATION

INCEPTION OF THE IDEA

The publishers of a commemorative booklet in 1947, on the occasion of the tenth year of activity of the Home For The Armenian Aged, attributed the idea of establishing a residence for the Armenian aged supported by the community to Mr. Hovsep Kasabian. In her memoir, Mrs. Arousiag Jarahian, the first president of the Home, pinpoints the day, June 16, 1930, when Mr. Hovsep Kasabian invited her to his home and solicited her help. Nothing else is found about him in the archives of the Home, other than the deduction one can safely make now that Mr. Hovsep Kasabian was a visionary.

The 1930s were turbulent years. One the community level barely fifteen years had elapsed since the catastrophic national devastation caused by the Genocie. On the national level, the decade had started with the 1929 stock market crash that ushered the nation into its worst economic depression. Most likely, the daily endeavors of the Armenian Americans were further aggravated by the understandable social constraints the first generation immigrants inevitably face. In spite of these, Mr. Hovsep Kasabian aspired to provide a community-supported residence for the needy Armenian aged and found a responsive chord in the community. However, he died early and could not fulfill his aspiration, but he left a legacy and devoted followers who were determined to realize it posthumously.

DETERMINED WOMEN

After Mr. Hovsep Kassabian’s death, his widow Mrs. Ovsanna Kassabian, encouraged by Archbishop Karekin Hovsepian, the Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church in North America, carried on the work. She solicited the help of three like-minded ladies: Mrs. Zarman Turnamian, her daughter Miss Zorah Turnamian, and Mrs. Baitzar Terzian. These women had their first meeting on record on Friday afternoon, January 8, 1937, at 2:00 p.m. in Mrs. Kassabian’s home. In that meeting, they studied the by-laws of “Fritz Reuter Home For the Aged” and decided to meet its lawyer Mr. Rudolph Shroeder to gain some expertise in the new venture they had embarked upon. They also decided to seek out and enlist the support of Mrs. Arousiag Jerahian, who in turn, accepted their offer and also consented to become the acting chairwoman.

Coincidentally another group of Armenian women from the N.J. Bergen County Chapter of Red Cross was working towards the same goal. These two groups of ladies decided to join the force. After preliminary contacts, four women from this group decided to join. They were: Mrs. Aghavni Hammalian, her sister-in-law, Mrs. Anna Hammalian, Mrs. Rose Avakian and Mrs. Almast Pooshikian. These two groups of women had their first meeting on record on May 18, 1937, in Mrs. Arousiag Jerahian’s house. Their task became naming the institution they were determined to realize. They adopted the name proposed by Mrs. Arousiag Jerahian, “Home For The Armenian Aged”. They also formed a committee to draft the by-laws of their intended organization. Later on, Mrs. Rose Avakian and Mrs. Almast Pooshikian resigned from the group and Mrs. Mary Tfank and Mrs. Helen Gabbert replaced them and joined the group. These were the women who had the vision and the courage to embark upon a venture for which they were ill-prepared but were driven with a mission to help the Armenian aged.

THE BY-LAWS

The committee to draft the by-laws prepared it with the collaboration of Mr. Rudolph Shroeder. On May 25, 1937, the women and their husbands met in Mrs. Zarman Turnamian’s house and studied the ly-laws. They also decided to make the Armenian General Benevolent Union as the beneficiary of the corporation in the event of the dissolution of the corporation. On June 28, 1937, Mrs. Arousiag Jerahian and Mrs. Aghavni Hammalian, on behalf of the committee, met with Mr. Vahan Kurkdjian and Rev. K. Benneian from the Armenian General Benevolent Union in their office and presented the proposed by-laws to them. These men found the by-laws well prepared and comprehensive. They also encouraged the women in their endeavor and noted to them the immense difficulties of their task.

Having assured themselves that the by-laws were comprehensive, the women asked Mr. Rudolph Shroeder to submit the Certificate of Incorporation. Mr. Rudolph Shroeder, in turn, proposed the committee meet with a larger community to present the by-laws. The committee members embarked on a community-wide membership drive and enlisted the support of some 75 prominent members of the community. The meeting took place in a restaurant on October 19, 1938. Mrs. Arousiag Jerahian elaborated to the attendance on the efforts of these self-motivated women. Rev. K. Benneian took the podium and encouraged the women and praised their unbinding faith in their mission. Afterward, Mr. Rudolph Shroeder read the by-laws article by article. 500 copies of the by-laws were printed both in English and in Armenian. The by-laws had several revisions since then.

THE INCORPORATION AND THE FIRST LIFE MEMBER

On March 9, 1938, the nine members of the group signed the Certificate of Incorporation in the presence of Mr. Rudolph Shroeder and a notary public. On June 7, 1938, the attorney presented the executed Certificate to the office of the Secretary of New Jersey. The signatories became the founders of the Home For The Armenian Aged Inc.  The year 193 is displayed on the emblem of the Corporation designed by Charles Mazoujian.

The attorney presented the women with a charge of $280 towards the expenses and fees. When the women paid the sum, the attorney, who had become personally involved in the project, wrote a check of $150 and presented it to the women commenting: “Let this be the first donation towards your first bank's account”. Later, Mr. Rudolph Shroeder became the first life member of the Corporation by giving an additional $100 for life time membership dues as stipulated by the by-laws.

The Story Ferrahian High School (4/4): The Armens

By Boghos Shahmelikian

Translated and abridged by Vahe H. Apelian

Boghos Shahmelikian presented the story of the founding of the Ferrahian High School in four weekly successive segments in Aztag Daily starting from March 25, 2019. He asked me if I would translate the story for him for the benefit of the English language readers. I did. But the translation was not published in the Armenian press although he claimed he submitted it.   Here it is. 

“To all the graduates of the first Armenian High School in the U.S.A.  Much has been given to you by so many; so much is expected of you.  I know you can.  God bless you. -- Gabriel Injejikian

 

Five years after the founding of the Ferrahian School, the administration of the school formed its men’s basketball team during the 1968-69 academic year. For many, Ferrahian School and its basketball team named “Armens” are intimately and inseparably associated. It is almost impossible to utter the name of the Ferrahian School without making a mental connection with the Armens.

During its formative years, the school did not have a sufficient number of students to organize other athletic teams. But as the enrollment increased, along with the men’s basketball team, a girls’ basketball team came about along with teams for volleyball, soccer, track, and field, and cross country racing teams. Behind Ferrahian’s athletic teams, the name Varant Vartabedian, endearingly called “courageous Varant”, prominently stands out.

Varant Vartabedian was a part-time teacher from 1980 to 1984. At the start of the following academic year 1985, Gabriel Injejikian appointed him as the school’s athletic director. 

Year after year the number of the Armenian Day schools increased and with them came about their athletic teams with names such as “Eagles”, “Titans”, “Spartans” and others. Among the athletic teams’ names, the name “Armens” prominently stands out as it overtly implies Armenians.

Cultural and athletic activities have always enlivened schools. Both have been advocated by the Ferrahian School administration. However, for brevity, I will dwell only on the school’s athletic activities.

One can state with some certainty that 90% of the Ferrahian Schools students are part of the “Armens” athletic teams. Along with the current students, the former students who are now university students, or raising families of their own and are immersed in their works continue their affiliations with their beloved “Armens” athletic teams. No wonder it is said that “Once an Armen, Always an Armen”.

The coaches: Varant, Arshag, Koko and Nshan

Such a large athletic association surely needs a good number of coaches. Assisting the athletic director Varant Vartabedian, are full-time coaches among them are Arshag Markarian, Koko Kaprielian, Nsan Kenjoyna. Assisting the latter are about twenty volunteer visiting coaches who at one time had coached various teams of “Armens”.

Every year, the day preceding the Thanksgiving Day, a competition is held in the “Avedissian” athletic court between the graduated “Armens” and the current student “Armens”. Ferrahian School graduates who are residing out of the state, either as students or having settled there, return, often time with their families, to celebrate the Thanksgiving with their parents and relatives and get reconnected anew with the large family of “Armens” and take part in the ensuing athletic competition. These former “Armens” have not stepped on an athletic court for years and are now much heavier but take the challenge on the court and compete with the young students. Yes, it has happened that these veteran “Armens” have beaten younger “Armens” almost half their age!

An undescribable vigor permeates within the school premises on those days, on and around the athletic court. At a corner the “Armens” ladies guild offer delicious sandwiches and the likes netting a considerable income for their beloved Ferrahian School.

Almost once a week, the “Armens” host athletic teams from other schools. Along with victories, the “Armens’ also experienced defeat but they always retain their athletic spirit. They have been taught to be that way.

Athletic ompetitions also take place away from the Ferrahian athletic court. The athletes are bused on the school’s special buses for the “Armens”. When they reach their destination they usually find a good number of current and former Ferrahian School students cheering for them in the stadium.  The school’s principle is almost always there also. 

Membership to the “Armens” athletic teams is preconditioned by good grades. Otherwise, the student is denied membership even though he may be a star athlete.  Punctuality is also another condition for membership to an “Armens” team. A student who misses training without a legitimate reason is suspended for the next three games. Offenders repeating the same for three times are denied participation in an “Armens” team.

Academic excellence, punctuality, and discipline are the essential constituents to become and remain a member of an “Armens” team

Cheering the Armenia

At the end of each academic year, the “Armens” hold a fund raising banquet in the “Avedissian” Hall. During the banquet trophies earned by the “Armens” are handed to individuals or teams. Parents, supporters of the “Armens” attend the banquet. During the banquet pictures taken during the games is shown. Some “Armens” have their shirts retired and put on display in the “Avedissian” Hall. Through the years “Armens” have achieved noteworthy championships at the state level.

A new era awaits the Ferrahian Shool’s “Armens” athletic teams. A new athletic complex is already under construction. It will have a basketball and a volleyball court that will be named after prematurely deceased student Garo Madenlian. The soccer stadium will be named after Souren Saroyan who was the chairman of the school’s board of trustees for many years during the school’s formative years. 

The athletic complex will be named after Gabriel and Rose Injejikian as a fitting tribute to them and to those who had the vision, the tenacity and perseverance to establish the first Armenian day school in the United States, the Ferrahian School.

The Story Ferrahian High School (3/4): The Early Years and the Growth

By Boghos Shahmelikian

Translated and abridged by Vahe H. Apelian

Boghos Shahmelikian presented the story of the founding of the Ferrahian High School in four weekly successive segments in Aztag Daily starting from March 25, 2019. He asked me if I would translate the story for him for the benefit of the English language readers. I did. But the translation was not published in the Armenian press although he claimed he submitted it.   Here it is. 

“To all the graduates of the first Armenian High School in the U.S.A.  Much has been given to you by so many; so much is expected of you.  I know you can.  God bless you. -- Gabriel Injejikian

Early Years

By early September the building became ready, save students and teaching staff.

Having secured a house suitable for a school, Gabriel embarked on his last and crucial stage towards having the school he had worked for so hard, recruiting students. He resorted to visiting parents and appealing them to have their child enroll in the school he was to run. Most of the parents were not responsive to his call for good reason. The public schools were free and secure. Parents did not have concerns for the safety of their children. They also had no concerns for the schools’ academic standard either. They saw no reason to have their children bused to a newly found untested school, be it an Armenian day school. However, some parents saw merit in the young teacher’s vision for their children.

On September 13, 1964, the priest of the Holy Martyrs Church blessed the school’s premises and on the next day, on September 14, 1964 the long waited the first Armenian day school in the United States opened its doors with its founder Gabriel waiting to see if some parents had actually responded to his appeals for the sake of their children and had agreed to have their sons and daughters start their new academic year in the newly opened school

On that very morning, as the founding principal, the church’s priest, the first teaching staff were anxiously looking forward, the school’s orange-colored bus entered the church premises and off came 12 students much like 12 disciples who had staked their future on the vision of the school’s founding principal, Gabriel Injejikian.

The parents of the majority of the students were Armenians from Romania. To assure that there were enough students to comply with the law, Gabriel had his niece Christina brought from Germany. The bell of the school rang and teaching the students the Armenian language, history, and culture along with the official curriculum commenced. The students would talk in Armenian with each other.

Having only a few students for the school he had worked so hard to establish did not discourage Gabriel. On the contrary, he was enthused witnessing the realization of the dream he had pursued for the past many years.

The number of teachers readied to educate these 12 students was in fact, more than the number of students. They were: Father Vahrich Kahana Shirinian, Razmig Madenlian, Anahid Meymarian, Lily Mrigian, Dr. Joseph Andonian, Raff Setian, Gabriel’s brother Hagop Injejikian, Ankine Mouradian and five non-Armenian teachers. I should make a note here and state that most of the Armenian teachers taught for a token salary. 

Attendance to the school was free, much like a public school. Every penny received from Lebanon, the central committee of the U.S. Armenian Relief Society, the Romanian Armenian “Raffi” Association, “Garni” patriotic association of Armenian hailing from Erzeroum, and from Mr. and Mrs. Arshag Dikranian was spent with utmost scrutiny. These associations and individuals stood by the school to have it successfully complete its first crucial academic year.

Gabriel Injejikian filled the void in everything the school needed. Along being the school’s principal and a teacher, he also drove the school’s bus when the need arose, cleaned the bathrooms, attended to the school’s upkeep to save another penny. In spite of all these efforts at times Gabriel lacked the funds to pay the teachers’ token salaries. Some of the teachers, in fact, donated the token salary they received to keep the school going. As to Gabriel, his family had come to accept that the family’s bread earner, the one-time lecturer in universities, would come home at the end of the month with an “empty pocket”.  

At the end of its first academic year, in June 1965, the school organized its first fundraising event with a dinner dance. Mr. Arshag Dikranian emceed the event. George Mardigian was the key speaker.

The school started its second academic year with 43 students. 

Having successfully completed its first academic year and started the second year with almost 3 times of its first year’s enrollment, Gabriel felt that he had met the conditions and the spirit of Matheos Ferrahian’s will. Consequently, he applied to Arshag Dikranian and Albert Hagopian, the executors of the Ferrahian Will, to release the funds towards the school. The executors, having assessed that the school in fact met the provisions of the will, sent a check for $235,000 to the Prelate earmarked for the school. The Prelacy allocated two-thirds of the amount to the school Gabriel started and the remaining to the Mesrobian one-day school that henceforth became the second Armenian day school in the U.S. The will also stipulate that its executors be paid $15,000 for their services in upholding the spirit and the execution of their friend Matheos Ferrahian’s will. They, in turn, graciously donated their share to the school as well. Adjusted to inflation, $250,000 in 1965 presently would be worth approximately 2 million dollars.

In the beginning, the school was called Holy Martyrs after the church on whose premises the school was located. Upon the execution of the will, the school was naturally renamed after its benefactor and was called Holy Martyrs Ferrahian High School.

In time the students of the school started to support the school by publishing a periodical named “Victory”, “Haghtanag" in Armenian where they penned in Armenian they had learned in the school. 

What was achieved was indeed a well-deserved victory.

During the subsequent 14 years, the house that had become a school continued to experience more enrollments and naturally a larger teaching staff.  The house that had become a school had now become a second home for its students.

During the first few years, the school only accepted high school level students, from their freshman to senior years, or from 9th to 12th grade. In 1969 the Trustees of the school purchased the large property adjoining the school in the back for $58,000. In 1970 and in 1973 they also purchased the two houses located on both sides of the school. The funds from the Ferrahian will have made these acquisitions possible. The following year, in 1974, the trustees borrowed a large sum of money to complete the school complex for accommodating the increasing enrollment.

Fourteen years after its foundation, in the fall of 1978, within the existing complex, the Holy Martyrs elementary and middle school was also founded.

Meanwhile, in 1975 a civil war erupted in Lebanon. A few years later, in 1979, a revolution erupted in Iran, followed by the Iran-Iraq war, giving rise to political instability and economic hardship in Iraq. As a consequence of these events, a large number of Armenians started emigrating from the Middle East to the United States. Another wave of Armenian immigrants to the United States started with the collapse of the Soviet Union and the civil war in Syria. The overwhelming majority of the new immigrants settled in the greater Los Angeles.

The existing complex of the Ferrahian School in Encino could not accommodate the increasing number of students applying for admission.  In 1988 the trustees of the Ferrahian School purchased a property in North Hills adding another campus to accommodate the increasing applications by parents for their elementary and middle school level children. Later a pre-school facility was established and named after its benefactor, Ashkhen Pilavjian

In 1990, after twenty-six years of service, Gabriel Injejikian, the founding principal of the Ferrahian School, resigned from his position after having marshaled the growth of the school he founded. He continued to attend the year-end graduation ceremonies and other events organized by the school. After Gabriel’s resignation, the following became the principal and the vice principal of the school:

1990 to 1993, Vartkes Ghazarian and Levon Kasparian

1993 to 1997, Levon Kasparian and Paul Mouradia

1997 to 2001, Dr. Marzbed Margossian, Vartkes Nalbandian

2001 to 20015, Jean Kosakian and Vartkes Nalbandian

2016 to present, Sossy Shanlian, Vartkes Nalbandian with Jean Kosakian as the principle of the elementary school in the North Hils.

Over the years numerous individuals donated to the Ferrahian School. It will be impossible to name them all. But I would like to mention at least some of the major benefactors.

The school is named after its first and the largest benefactor Matheos Ferrahian.

The school’s largest hall, which also serves as its enclosed athletic court, is named after its Iranian Armenian benefactor Kevork Avedissian.

The school’s library is named after its benefactor John Garabedian from Fresno.

The school’s smaller hall is named after its benefactor Arshag Dikranian.

The elementary school in the North Hills campus is named after its benefactor Marie Kabayan and its pre-school division is named after Ashkhen Pilavjian who is a nationally acclaimed benefactor.

The house that acted as the school in its formative year was replaced by a building where the offices of the principle, the church trustees, and many other community organizations were moved. The building is called Osko and Yeran Karaghossian building.

The Encino campus has become a veritable beehive. It houses the following:  the Holy Martyrs Church, the Ferrahian Secondary School, A.Y.F. Rosdom Gomideh, the Armenian Relief Society (A.R.S.) “Anahid” Chapter, the Hamazkaing “Baruyr Sevag” Chapter, the Hamazkayin “Nayiri” dance group, the Homenetmen “Massis” Chapter, the Armenian Youth Federation (A.Y.F.) “Sardarabad” Chapter. 

From early morning hours to late at night the Encino Ferrahian School and the Holy Martyrs Church complex swarms with people. Some attend meetings there, other athletic games or different cultural events. During the Christmas, Palm Sunday, Easter the courtyard would be jammed with people reminding me of the seat of the Catholicosate of Cilicia Antelias complex. 

Holy Martyrs Church and Ferrahian School Complex in Encino, CA

For many years the Armenian Americans assisted the Armenian communities in the Middle East to build churches and schools. Many likened the kind-hearted Armenian American community as “milking cow”. During a fund raising campaign in America, Levon Shant and Simon Vratsian, seeing the dwindling use of Armenian by the Armenians residing in America had noted saying: “We came to the United States to solicit financial assistance when it is the Armenian American community that is in need of help otherwise we will lose the next generation. We need to have Armenian schools in the United States of America.”

With the money raised in the United States they built the Djamaran School, presently known as Melankton And Haig Arslanian Djemaran School.But Levon Shant could not materialize his goal of opening another Jemaran like school in the United States as well. After many years, Gabriel Injejikian, who most likely was not aware of Levon Shant’s idea of opening an Armenian School in the United States, founded the Ferrahian School instead.

Levon Shant, Nigol Aghbalian, Simon Vratsian were disciples of sort for the greater cause of preserving the Armenian language and culture. So was Gabriel Injejikian. It was his indomitable will that made the founding the first Armenian day school in the United States possible. He also set an example for others to follow.

Encouraged by Gabriel Injejikian’s success, others followed suit and twenty-five more Armenian day schools were opened in the United States during the next twenty years. 

Most of the Armenian day schools in the United States have similar Armenian language and culture teaching program, which also includes visiting Sacramento, Ca; Washington D.C. and to Armenia and Artsakh to familiarize the students with the history both of their adopted country the United States and their homeland Armenia.

 For Gabriel Injejikian the Ferrahian School remained an extended family to the last. His health permitting, with his wife Rose, he attended the graduation ceremonies and especially liked to attend the wedding celebrations of his former students. He became ecstatic when he found out that they had formed families that perpetuated the Armenian culture.

He devoted his entire life for the preservation of the Armenian culture as his sacred mission. His name is enshrined in the annals of the Armenian history.

The Story Ferrahian High School (2/4): The visionary: Gabriel Injejikian

By Boghos Shahmelikian

Translated and abridged by Vahe H. Apelian

Boghos Shahmelikian presented the story of the founding of the Ferrahian High School in four weekly successive segments in Aztag Daily starting from March 25, 2019. He asked me if I would translate the story for him for the benefit of the English language readers. I did. But the translation was not published in the Armenian press although he claimed he submitted it.   Here it is. 

 

Gabriel Injejikian

The person who became the visionary and realized Matheos Ferrahian’s “unrealizable” dream was Gabriel Injejikian.

Gabriel Injejikian was born in Kessab, Syria in 1930. His father Avedis was the only physician in greater Kessab. Opportunities for furthering education beyond secondary school were not available in Kessab then.  At his tender age of 15, his parents sent him to continue his education in the famed Melkonian School in Cyprus where the language of instruction was in English while it was in French in Kessab because Syria was under French colonial rule. 

After graduating from the Melkonian School, he moved to Beirut and enrolled in the American University of Beirut. In 1950 he established an evening school under the auspices of the Beirut Kessab Educational Association for the benefit of the Armenian boys and girls who had left school early on to learn a trade. The school continued on its mission until the early 1970’s when it was closed due to the political instability in the country.

Gabriel moved to the United States in 1953 and enrolled in the University of Wayne in Detroit where he completed his Bachelor and then his Masters in Arts in psychology and pedagogy.

During his graduate work, he taught in a public school in Detroit and twice a week he taught in the evening school run by the Armenian Relief Society. It was in Detroit that Gabriel unbeknownst to Matheos Ferrahian’s likewise concern, felt the need of having an Armenian Day school in the United States to have young Armenian boys and girls growing in the U.S. learn the Armenian language, and history.

In 1955, during the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Eastern Regional meeting, Gabriel Injejikian proposed to have the issue of establishing an Armenian day school in the United States on the meeting's agenda. “Go and study the matter and report to us” became the meeting’s response

Gabriel moved to Los Angeles in 1957 and for the next three years taught in a public school where his future wife Rose Tavitian was also a student. “She was not a student of mine” noted Gabriel when I visited them in their house. “Had she been a student, I would have given her an A” endearingly remarked Gabriel.

In 1960, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western Regional meeting adopted a resolution for establishing an Armenian school in the Los Angeles area for the 1961 academic year. The school was to hold its classes in the Armenian community center having Gabriel Injejikian and Dr. Onnig Keshsishian as teachers.

However, not all the community leaders were convinced of the possibility of realizing that important goal. Forty to fifty community leaders convened an ad hoc meeting to lay down the groundwork towards this important project. There were pro and con arguments back and forth. In the end, the project for starting an Armenian school during the fall fizzled out and was postponed for consideration at a later date.

Gabriel and Rose got married in 1961. Preferring to teach in an Armenian school, Gabriel applied and was accepted to teach in the Haigazian Univerity, a college then. During the summer of the same year, they moved to Beirut but he did not abandon his goal for establishing an Armenian day school in the United States States.

Catholicos Zareh I of blessed memory passed away on February 18, 1963. Catholicos’ funeral became an auspicious date for Gabriel Injejikian, not only because of the death of the much-beloved Catholicos in his young age but also because of what the eminent reciter of Armenian poetry, Hagop Guloyan, challenged him by murmuring to him during the funeral procession saying:

“Make your dream of establishing an Armenian school in the United States your goal. At this very moment, before the open casket of the Catholicos, you will take a vow and you will make the opening an Armenian school in the United States your life’s mission.”

Gabriel embarked what was now his life’s mission. He wrote a letter in English to Arshag Dikranian, the executor of Matheos Ferrahian’s will. To his great surprise, Gabriel received a response to his letter in an impeccable Armenian explaining to him the details of the Ferrahian will.

Gabriel enlisted the support of some Armenian community activists in Beirut who shared his vision and were eager to help him. He had them form a committee. The following became members of the committee: Hagop Guloyan, Kourkan Khanjian, Nshan Tusuzian, Haroutium Der Balian, Garo Bedrossian, Gabriel Injejikian and Yervant Barsoumian (chairman).

The committee, in turn, enlisted the support of young men and women to help them with the fundraising. 4000 promissory notes were printed on which it was written: “Come September 1964, should there not be a functioning Armenian school in Los Angeles, the promissory note will be null and void.”

The committee organized a press conference in the Beirut Prelacy building where Gabriel Injejikian presented an overview of the private schools run by the different communities in the U.S. noting that a quarter million Armenian Americans did not have a single community run day school.

The first person that signed the promissory note (in his customary red ink) was the Catholicos of the Cilician See Khoren I of blessed memory. Pursuant to the Catholicos signing a promissory note, the following also signed: the Prelate Archbishop Dajad Ourfalian, the Lebanese Parliamentarian Movses Der Kaloustian, the Dean of the Seminary Bishop Karekin Sarkissian, the future Catholicos Karekin II of Catholicosate of Cilician and subsequently the Catholicos of All Armenians, Karekin I of blessed memory.

In 1964, Gabriel and Rose Injejikian and their three children returned to the United States. Meanwhile, Gabriel had taught pedagogy in Haigazian and the American University of Beirut as well as in the Beirut College for women. They also brought with them 3000-signed promissory notes.

Right after having his family settled in a house, Gabriel traveled to the Sacramento, the Capital city of the State of California and inquired about the laws governing for running a community-sponsored private day school. The officials told him there is no restriction as long as the school had six students and a suitable building.

Gabriel also met Arshag Dikranian, the executor of the Ferrahian will, the board of the Mesrobian one-day school and the leaders of the local Armenian Revolutionary Federation.

As an outcome of his meetings, the community leaders called for a meeting. They suggested Gabriel wait for a year until the completion of the building for the Mesrobian Saturday school. However, Gabriel did not have the luxury of waiting for another year. The provision of the 3000 promissory notes was very clear. It mandated that the school started on September 1964, otherwise the promissory notes would be null and void depriving Gabriel of necessary funds for his long term project.

Determined to honor the timeline, Gabriel appealed to the Armenian Cultural Foundation, Armenian Relief Society and to the trustees of Saint Cross Church to sponsor the founding of his intended school. All declined to assume responsibility.

As a last resort, Gabriel decided to appeal to the trustees of the Holy Martyrs Armenian Apostolic Church in Encino in the San Fernando Valley, some 20 miles away from the city proper, to have a school building adjacent to the church.  The number of Armenians in Los Angeles then was around 4000 and was mostly centered on and around Hollywood. Starting the school in Encino presented a challenge. Willing parents had to have their children bused to Encino. But Gabriel had no other option but to appeal to the trustees of the Holy Martyrs Church and explain to them his vision.

On July 17, 1964, Gabriel met the trustees of the church and explained to them his goal. He showed them the 3000 promissory notes for financial support from Beirut he had brought with him. He let them know how enthusiastically the Armenian community in Beirut had responded to his goal. Gabriel succeeded in appealing to the good nature of the trustees who unanimously lent support to Gabriel and decided to make room on the church’s campus to open the first Armenian day school in the United States.

The Holy Martyrs Church in Encino was built on a large property donated to the church by Krikor Arakelian from Fresno in memory of his father-in-law father Vartan Kahana Arslanian. His wife’s priestly father was martyred in prison in Armenia.  The property had a large vacant house on its property. The trustees directed repairing the house, ordering desks and chalkboards. 

By early September the building became ready, save students and teaching staff.

The School's First Building

The Story Ferrahian High School (1/4): The Benefactor: Matheos Ferrahian

By Boghos Shahmelikian

Translated and abridged by Vahe H. Apelian

Boghos Shahmelikian presented the story of the founding of the Ferrahian High School in four weekly successive segments in Aztag Daily starting from March 25, 2019. He asked me if I would translate the story for him for the benefit of the English language readers. I did. But the translation was not published in the Armenian press although he claimed he submitted it.   Here it is.

Matheos and Yevgine Ferrahian

Fifty-five (55) years have gone by since the date when the first Armenian day school in the United States of America opened its doors to the community. It became a beacon of light. The Armenian students in the United States were thus offered an opportunity to learn their mother tongue, history and to get acquainted with the Armenian literature.

Kudos and honor to the school’s founding principal Gabriel Injejikian, its benefactor Matheos Ferrahian, its dedicated first teaching staff and to all those whose efforts made the realization of what was thought to be the difficult task of realizing the “impossible”.

I express my profound gratitude to Gabriel and Rose Injejikian and Anahid Meymarian. Based on the information provided by them, I will attempt to present the story of the founding of the first Armenian day school in the United States of America.

On a Sunday morning in 1964, a hitherto an unknown person presented himself to the meeting of the Zavarian High School Students Association. Customarily, the committee of the Zavarian University Students Association presented to us students from its rank who were a few years senior to us, to present current issues to us.

The day’s unknown guest was not a member of the Zavarian University Student’s Association.

After greeting us he occupied a chair on the last row.

Just before ending our meeting, he was invited letting us know that he was to speak to us about a very important subject.

He was a teacher who had come from the United States. His name was Gabriel Injejikian. Years ago, he had left his birthplace Kessab, emigrated to the United States to continue his higher education and, like many other students, had not returned to his birthplace.

After graduation, Gabriel had been teaching in American public schools with good pay commensurate to his higher education. But that was not what he was looking for.  Having witnessed that the majority of the student age Armenian children are unaware of the alphabet Mesrob Mashdots invented, his goal was to establish an Armenian day school so that the Armenian students will get to learn the Armenian language, history, and literature.

Armenians born and raised in the Middle East have been luckier than their contemporaries in the United States because tens of Armenian schools, cultural centers, churches, and newspapers were available for them. But we, in the Middle East, remained under the impression that the Armenians in the United States were far more fortunate than us. In all probability they had better living conditions than we did but they lacked an important and a vital element, they did not have the opportunity to learn the Armenian language.

“I have decided to open an Armenian day school in Los Angeles,” revealed to us our young guest. “If we start with one student in the first year, the next year we might have a 100% growth if another student enrolled,” said the guest jokingly.

We all laughed at his “humor” but at the same time, we remained impressed by his self-confidence.

He was convinced that he will succeed and he succeeded.

He also distributed to us promissory notes, each earmarked for 10 Lebanese Pounds so that we too would bring our contribution towards his lofty goal.

I have read many accounts about the founding of the Ferrahian School, the first Armenian day school in the U.S., but I decided to get my information from the very source and hence I visited the residence of Gabriel and Rose Injejikian and got my information from them.

They recalled a lot but surely they could have forgotten important details. “I should have written, but…..” contemplated Gabriel Injejikian. Surely, had he written, it would have become an important historical book depicting the times.

Both Gabriel and Rose Injejikian recommended that I meet Anahid Meymarian, who was one of the earliest teachers of the school to obtain further and detailed information from her.

I met her. Anahid Meymarian gladly narrated how and under what circumstances the first Armenian day school in the U.S., the Ferrahian School, was founded.

There were a large number of Armenians in the United States who had immigrated from Western Armenia. Later on, an influx of Armenians arrived from Eastern European countries, such as from Roumania and Bulgaria.  Unlike the Cilician Armenians who immigrated to the Middle East, the Armenian Americans had not established Armenian day schools. They were content with weekend classes and Sunday schools where a few hours of Armenian was taught. Those who attended such schools could barely read and write a few sentences in Armenian.

The Armenian Americans at that time did not have faith that they could preserve the Armenian culture in the U.S. by having a few hundred students know how to read and write in Armenian. Instead, they assisted the Armenian communities in the Middle East to make up for what they thought they could not achieve. They made a substantial financial contribution to the Armenian communities in the Middle East to establish churches and schools and generously defrayed the tuition cost of students studying in the Armenian schools.  Establishing and sustaining Armenian day schools in the United States seemed impossible for them.

That was not what Matheos Ferrahian thought.

Who was Matheos Ferrahian, after whom the first Armenian day school in the United States is named, and who was the school’s founder Gabriel Injejikian?

Matheos Ferrahian was born in Ankara in 1870. He was a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (A.R.F.) since his youth. He was 20 years old when he was apprehended by the Turkish authorities carrying his clandestine operation of transporting rifles for the defense of the Armenian communities in case of need. He was imprisoned, tortured but kept his silence throughout and did not reveal the names of his collaborators.

Eventually, he succeeded escaping from the prison and moved to Jerusalem where he attended the Seminary (Jarankavorats) of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. After a few years, he moved to the United States. He graduated from the USC (University of Southern California) in 1915 with a law degree. During his legal practice, he freely assisted many Armenians to immigrate to the United States

Matheos Ferrahian was married to Yevgine Shishmanian, who much like him was born in Ankara. They made a habit of inviting to their opulent residence friends from the small Armenian community of Los Angeles on Saturday evenings. They often discussed ways and means for establishing an Armenian day school in Los Angeles. Among the guests were father and son Mehrtad and Arshag Dikranian.

Matheos Ferrahian believed that Armenian day schools were the most important avenues for preserving the Armenian culture in the United States by having school-age Armenian students learn the Armenian language,  culture, and history. During those years there was the Mesrobian School in Los Angeles that held classes on Saturdays. However, Matheos Ferrahian’s dream was establishing an Armenian day school whose need he felt was becoming evident by the day. 

Matheos Ferrahian passed away in 1955 without witnessing the realization of his dream. The Ferrahians did not have children. They willed their house towards establishing an Armenian day school and had Arshag Dikranian as the executor of their will. The epitaph on Mr. and Mrs. Matheos and Yevgine Ferrahian’s grave reads:  “Live for Learning, Loving and Serving”.

The person who became the visionary and realized Matheos Ferrahian’s “unrealizable” dream was Gabriel Injejikian.

Remembering Boghos Shahmelikian

Vahe H. Apelian

LtoR: Vahe H. Apelian, Boghos Shahmelikian, Jack Chelebian M.D.

August 7, 2019.  Vahig Vartabedian, Boghos Shahmelikian's bosom friend, broke the news of his passing away. Boghos is another friend I also lost putting a closure to another chapter of the ever  unfolding book of my life as well.

My visit to to the Abril Bookstore in Glendale, paved the way for my friendship with Boghos. Whenever I visited Los Angeles I also visited the famed Abril bookstore. I resigned from work in 2011 and moved to LA to attend to my mother who could no longer attend to her chores but refused to leave her house. Right after settling in my mother’s condominium  I visited the bookstore. While browsing for a few books in Western Armenian, Arno, the owner of the bookstore presented me Boghos Shamelikian’s book. It was titled “Memories and Bygone Days – Heshadagner Yev Antsats Orer”.

I had not heard of the book before, even though this was its second edition. The cover of the book attracted me. It depicted many of the popular Armenian singers growing up in Lebanon. I purchased a copy and read its 220 pages literary in one breath.

Boghos Shahmelilian’s narration is also no less a primary source of information of that period that changed the popular Armenian music and ushered it away from its Ottoman influences. Boghos Shahmelikian is a musican and had collaborates with many of the singers and played in many of the bands, especially in the famed Five Fingers band. In fact, his knowledgeable narration of the era depicted the Diaspora Armenian Popular Music Spring.

It is fair, I thought, that the book is available in English as well. I contacted him and invited him to discuss the matter. He happened to live in the same city, Reseda, my mother lived.  The moment I welcomed him he looked at me and said that he was sure that we have met before. It turned out that in fact, we had. Both of us are contemporaries and had done our mandatory military training in Lebanon at the same time and had a picture with the rest of the Armenian students doing the three weeks long training that summer. Looking back, it does not surprise me that he remembered me. He had a phenomenal memory as attested by the Index of his book I prepared when I translated it to English. The index is 5 pages long, comprising of two columns on each page. Each column lists some 40 names of musicians and musical bands he had made reference to from memory in his book . 

I offered Boghos to translate his book primarily for the benefit of the children and grandchildren of these musicians. Unlike their fathers, they are mostly born and raised on the western shores and hence have not had the opportunity to learn reading and writing in Armenian. He agreed to my offer letting me know that it will be my responsibility to have the book published.  Upon translation, I dedicated the book with the following notation: “This translation is dedicated to the children and grandchildren of the men and women who dared to push the boundaries of the Diaspora Armenian popular music.”

The English translation presented a unique challenge because the intended readers, mostly born in the West, could not relate to the places and events described in the book. Hence I expanded the scope of the book by presenting the events and the places. The other challenge was Boghos’s insistence that the pictures be harmonized with the description on each page.

Fortunately, my cousin, Jack Chelebian M.D. extended his assistance to me by editing the book. He painstakingly compared my translation to the original text sentence by sentence. It was Jack who proposed that we change the title of the book and call it “The Dawn of Armenian Pop Music”. By then I had published my three volumes sequel titled “The Way We Were-The Way We Are” through the Armenian Cultural endeavor, Hratch Kalsahakian from the United Arab Emirates has pioneered self-publishing making the publication of a book much affordable and freeing the author of amassing copies for distribution. Having collaborated before, Hrach made the publication of the book monetarily feasible for me enabling me  to also gift Boghos fifty copies of the book for his gifting to friends and institutions. As to the pictures in the book, it was Boghos who undertook the challenge of harmonizing the pictorial presentation with the text with the help of Vahig Vartabedian. The book was published in 2018 and is available for purchase on Amazon.com.   

"Dawn of Armenian Pop Music"
By Boghos Shahmelikian.
Translated by Vahe H. Apelian