A Special Tribute to Vasken Najarian: 1932-2015

November 26, 2015
Vasken Najarian

Vasken Najarian

BY GARBIS DER YEGHIAYAN

An extraordinary personality has gone out from our midst. A unique husband, father, grandfather, benefactor, friend, builder of churches and schools, who was so special, so multi-talented, so resourceful, so dedicated to his tasks, so inspirational in his visionary service and leadership, and so wholeheartedly devoted to his family, community and profession. It is impossible to measure his character and life by the ordinary standards that we use for measuring human beings. My dear friend, Vasken Najarian’s death is something that I can still hardly believe. He has left a vacancy of immense proportions ”“ ”“ a vacancy that no other individual in our community can fill. It is impossible to put into words how I feel, but in writing I would like to recall the exemplary life of one of our most visionary and brilliant servant-leaders. His departure is our loss. His life should be our lesson.

As a member of the Board of Trustees, Vasken was my mentor and counselor during my tenure as president of the American Armenian International College at the University of La Verne. His unique leadership qualities, organizational skills and honesty combined with his enthusiasm, dynamism, tireless efforts, perennial optimism, conscientious loyalty to what he believed to be right and true, and unwavering commitment to Armenian higher education touched and enriched my life. He served our community with unparalleled dedication. He was an outstanding example of the finest in the Armenian Christian character and attributes. His exemplary service lifted them above the crowd and made him a vast source of inspiration to those who sought his invaluable friendship.

Vasken was a gifted man in the service of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Church, the Forty Martyrs Armenian Apostolic Church of Orange County, the Ari Guiragos Minassian Armenian School, the American Armenian International College, Mashdots College, and numerous other organizations. He loved Armenia and the Armenian people, and supported their needs so generously. He was a staunch supporter of the Armenian Cause. His humanitarian endeavors symbolized the intellectual renaissance of the Armenian people despite Turkey’s authorship of the Armenian Genocide. The resistance of Urfa’s Armenians in 1915 under the brave leadership of his uncle, Commander Mgerdich Yetneghparian, was of keen interest to him. He loved America ”“ the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. He came to the United States as an immigrant and was extremely grateful for the opportunities America gave him to succeed in life. He was a true humanitarian and a man of distinction, who had few peers but many admirers, and much to be admired for as a reliable friend in the lives of so many. His face was lighted with a genuine smile, his movement upward and onward, drawing with the power of a magnet for others to follow his example

Another characteristics, was his perfect sincerity. The expressive origin of this word comes from two Latin words which signify “without wax,”

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