Former California Governor George Deukmejian
GLENDALE – The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region mourns the passing of former California Governor George Deukmejian and extends its deepest condolences to his wife Gloria and the Deukmejian family. Governor Deukmejian passed away on Tuesday at his home in Long Beach, Calif. at the age of 89.
Gov. Deukmejian was the highest-ranking Armenian American elected official in the United States. He served the State of California with distinction for about three decades. After winning his first election as governor in 1982, he was reelected in a landslide in 1986. Prior to that, he had served for four years as Attorney General (1979-83), twelve years as State Senator (1967-1979) and Senate Majority Leader (1969), and four years as Assemblyman (1963-67).
During his time in public service, he opened the door for many others to enter politics by being a positive role model, serving honorably, and by appointing a substantial number of Armenian-Americans to various state offices.
Gov. Deukmejian speaks at the Montebello Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument
Governor Deukmejian encouraged youth to become civically engaged and championed Armenian Genocide recognition as a descendant himself of Genocide survivors. Both Deukmejian and his wife, Gloria, also an Armenian American, had been raised on stories about the Armenian Genocide. Therefore, during his entire political career, Deukmejian attempted to get official recognition for the Genocide and diligently called on the U.S. State Department to reject the pressures of the Turkish government.
Born and raised in New York, George Deukmejian attended the local college and was nick-named “Dukeâ€
