WATERTOWN — Ardashes Hagop Shelemian, 94, passed away on December 13, 2017.
Born in Istanbul, Turkey, he was the son of the late Victoria and Hagop Shelemian and brother of the late Kegham Shelemian. He leaves behind his wife, Sake Tinzir, and many close friends and family.
He received his early education at the Nersesian School in Constantinople, and the Azgayin Kentronakan [National Central], and continued his higher education at the Robert American College where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in exact sciences. He later attended the Reserve Officers Academy where he received the rank of lieutenant in the signal corps.
Passionate about Classical Armenian Music and Liturgy and Gomidas, he received his musical education under Sargis Boyajian of the historical St. Gregory the Lusavorich (Illuminator) Armenian Church of Galatia and Harutiun Muradian (later, Fr. Shnorhk Muradian). He also studied violin under Enoch Gavafian and harmony and composition under prominent musician Koharik Ghazarossian as well as sang under the leadership of Parsegh Ganatchian.
Fluent in Armenian, Turkish, English and Spanish, he was always an active member of his community in his birthplace as well as Buenos Aires, Argentina and Boston. As a freelance writer and correspondent, he has contributed pieces to several Armenian language periodicals, among them Jamanak, Marmara, Jarakeyt, and Badge, Arev, and Yerchanik, all in Istanbul; and Nerkay, Hay Ketron, and Vospor as editor, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
He held a number of academic positions in the United States, Argentina and Turkey.
