NEW YORK — Peter Kougasian, Esq., former Board Member of the Armenian Missionary Association of American (AMAA) and Vice President and a long-time active member of the Armenian Evangelical Church in New York City, was honored on September 27 by the New York City District Attorney’s Office at a celebration of his 40 years of service as an Assistant District Attorney and as “an extraordinary human being.”
Kougasian was an elected member of the AMAA Board since 1996 serving during that time as vice president and as chairman of the Armenia Committee. He also served as moderator of the Armenian Evangelical Church of New York for many years. He is a long-time member of the New York City Bar Association serving as former vice president, former chair of the Executive Committee and former chair of the New York City Bar Association delegation to the House of Delegates of the New York State Bar.
“We congratulate our dear friend Peter on this very prestigious honor,” said Zaven Khanjian, AMAA executive director/CEO. “His service to the AMAA is founded on the same principles that he has come to be known for in his profession – loyalty, dedication, devotion, service and commitment.”
The standing-room-only crowd of Kougasian’s former colleagues and many friends was present at the celebration to unveil a bronze plaque that will hang outside of the Manhattan DA Office Training Center, which has officially been named after him. The plaque reads:
“The Peter M. Kougasian Training Center – Dedicated to Peter M. Kougasian, Assistant District Attorney 1979-2018. Executive ADA and Counsel to the Special Narcotics Prosecutor, Senior Trial Counsel, Bureau Chief, Director of Legal Training, Co-Founder Diversity Program, Conviction Integrity Committee, Ghostwriter Extraordinaire. In each position held during his 40 years as a prosecutor, Peter committed himself to justice, improving the institution that he revered, and serving the city he loved. He taught us the practice of law through his brilliance of words, his kindness of heart, inventive humor, and a touch of magic.”
The dedication ceremony, presided over by current District Attorney of New York County Cyrus Vance, Jr. Esq., featured several notable speakers, including Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a friend and former colleague who, by video, praised Kougasian for his long career. Speakers also cited his friendship, mentoring, loyalty, wisdom, leadership, dedication, humor, generous heart, faith, pride of his Armenian heritage and his love of magic.
