WATERTOWN — A who’s-who of dignitaries, friends, family members, and colleagues gathered on November 17 to wish Jack Medzorian a happy 93rd birthday and to thank him for his service to Armenians and to Armenia, which he and his wife, Eva, have visited nearly 100 times since 1972.
The gala, which was held in Keljik Hall at the St. James Armenian Church Cultural Center and was hosted by the Knights of Vartan Ararat Talij No. 1 and the Daughters of Vartan Arpie Otyag No. 9.
Medzorian twice served as Commander of Ararat Tahlij during the 1990s.
Ararat Tahlij Sbarabed Argishti Chaparian and Arpie Otyag Dirouhie Dr. Knarik Arkun welcomed the guests and then introduced as master of ceremonies, family friend and Asbed Paul Boghosian.
Prayers were offered by Nakhgin Sbarabed Rev. Antranig Baljian and Rev. Arakel Aljalian. The celebration began with a video highlighting the many humanitarian projects in Armenia that Jack Medzorian has been involved with, including the delivery of educational supplies and medical equipment to remote areas of the country. The video also included good wishes to Jack by the former principal of what is now the Knights of Vartan School No. 106 in Yerevan. Dr. Gagik Dallakyan of the Artsvaberd Hospital in Armenia’s Tavush Region thanked Jack Medzorian for the portable ultrasound machines that were delivered to the medical facility. Other messages of gratitude came from Ashot Yeghiazaryan and Rouzanne Sakanyan of the Fuller Center for Housing.
The high praise for Jack Medzorian was also echoed by the Knights and Daughters of Vartan. Liaison Gohar Palyan described how Medzorian and his wife would visit the remote border villages of Armenia, meeting with locals and making friends despite the dangers involved with traveling to those areas. Knights of Vartan Grand Commander Steven Adams, in his recorded remarks, commended Medzorian for all the help he has given to Armenia, noting that his contributions are usually made quietly and without fanfare. Adams said that Medzorian embodies what it means to be a Knight of Vartan. The governor of Tavush Region in Armenia echoed those sentiments in a written letter to Jack Medzorian. Hayk Chobanyan wrote, “The energy you and Mrs. Eva Medzorian put into the development of Tavush and the generosity you have shown has motivated all of us to work hard so that one day we may be able to help others, as you have helped those when they needed your support.”
