history of an armenian family
the article is not so well written, but has interesting biographical details about Komitas's cousin's family.
Haroutun Garabed Karakashian, 71, organizer of central New Jersey community
Published: Friday December 12, 2008
Harout Karakashian of Middletown, N.J., died on November 22 at his home. He was active in Armenian church, educational, and cultural activities in central New Jersey.
Haroutun Garabed Karakashian was born on April 23, 1937 in Jerusalem to Garabed and Kayane (nee Hairabedian) Karakashian. His father was a native of Kutahya, and first cousin, once removed, to the venerable Armenian priest and composer Gomidas. His mother was a native of Odemish, near Izmir, and was orphaned during the Armenian Genocide of 1915.
The family enjoyed a good life in the vibrant Armenian community of Jerusalem. Harout attended the School of the Holy Translators. His father was a blacksmith who made keys and license plates, and his uncle Megerditch was the master painter of the internationally recognized Karakashian-Balian joint workshop of Palestine Pottery. During the Arab-Israeli War of 1948, the family sought refuge in the complex of the Armenian Patriarchate. After having their home destroyed numerous times, Garabed, Kayane, and their three sons, Harout, Nubar, and Vicken, moved to Amman, Jordan, and lived with Garabed's sister and her family, Zareh and Zmroukht Tashjian and sons Sebouh, Vahe, and Hagop, and Kayane's cousins, numerous members of the Etyemezian family.
In November 1956, Harout was the first of his family to move to the United States. On December 20, 1956, his parents and brothers arrived in Newark, New Jersey, having obtained passage as Jordanian refugees and having been sponsored by the St. Mary parish of Irvington. The family was greeted by Rev. Fr. Yeghishe Gizirian and Zareh Manigian, a parish council member. Harout's family owned and operated the Oriental Gift Shop in Newark, where the family sold gift items and the Armenian pottery of Jerusalem.
Harout proudly served in the U.S. Army for several years. In June 1963, he met Serpouhi Pilavian at an Armenian dance in Asbury Park and they were married on June 29, 1963, at Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church in Ridgefield, New Jersey. They moved to Middletown in 1964, and were blessed with two children, Garo and Tamar.
Harout worked for Sears, Roebuck & Co. for over 33 years and had his own construction business for 25 years. He also owned a dry-cleaning business with his brother, Nubar, for 32 years, and more recently, owned a family luncheonette.
Harout was appointed by Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese, to serve on the first Parish Council at St. Mary Armenian Church in Elberon in 1968. At various times spanning four decades, he served on of the Parish Council as chairperson, treasurer, and advisor. Harout actively participated in the New Jersey Chapter of the Hamazkayin Armenian Cultural and Educational Society for numerous years, especially in its choral group. He was a former longtime member of the Armenian Revolution Federation "Dro" Gomideh of New Jersey.
On September 27, 1973, he was one of several individuals who founded the Armenian Cultural School Association, an organization dedicated to perpetuating the Armenian language, culture, and heritage in the Central New Jersey area. He served as one of the charter members of the ACSA. The organization established the weekly Ararat Armenian School, and offered other cultural, educational, and social functions to the hundreds of Armenians living in Monmouth and Ocean Counties of New Jersey.
For many decades, Harout sang in the choir at Sts. Vartanantz of Ridgefield and St. Mary and St. Stepanos of Elberon. He also served as choirmaster for several years at St. Stepanos. He was honored as St. Mary Man of the Year in 1979. On June 14, 1987, Harout served as one of the godfathers of the newly constructed St. Stepanos. He also was a member of the Men's Club. Harout selflessly assisted in the growth of the parish, and served on the Parish Council during the transition from St. Mary to St. Stepanos and supervised the construction of the new edifice. For his outstanding leadership, he was one of six individuals honored at the 10th anniversary of the consecration of St. Stepanos in 1997.
Harout loved to work and often had a hard time relaxing. He did, however, enjoy playing backgammon (tavloo), spending time with friends, and traveling to Armenia. As a child he played the violin and was very passionate about Armenian music - a passion that spanned his entire life.
Harout was predeceased by his parents, Garabed and Kayane, and youngest brother, Vicken. Surviving are his wife of 45 years, Serpouhi of New Jersey; son Garo Karakashian and his wife Lisa of New Jersey; daughter Tamar and her husband John Arslanian of Pennsylvania; brother Nubar Karakashian and his wife Meline of New Jersey; nephew Shant Karakashian and his wife Mary and their sons Haig, Nikolas, Aram, and Vicken of Delaware; nephew Sebouh Karakashian and his wife Setta and their sons Raffi and Armen of New Jersey; niece Lory Karakashian of New Jersey; sister-in-law Maral Karakashian of New Jersey; nephew Raffi Karakashian of Washington; nephew Ara Karakashian of New Jersey and his fiancée Talar Yepremian of Syria; brother-in-law Hagop Pilavian and his wife Sona of Syria; nephew Negol Pilavian and his wife Rosaline and son Hagop of California; niece Karin and her husband Karekin Kirazian and son Allen of California; sister-in-law Ani and her husband Mehran Balkhian and sons Sarkis and Garen Balkhian of Syria; mother-in-law Hripsime Pilavian of Syria; and numerous cousins in Jerusalem, Sydney, Amman, Ft. Lauderdale, Buenos Aires, and Vienna.
In honor of Harout's desire to assist with the education of the less fortunate of Armenia and Karabakh, the family is requesting that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Haroutun Karakashian Memorial Fund and mailed to 87 Swartzel Drive, Middletown, New Jersey 07748. Funeral services were held on November 25 at St. Stepanos Armenian Church in Elberon, N.J. Officiating were V. Rev. Fr. Haigazoun Najarian, Diocesan Vicar, assisted by V. Rev. Fr. Mamigon Kiledjian, Rev. Fr. Vertanes Kalayjian, and Rev. Fr. Diran Bohajian.
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2008-12-12-haroutun-garabed-karakashian-71-organizer-of-central-new-jersey-community
Haroutun Garabed Karakashian, 71, organizer of central New Jersey community
Published: Friday December 12, 2008
Harout Karakashian of Middletown, N.J., died on November 22 at his home. He was active in Armenian church, educational, and cultural activities in central New Jersey.
Haroutun Garabed Karakashian was born on April 23, 1937 in Jerusalem to Garabed and Kayane (nee Hairabedian) Karakashian. His father was a native of Kutahya, and first cousin, once removed, to the venerable Armenian priest and composer Gomidas. His mother was a native of Odemish, near Izmir, and was orphaned during the Armenian Genocide of 1915.
The family enjoyed a good life in the vibrant Armenian community of Jerusalem. Harout attended the School of the Holy Translators. His father was a blacksmith who made keys and license plates, and his uncle Megerditch was the master painter of the internationally recognized Karakashian-Balian joint workshop of Palestine Pottery. During the Arab-Israeli War of 1948, the family sought refuge in the complex of the Armenian Patriarchate. After having their home destroyed numerous times, Garabed, Kayane, and their three sons, Harout, Nubar, and Vicken, moved to Amman, Jordan, and lived with Garabed's sister and her family, Zareh and Zmroukht Tashjian and sons Sebouh, Vahe, and Hagop, and Kayane's cousins, numerous members of the Etyemezian family.
In November 1956, Harout was the first of his family to move to the United States. On December 20, 1956, his parents and brothers arrived in Newark, New Jersey, having obtained passage as Jordanian refugees and having been sponsored by the St. Mary parish of Irvington. The family was greeted by Rev. Fr. Yeghishe Gizirian and Zareh Manigian, a parish council member. Harout's family owned and operated the Oriental Gift Shop in Newark, where the family sold gift items and the Armenian pottery of Jerusalem.
Harout proudly served in the U.S. Army for several years. In June 1963, he met Serpouhi Pilavian at an Armenian dance in Asbury Park and they were married on June 29, 1963, at Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church in Ridgefield, New Jersey. They moved to Middletown in 1964, and were blessed with two children, Garo and Tamar.
Harout worked for Sears, Roebuck & Co. for over 33 years and had his own construction business for 25 years. He also owned a dry-cleaning business with his brother, Nubar, for 32 years, and more recently, owned a family luncheonette.
Harout was appointed by Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese, to serve on the first Parish Council at St. Mary Armenian Church in Elberon in 1968. At various times spanning four decades, he served on of the Parish Council as chairperson, treasurer, and advisor. Harout actively participated in the New Jersey Chapter of the Hamazkayin Armenian Cultural and Educational Society for numerous years, especially in its choral group. He was a former longtime member of the Armenian Revolution Federation "Dro" Gomideh of New Jersey.
On September 27, 1973, he was one of several individuals who founded the Armenian Cultural School Association, an organization dedicated to perpetuating the Armenian language, culture, and heritage in the Central New Jersey area. He served as one of the charter members of the ACSA. The organization established the weekly Ararat Armenian School, and offered other cultural, educational, and social functions to the hundreds of Armenians living in Monmouth and Ocean Counties of New Jersey.
For many decades, Harout sang in the choir at Sts. Vartanantz of Ridgefield and St. Mary and St. Stepanos of Elberon. He also served as choirmaster for several years at St. Stepanos. He was honored as St. Mary Man of the Year in 1979. On June 14, 1987, Harout served as one of the godfathers of the newly constructed St. Stepanos. He also was a member of the Men's Club. Harout selflessly assisted in the growth of the parish, and served on the Parish Council during the transition from St. Mary to St. Stepanos and supervised the construction of the new edifice. For his outstanding leadership, he was one of six individuals honored at the 10th anniversary of the consecration of St. Stepanos in 1997.
Harout loved to work and often had a hard time relaxing. He did, however, enjoy playing backgammon (tavloo), spending time with friends, and traveling to Armenia. As a child he played the violin and was very passionate about Armenian music - a passion that spanned his entire life.
Harout was predeceased by his parents, Garabed and Kayane, and youngest brother, Vicken. Surviving are his wife of 45 years, Serpouhi of New Jersey; son Garo Karakashian and his wife Lisa of New Jersey; daughter Tamar and her husband John Arslanian of Pennsylvania; brother Nubar Karakashian and his wife Meline of New Jersey; nephew Shant Karakashian and his wife Mary and their sons Haig, Nikolas, Aram, and Vicken of Delaware; nephew Sebouh Karakashian and his wife Setta and their sons Raffi and Armen of New Jersey; niece Lory Karakashian of New Jersey; sister-in-law Maral Karakashian of New Jersey; nephew Raffi Karakashian of Washington; nephew Ara Karakashian of New Jersey and his fiancée Talar Yepremian of Syria; brother-in-law Hagop Pilavian and his wife Sona of Syria; nephew Negol Pilavian and his wife Rosaline and son Hagop of California; niece Karin and her husband Karekin Kirazian and son Allen of California; sister-in-law Ani and her husband Mehran Balkhian and sons Sarkis and Garen Balkhian of Syria; mother-in-law Hripsime Pilavian of Syria; and numerous cousins in Jerusalem, Sydney, Amman, Ft. Lauderdale, Buenos Aires, and Vienna.
In honor of Harout's desire to assist with the education of the less fortunate of Armenia and Karabakh, the family is requesting that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Haroutun Karakashian Memorial Fund and mailed to 87 Swartzel Drive, Middletown, New Jersey 07748. Funeral services were held on November 25 at St. Stepanos Armenian Church in Elberon, N.J. Officiating were V. Rev. Fr. Haigazoun Najarian, Diocesan Vicar, assisted by V. Rev. Fr. Mamigon Kiledjian, Rev. Fr. Vertanes Kalayjian, and Rev. Fr. Diran Bohajian.
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2008-12-12-haroutun-garabed-karakashian-71-organizer-of-central-new-jersey-community