PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
September 7, 2006
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DIOCESE LOSES LEADER WITH DEATH OF HAIG DADOURIAN
It is with sorrow that the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern) announces the passing of Haig Dadourian, a long-time leader and
life-long friend of the Armenian community.
Dadourian, 69, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 5, 2006, in his
home after a two-year battle with brain cancer. His wife Astrid was by his
side.
"I have lost a personal friend and the Armenian community has lost a great
leader," said Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese.
"He exemplifies a passion for the church, a special passion which began
generations ago, a passion passed to him by his father, the late Dadour
Dadourian. He loved the Armenian Church with his entire soul and worked
diligently to strengthen and further its mission into this new century."
"We will all miss his steady leadership, his invigorating ideas, and his
personal warmth," the Primate continued. "And I will miss his friendship
dearly."
Dadourian, director of the Dadourian Export Corporation, served as a member
of the Diocesan Council since 1993. He served first as treasurer and since
1997 has been its chairman.
"Haig Dadourian gave of his life for the good of the Armenian Church and its
people," wrote His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of
All Armenians, in a letter of condolence to the Eastern Diocese highlighting
Dadourian’s work renovating churches, rebuilding national institutions, and
helping educate young Armenians. "With his death we have lost a very good
friend of the Armenian Church."
On the Diocesan Council he served as a public face of the Diocese, meeting
with parishioners and clergy to outline plans and create new programs. He
also attended countless meetings, events, and services as a representative
of the Eastern Diocese.
During the Diocesan Assembly in 2000, he was one of the first to offer his
personal support to the development of a Diocesan camp and retreat center,
which resulted in the purchase of the Ararat Center in Greenville, NY.
In November 2000, he was one of a handful of Armenian Church leaders to
participate in a service with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican during which
the relics of St. Gregory the Illuminator were transferred to Holy
Etchmiadzin.
"We feel very strongly about the Armenian Church," Dadourian said during the
2001 launch of the Diocese’s Spiritual Leadership Fund. "It’s probably the
most important institution for the Armenian community — throughout the
world and right here in America."
SERVING THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY
Along with his position on the Diocesan Council, Dadourian served on the
Diocesan Board of Trustees; the Board of Directors of the Armenian Church
Endowment Fund (ACEF), which oversees the investment of a $75 million
portfolio of invested endowments; a member of the Board of Directors for the
Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR), the Diocesan-affiliated international aid
organization; and as member of the Board of Directors for the St. Nersess
Armenian Seminary of New Rochelle, NY.
He was also a devoted parishioner, serving as a Diocesan Delegate and parish
council member of the St. Mary Church of Livingston, NJ, as well as the
assistant choir director of the parish.
In 1998, Dadourian was presented with the St. Gregory the Illuminator Medal,
the highest award bestowed by the church on the laity, by His Holiness
Karekin I, of blessed memory, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, during celebrations of the Diocese’s centennial.
In 2004, he was presented with the Ellis Island Medal, which recognizes the
contribution of immigrants and their descendents to the success of American
society.
For all of his efforts to strengthen the Armenian Church and bring life to
the Armenian community, the Eastern Diocese presented him with the "Armenian
of the Year" award during the Diocesan Assembly in 2005. It was an award he
shared with his brother, Alex, who remains an active leader in the
community.
"Let me take a moment to tell you something about my brother," Alex said
during the banquet honoring him and his brother. "He epitomizes love for
the church. Those that don’t know him do not realize that he really loves
what he does for the church."
Haig Dadourian is survived by his wife, Astrid, and three daughters Dr. and
Mrs. Joseph and Leslie Barmakian, Mr. and Mrs. Manoug and Jeanine Hovsepian,
and Mr. and Mrs. Yervant and Melanie Gulian. He is also survived by his two
brothers, Alex and Peter.
FUNERAL SERVICES
A wake service for Haig Dadourian will be held at New York City’s St. Vartan
Cathedral visiting hours from 5 to 8 p.m. with the wake service at 7 p.m. on
Sunday, September 10, 2006. Archbishop Khajag Barsamian will officiate
during funeral services at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, September 11, 2006.
— 9/7/06
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Haig Dadourian, chairman of the Diocesan Council, passed
away Tuesday, September 5, 2006.
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