Asbarez: Remembering Varoujan Koundakjian

BY MOURAD SHAHINIAN

Varoujan Koundakjian passed away on July 15, 2016, at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, leaving behind a legacy of entrepreneurial brilliance, defiant patriotism, and a boundless love for Armenian culture.

Early Life and Roots
Born on April 24, 1934, in Beirut, Lebanon, Varoujan was the son of Vartan and Ovsanna Koundakjian, both survivors of the Armenian Genocide. His father had escaped from Antioch and his mother from Kessab (via Greece) before meeting in Beirut in 1929. Varoujan was the youngest of three children, joining his siblings Arpine and Alexan.

Though he spent his early childhood in Damascus and attended the United School, his family returned to Beirut in 1946. At the age of 12, Varoujan entered the textile business, alongside his brother Alexan. His natural business prowess helped them build a prosperous tailor establishment that flourished until 1962.

A Life of Service and Stage
From a young age, Varoujan immersed himself in community life. He was an active member of Homenetmen and the Kessab Educational Association. In Lebanon, his passion for the arts led him to the renowned Hamazkayin Kaspar Ipegian Theater Company, where he reveled in the cultural vibrancy of the stage. In 1952, he joined the ranks of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation in Lebanon, beginning a lifelong dedication to the Armenian Cause.

The Los Angeles Chapter
In 1962, Varoujan moved to Los Angeles to join his sister, Arpine. He earned an AA degree in Window Display Design from Los Angeles Trade Technical College in 1964.

By 1967, he helped reactivate the Los Angeles Hamazkayin theater troupe alongside his close friend Armen Deyirmenjian. As a leading actor and set designer, Varoujan became a pillar of the local “cultural milieu,” often providing financial support to burgeoning Armenian American artists.

In the theater, he met the love of his life, Armine Karapetian. They married in 1969 and raised two children, Sevag and Lalig. Varoujan’s devotion to his family eventually grew to include his daughter-in-law Yerado (Abrahamian), son-in-law Aram (Aslanian), and his cherished grandchildren, Kami and Alik.

Varouj’s dedication to his children
Varoujan established his early residence in Torrance mostly because of his work, and to be close to his family and his circle of old-time friends like Manas Boujikian, Bedros Apelian, Joseph Megerdichian, Vahan Garboushian to name a few. In 1987 Armine and Varouj realizing their patriotic need to educate their children at Armenian establishments, permanently moved to Hollywood.

Entrepreneurship and “Diamond Vic”
Varoujan’s “Lebanese street-smarts”, his entrepreneurial skills and sharp mind, together with Armine’s scientific assistance, led him to establish Diamotec Inc. in 1973.

Diamotec became a global manufacturing leader of diamond-plated ID blades and grinding wheels for silicon wafers. His work ethics were legendary, and his products became essential tools for major manufacturers across the US, Europe, and Asia.

Varoujan was an innovative thinker. He was adept at finding solutions and confronting challenges. His agile mind enabled him to excel in every pursuit. His negotiating talents were so creative and fair that one of his close friends and a leading lawyer of our community Rafi Ourfalian once admitted that “it’s a good thing for us lawyers that Varouj is not educated, otherwise we would all be out of work.”

For the Nation and the Cause
From 1978 to 1990, Varoujan was elected a member of the ARF Western Region Central Committee. He was instrumental in founding the ACF Trust Fund, Horizon TV, and the lead in acquiring multiple Community Centers including the original Asbarez building on Colorado Street, the South Bay Community Center, and Hollywood’s Karekin Nejdeh Center on Vermont Ave.

In late 1980’s along with a few selected highly reliable patriots, he was involved in raising funds and delivering much needed military supplies and combat ammunition to our troops in the original Nagorno-Karabakh War. In 1988 Varoujan participated in the ARF’s 24th World Congress. In 1990 Varoujan served on the ARF Bureau’s Finance Committee and during his tenure he undertook several successful ventures that ensured continued financing of the global organization.

Varoujan was an ardent supporter, a generous benefactor and a fund raiser for the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). In 1985, with the collaboration of one of his closest friend Kevork Santikian and Kevork’s brother Raffi, organized a memorable perpoor event (a traditional festive process of extracting molasses from grapes) that became the start of the famous annual Perpoor gatherings in Fresno. The original affair raised a sizable amount for the ANCA.

Varoujan also served on the executive board of the Armenian Educational Foundation and engaged himself helping the renovation of numerous schools in Armenia’s villages. The improvement and elevation of Armenian schools gave Varoujan great joy and he took pride in the accomplishments of Armenian students.

Building the Dream Yerkir
Following Armenia’s independence in 1991, Varoujan turned his focus toward the development of the homeland. He believed the strength of the nation lay in its villages, supporting livestock industries in Gousanagyugh and agricultural advancements nationwide.

His unwavering encouragement and support of the arts and artists in Armenia spanned the spectrum of theater, music, film and other cultural fields. One of his contributions together with his late long-time friend and patriot Manas Boujikian was the renovation of Hovhannes Tumanyan’s House/Museum in Tsegh Kyugh.

His architectural legacy includes the iconic nine-story building on Yerevan’s Northern Avenue, which he constructed with the help of his friend, the well-known Northern California philanthropist Hank Dorian. Varouj also worked with Hank to fund the final resting place of General Tro at the “Veratsnund” Memorial Complex in Aparan.

Varoujan practically settled in Yerevan after 2010, and together with his friends Garbis Titizian, Apo Boghigian, Raffi Doudakian, and Hagop Hagopian surrounded by Armenia’s native influencers like Hrant Tokhatyan, Mishig (Michael Poghosyan), Maria Titizian and others, created the image of yergir-trakhdavayr and facilitated a welcoming environment for the rest of us that only visited our “dream yerkir.”

In 2011, he joined the VEKS Company, successfully creating over 300 jobs in Armenia. For his lifetime of service, His Holiness Aram I bestowed upon him the “Knight of Cilicia” medal in 2014.

The Spirit of Varouj
Varoujan was the ultimate “life of the party.” Known for his wit, his dancing and singing (albeit offkey), and his ability to find humor in adversity, he was a man who navigated the worlds of business and high art with equal ease. He famously lived by the mantra: “Mi ellar ouraki bes – mishd indzi, mishd indzi; ayl yeghir seghotzi bess: meg indzi, meg kezi” (Do not be like a hoe, always pulling toward yourself; be like a saw, one for me and one for you).

Whether he was known as “Unger Varouj,” “Ortakh,” “Diamond Vic,” “Ammo Varouj,” or “Baron Koundakjian,” he left behind unforgettable memories and a blueprint for a well-lived life. He never forgot his humble beginnings, and his legacy continues to elevate his friends, his beloved Tashnagtzoutiun with all its branches, and the nation he loved so dearly. This year, through donations raised by his friends, the AYF room of the Hollywood Center will be dedicated to Varouj’s memory.

A celebration of Varouj’s life will take place on Sunday, July 12 at 1 p.m. at the Hollywood Armenian Center (1559 N. Kenmore Avenue, Little Armenia). Friends are welcome to attend and honor his memory.