ELLIS ISLAND MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT PAPKEN MEGERIAN HONORED IN PENN.
October 29, 2012 12:08 pm
WYNNEWOOD, Penn. – On Friday, September 28, the Armenian community
of Philadelphia came together, at a reception hosted by St. Sahag & St.
Mesrob Armenian Church, to honor Papken Megerian, one of the 2012
Ellis Island Medal of Honor recipients, acknowledging their pride in
an immigrant whose service to the Armenian community, in the US and
abroad, spans several decades.
Parish Council Vice Chair Mark Gulasarian welcomed the 200 guests
gathered for the occasion and expressed his appreciation to Megerian
for all of his efforts on behalf of the parish. He shared some
highlights of Megerian’s devotion to the Armenian community and
acknowledged both Papken and his wife, Anahid, reflecting back on their
50 years of marriage as an inspiration to the community and stating,
“If Papken could, he would cut the medal in half and give the other
half to Anahid.”
Sonia Kailian Placido, Papken Megerian’s niece, shed some light on
the personal influence that her uncle has had in her life. She, along
with her two sisters and brother, was raised by a single mother. Her
three uncles became surrogate fathers to them and “Papken Keri” was
omnipresent in their lives as they were growing up. He was always
ready, willing and able to give of his time.
Her uncle, she said, “is a man who thrives on helping others. Call
it good or bad, but he never says no.”
“It wasn’t until I got older and had my own family that I was really
able to appreciate the true generosity of my uncle . . . and that
of his wife and children for their willingness to share him. His
involvement in numerous organizations and philanthropies still boggles
my mind – how does he make time for it all? Passion. Simply put, he is
a passionate man – passionate for each and every aspect of his life,
whether it be family, church, work, or charity.”
Her biggest thanks were reserved for Papken Megerian’s efforts
on behalf of the Armenian Mirror-Spectator. “My husband Jeff, I
think, holds the title for the non-Armenian who reads the Armenian
Mirror-Spectator front to back, inside and out, each and every week,
throughout the year. In fact, were it not for Jeff pointing out the
latest pictures or stories of Papken in the paper, I wouldn’t be
aware of half of his accomplishments.”
She concluded her remarks by congratulating him on his award: “The
Ellis Island Medal of Honor is awarded to distinguished American
citizens who exemplify a life dedicated to community service; people
who preserve and celebrate the history, traditions and values of
their ancestry and who dedicate themselves to creating a better
world for us all. Such powerful words, and I couldn’t think of a more
deserving man.”
Guests were then treated to a performance by 14-year-old Elise
Dadourian, a member of the parish Sunday School and an aspiring singer.
Dadourian has just released a new single, American Made, written by
her manager/mentor Dan May, who joined her on stage to perform the
song, which is about the important contribution immigrants made to
20th-century America.
Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian, former pastor of the parish and longtime
friend of the Megerian family, shared his feelings on the occasion and
the Very Rev. Oshagan Gulgulian, parish pastor shared his feelings as
well. “The community is very proud to have such a distinguished servant
as Papken Megerian in our midst and we congratulate both Papken and
Anahid Megerian on the celebration of their golden anniversary this
past year.”
Papken Megerian grew up in Aleppo, Syria and is the son of Armenian
immigrants who escaped from the Genocide. He came to the United States
in the early 1960s, where he began a career in international banking,
later moving on to purchase and operate several businesses. Though
semi-retired, he is presently the managing partner of a real estate
investment company, 3 MB Partnership L.P., as well as a shareholder
and treasurer of Four Meg Inc. Philanthropically, the couple supports
many Armenian and charitable causes in the US, Armenia, Javakhk (now
part of Georgia), Karabagh and Jerusalem through the Papken-Anahid
Megerian Family Foundation.
Over the years, they have devoted many resources to the Diocesan Center
in Javakhk, the Our Lady of Armenia Boghossian Educational Center
in Gumri, the Armenian Sisters’ Academy of Philadelphia, ICAN (the
International Children’s Anophthalmia Network) and the Philadelphia
Museum of Art. Megerian is also the benefactor of the Diocese of
Arakatzotz, where the parish’s former pastor, Archbishop Mkrtich
Proshyan is the Primate. The Megerians have committed themselves to
building a museum in the city of Oshagan, dedicated to Mesrob Mashtots
and the Armenian alphabet.
They have also financially supported countless cultural, educational
and religious programs and organizations, including Birthright
Armenia, the Guiliguian Educational Association and the Armenian
Mirror-Spectator, frequently hosting events in their home.
Megerian is the co-chair of the ADL (Ramgavar) District Committee of
the Eastern US and Canada, and serves on the Central Committee of
the Tekeyan Cultural Association of the US and Canada. He is also
a trustee of the Society of Orphaned Armenia Relief and a longtime
member of the AGBU and the Knights of Vartan. His involvement in the
Parish of St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Armenian Church spans 44 years and
includes positions as chairman and treasurer of the Parish Council
and his representation as a Diocesan Delegate of the parish for 24
years. He is currently the treasurer of the Diocesan Council of the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern).
In the last 10 years, Megerian has visited Armenia 25 times for
purposes of business, philanthropy and culture. In recognition of
his support, Catholicos Karekin I decorated him with the St. Nerses
Shnorhali Medal and a pontifical encyclical in 1998. In 2009,
Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II awarded him the St. Gregory
the Illuminator Medal and encyclical, the highest honor of the
Armenian Church.
They have three children, Garo Megerian (and wife, Annette), Aram
Megerian (and wife, Carla) and Tanya Bardakjian (and husband, Nerces)
and grandchildren Gregory Megerian, Carine Megerian, Haig Megerian,
Ariana Megerian, Lily Megerian, Lena Bardakjian, Sona Bardakjian
and Seta Bardakjian. This year, the two are celebrating their golden
anniversary. Megerian was one of eight Armenian-Americans who received
the 2012 Ellis Island Medal of Honor in May.
http://www.mirrorspectator.com/2012/10/29/ellis-island-medal-of-honor-recipient-papken-megerian-honored-in-penn/