GARY SETIAN’S COINS MOTIVATED ARMENIAN STUDENTS
by Tom Vartabedian
July 23, 2012
For 25 years, Gary Setian was the man behind the money.
Grandparenting remains supreme these days with Armenian numismatic
Gary Setian. Here, he’s pictured with 8-year-old grandson Hunter.
Not because he spends half his year in Las Vegas and the rest in
Longmeadow, Mass. He’s not really the gambling type or real estate
investor.
On the contrary, Setian was among the more fervent Armenian coin
collectors this country has seen, with all due respect to Dr. Levon
Saryan and others of his kind.
With one exception: As quickly as he mounted his collection,
he disbursed his coins to Armenian school students throughout the
Eastern Prelacy as a token of excellence.
To receive a Gary Setian coin was akin to getting a Mesrob Mashdots
medal from Armenia: Only the best were rewarded. The coins dated back
to the Cilician Kingdom and the dynasty of King Levon V in 1375.
His act of charity started in the early 1980’s. At 30-35 coins a year,
his collection finally became depleted about five years ago, except
for those he decided to keep for his grandchildren. He’s blessed with
two, Hunter, 8, and Lea, 14 months, who just underwent a successful
liver transplant. Both sons, Haig and Garo, came up the AYF and Camp
Haiastan way.
“I look back upon those days with fond recollection,” he says. “There
was a lot of history with those coins and I took immense pride in
sharing them with the younger generation. I attended a wedding once
in Providence and two former students approached me to say they had
my coins. To think someone handled these 800 years ago blows my mind.”
These days, Setian still takes a front seat when it comes to Armenian
affairs. Vegas has a burgeoning community in the midst of building
an Antelias church. He’s been tapped to lend his expertise, much the
way he and brother Harry have done in Indian Orchard where they were
raised. Both were former AYFers there. Gary Setian notes that he’s
been an Armenian Weekly subscriber for 60 years.
“Just when I thought I was past the stage of attending meetings,
on comes this opportunity to see an Armenian church built in Vegas,”
he says. “There’s 10,000 Armenians in Vegas, a vast percentage from
Haiastan. We’ve got an AYF and Homenetmen out here, an Armenian school
with 40 kids. The more active ones come from the ARF-ARS sector.”
A church trustee, NRA delegate, executive council secretary, and
Gomideh member for 50 years, he’s been there and done that. Setian
has more than paid his dues to Armenian society. Despite his mounting
years, he’s still crossing a threshold-anything to bring added credence
to his heritage.
Setian spent 40 years with Bay State Gas, retiring as a
vice-president. He’s been to Armenia 15 times working to develop safe
natural gas distribution in that country and implement a simplistic
computer system. The many talks he’s given on this subject as well
as Armenian coinage speak volumes.
Two years ago, he underwent a kidney transplant after waiting three
years for a donor. It was a time in his life when he was teetering
on the brink of survival.
“I feel great,” he says. “Hopefully, the transplant will help me see my
grandchildren grow up. Every day is a gift I’ve grown to appreciate.”
From: Baghdasarian