REMEMBERING DR. JACOB ORPHALI
asbarez
Friday, October 28th, 2011
Dr. Jacob Orphali
A year has passed since the community lost one of its more
compassionate and generous members, Dr. Jacob Orphali, who died
unexpectedly on October 14, 2010. Dr. Orphali will always be remembered
for his warmth, humor, but most important, for his generosity and
compassion toward his family, friends, patients and his unwavering
commitment to elevate Armenian community institutions.
Dr. Orphali was born on December 3, 1948 in Beirut, Lebanon. He was
the second child of Joseph and Hermine Orphali, who left Palestine
as a consequence of World War II and made their home in Lebanon.
Some time later and due to work considerations the Orphalis moved
to Jordan, where Jacob attended the local Armenian school and later
completed his studies at the Amman State High School.
1968 was a fortuitous year for Jacob. He received word that he was
accepted into the Yerevan Medical University. So, the 18-year-old
Jacob moved to Armenia to complete his studies.
In the shadow of Mount Ararat and on the soil of his homeland, he
worked hard and received his medical degree, with high honors. He
moved to the United States to complete his doctorate degree and
finished his residency in Gary, Indiana.
In 1984 he became a Medical Doctor specializing in family medicine
and set-up his practice in Los Angeles.
That same year, Jacob met his life partner, Verona Meliksetian, with
whom he married and created his traditional Armenian family. The
Orphalis were blessed with three children, Jayna, Raffi and Cindy,
who became the light of Jacob and Verona’s life.
Jacob was of the second generation of Genocide survivors, who as a
result of the great calamity were forced to rebuild their lives from
scratch, through determination and belief in God as only Armenians can.
Jacob’s family was poor and lacked resources, so the late Jacob was
forced to work and study at a very early age. At the young age of
10 he worked with his father and uncle, who were cobblers. Then he
worked in the printing field and later as a jeweler and then at a
photography studio.
Before graduating high school, Jacob was already an accomplished
photographer and was able to make a living and also support his family.
Despite the dire financial condition of the Orphali family, Jacob’s
mother, Hermine, always insisted and encouraged Jacob to continue his
studies and become a doctor. Heeding his mother’s encouraging words,
Jacob applied and was accepted to the Yerevan Medical University and
arrived in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, with $10 in his pocket. This
is when Jacob starts wrestling with life’s realities and strives to
better himself through hard work and perseverance to reach his goals.
Dr. Orphali with his wife, Verona and children Jaina, Rafi and Cindy
It wouldn’t be fair to describe Jacob as just a doctor. He was more
than. First and foremost he was a human being-in capital letters. He
had an eternal love for his family, his friends and acquaintances,
and more importantly for his homeland, the Armenian language, culture
and the Armenian Church.
Jacob firmly believed that it was better to give that to receive
and therefore his door was open to all, without exception, be they
a political office holder, the Catholicos or a poor worker; be they
a colleague or a stranger.
It is difficult to describe the manner in which he treated people,
young and old. His heart was filled with love for all.
Jacob’s commitment to his nation and the church was evident from
a young age when he became a cub scout and a boy scout, and as an
adult he was a national delegate representing the Pasadena Armenian
Apostolic Church and later a member of the Western Prelacy Executive
Council and constant and generous supporter of community organizations
and institutions.
During the worst days of the Nagorno-Karabakh liberation struggle, Dr.
Jacob Orphali spared nothing to morally and financially assist the
heroic people of Artsakh, and continued his contribution until his
untimely death. He and his wife, Verona, became active members of the
Armenian National Committee where they gave their utmost to ensure
the success and advancement of the Armenian Cause.
For Jacob, his homeland, Armenia was a sacred altar to which he bowed
and dedicated himself.
Jacob was a staunch supporter of Armenian culture and he often
sponsored cultural events and projects. In 1999, through his leadership
and dedicated work, the Yerevan Medical University was able to have
a modern library on the occasion of the school’s 70th anniversary.
As a physician, Jacob became one of the first Armenian doctors to
become Board Certified and later he deservedly became the chairman
of the well-renowned Hollywood Presbyterian and St. Joseph hospitals.
Jacob Orphali was dedicated to his field and his specialty. Hundreds
of people can attest to the level of care they have received from the
late doctor. For many years, Dr. Orphali had designated Wednesdays
as the day when he would treat patients free of charge, providing
care and medical attention to a wide-spectrum of people and earning
their respect and love.
For 50 years Jacob worked relentlessly, without once thinking about
his comfort or taking vacations. He had decided that in 2011 he would
lighten his workload and take his family to visit Amman, Jordan to
show his children the place of his humble beginnings and the place
that provided him the impetus to flourish and success. Unfortunately,
his untimely death put an end to those plans and dreams.
His death is mourned by his family, his brothers and sisters, his
relatives, friends, colleagues, patients-everyone. His passing is a
big loss for the Armenian community of which Dr. Jacob Orphali was
a venerable member.
Orphali Family Thanks the Community Verona, Jaina, Rafi and Cindy
Orphali would like to thank all their friends and relatives who
donated to the Dr. Jacob Orphali Memorial Fund established within
the Armenian Cultural Foundation.
The fund was established with Dr. Orphali’s long time dream of helping
poor Armenian youth in Armenia, Artsagh and Javagh. He always fondly
remembered his youthful days going to school in Armenia and wanted
to give back to the homeland.
Every year the fund will make a grant to the Armenian Youth Federation
project that best reaches out to at risk youth in Armenia, Artsakh
and Javakhk. This past summer the AYF submitted a proposal to the
family and we made a grant to the Youth Corps Program. “Jacob’s Grant”
helped the Youth Corps open three children camps in Armenia and one
in Artsakh. We know Jacob would be thrilled to learn that 600 at
risk Armenian children attended these camps at absolutely no cost to
their families.
Twenty-five Diasporan volunteers served as counselors for the neediest
children in each region, providing them with educational lectures,
revolutionary/patriotic song practice, arts and crafts, games,
daily meals, help learning English, discussions about the fate of
Armenia and much more. The children overflowed the capacity at each
camp! The positive reactions from local parents showed that the camps
and counselors truly touched the lives of the young campers.
For the counselors involved, serving the youth directly on the ground
helped them build a stronger connection with their homeland. As much
as they gave, they received even more in return.
Thank you all for helping start this program we intend to continue it.
Abdoulian Misak & Hourig $100 Akian Aret $100 American Medical
Service $100 Apelian Shahe & Nadra $175 Aposhian Vatche & Marine
$250 Arslanian Sahag & Rita $100 Artinian Peter & Ani $ 50 Ashjian
Family $100 Aslanian Hagop & Anait $100 Aslanian Dikranouhi &
Family $200 Aznavour Jewelry Inc. $300 Baghdassarian Sahag &
Kathleen $200 Bakalian Arsen $100 Balian Jacques & Yvonne $150
Balian Michael & Jennifer $150 Balian Alice $200 Balian Haroutune
& Sirarpi $100 Balian Alec & Shoghig $100 Balian Armen $200
Balian Sossy $200 Balian Aram $400 Bardakjian Vatche M.D.
$500 Berberian Nerses & Anahid $100 Boyadjian Aram & Anait $
50 Boyadjian Karine $ 25 Chemsian Angele $100 Cherkezian Lena
$100 Dakessian Annie $ 50 Dakessian Hagop & Sona $100 Dakessian
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Offices of Vatche Chorbajian Vatche & Jacqueline $1,000 Law Offices
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Maronian Bedros Meline & Siamanto $100 Marselian Manuel & Siran
$100 MCSSG Chobanian Mihran Muhran $100 Meliksetian Asdghik $300
Meliksetian Melik, Priscilla & Family $150 Melkonian Vartivar &
Florine $200 Minassian Guiragos & Annie $200 Minassian Haig &
Sylvia $150 Momjian Avedis & Deana $100 Moujoukian Agop & Mary
$200 Mr. & Mrs. Hatcherian Arto $150 Kitsinian Sarkis & Suzane $200
Nadjarian Hrair Harry $1,000 Nareg Int. Inc. Aghjayan Adour & Helen $
150 Nobility Cleaners Inc.
$100 Ohannessian Rosemarie $100 Orphali Jirair & Zoufinar $200
Osmosis Technology, Inc. $250 Orphalian & Orphalian Raffi & Sarkis
$500 Ouzounian Osep $100 Pacific Horizon Bancorp Aposhian Kevork
& Houry $100 Panosiaaian Movses & Hasmig $100 Sakissian Marie $
25 Sarafian Theodore & Ann $100 Sarafian Arshalous $100 Sarian
Hripsime $100 Sarkisian Dikran & Mariam $100 Shirvanian Hacob &
Mina $200 Simonian Sosi $ 50 Soghbatyan Lusine & Naira $100
Sroujieh Khaldoun & Brigitta $250 St. Garabed Armenian Apostolic
Church $200 Suzy Salman Trustee $200 Tavidian Mher & Sossy $100
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Topalian Mourad & Arpi $300 Tutunjian Edward & Nancy $500 Varakian
Lucik MD $200 Yaralian Zohrab & Carmen $100 Yeramian Hrach &
Maggie $100 Yesayan Migran $300