Satenig Der Torosian

GLENDALE—The American University of Armenia in January bid farewell to Satenig Der Torosian, later known as Jane Aaron Payne, a remarkable woman who dedicated her life to championing education. Throughout her adult life, she kept the AUA in focus, leaving a generous gift to be disbursed after her passing. 

Nee Satenig Der Torosian on October 26, 1938, in Fresno, CA, Jane grew up on the family ranch alongside her eight siblings. Her father, Nazaret Der Torosian, was born in 1891 in Yozgat, Turkey; most of his family members perished in the Armenian Genocide. Her mother, Ashken, nee Hamamjian, was born in 1902 in Harpoot (Kharpert) and immigrated to California with several other family members. 

She was the eighth of nine children. Raised by her brothers and sisters after her mother’s untimely passing when she was three, Jane developed a strong sense of independence and determination. 

Love found Jane when she met Bill Aaron. They got married, and soon after their three sons, Chris, Tom, and Larry, were born, they relocated to Kentucky to be closer to her husband’s family. Jane, the first in her family to leave Fresno, held her Armenian heritage close to her heart and remained connected to her ancestral homeland.

Jane’s unwavering dedication to work and education was admirable. Over the course of 35 years, she excelled as a quality control manager at Omico Plastics in Owensboro, KY. Not only did she attain professional success, but she also mentored younger colleagues, embodying kindness and generosity. She encouraged, supported, and cherished her loved ones, celebrating everyone’s accomplishments and offering them assistance in any way possible.

After the passing of her husband Bill, “Jane became the matriarch and guiding light for her family, always encouraging education,” her son Tom recalls. She was proud that all her children and grandchildren received a college education. 

Ten years later, Jane found love again and married Tom Payne, welcoming two stepsons, Mark and Perry, and stepdaughter Paula, along with Tom’s extended family. “She loved everything about being in a big and growing family, but most of all, she loved helping her family members and the larger community,” says Chris, adding, “Through her actions, we have seen and felt the power of mom paying it forward.” Upon her retirement, Jane volunteered in her community, transporting cancer patients and also providing pro bono tax preparation assistance through the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program. 

Driven by her philanthropic spirit and love for education and Armenia, Jane chose to support AUA. “I knew she was trying to connect with Armenia and help out in any way she could,” remarks her son, Tom, as he recalls her conversations with him and his brothers in 2012 about giving to AUA.

In September 2018, Jane, accompanied by her son Chris and his wife Christie, visited Armenia for the first time. Exploring cultural and historical landmarks, she eagerly delved into her Armenian heritage. Chris fondly shared: “‘My people!’ Mom said when we stepped into the Republic Square of Yerevan. She was so excited and could not get enough of the open markets where a lot of people gathered. As we toured the museums, she would say softly, ‘Just like Papa described it.’ I believe she enjoyed the extended drives through the countryside the most. In some parts, the countryside was similar to where Mom was raised in central California. Mom always silently looked out the window staring at the rows of vineyards and apricot trees, Mount Ararat, brown rolling hills in the background, and Armenia. ‘Just like Papa said.’”

Satenig Der Torosian Satenig Der Torosian

Over a decade ago, Jane designated AUA as a beneficiary of her trust at a meeting with representatives from the AUA Office of Development. After her passing, the trust fulfilled her wish, disbursing the designated sum to the University. Her intention was clear: to ensure her legacy endures leaving a lasting and positive mark on AUA students. 

“Mom wanted her children and grandchildren to know our people (Armenians) are intelligent and vibrant. We have a great culture, which to this day carries on throughout the world by the descendants of greater Armenia. Mom’s vision was that her heritage would live on and that Armenia would one day claim its greatness and its people would witness the beauty of all Armenia,” her son Larry shared.

“Her numerous kind acts will continue to help her family into the future — the ultimate measure of a life well lived,” Chris concluded.

To add to the initial planned gift, Jane’s children have decided to increase the contribution and establish the “Satenig Der Torosian Scholarship Fund” at AUA to ensure that her legacy carries on at the University, empowering many students with the gift of education. 

To learn more about AUA’s planned giving program, visit the website.

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values. AUA’s Office of Development stewards the University’s philanthropic efforts exclusively for educational purposes.

2023 AMAA Avedisian School graduates

The Armenian Missionary Association of America’s Khoren and Shooshanig Avedisian School on June 12 celebrated the Class of 2023’s graduation ceremony in Yerevan, Armenia. The event was attended by representatives of the AMAA, philanthropists, leaders of universities and schools in Yerevan, parents, and former graduates.

“Just as a mother bird soars her nourished, winged chicks, I wish you the same to you. Follow your dream, soar boldly. Don’t slack off, don’t hesitate, don’t be lazy. Study, work, be brave. Love and be loved. Appreciate study, work, wisdom…,” said School Principal Melania Geghamyan in her farewell message to the graduating class.

Following the Principal’s message, a video presentation dedicated to the late and generous benefactor of the school, Edward Avedisian, was shown. It was impossible to watch the video and hear the gentle and kind voice of Edward on the screen without becoming emotional. Everyone’s eyes were directed to the philanthropist’s widow, Pamela Avedisian, who, following the tradition founded by her beloved husband, “continues walking in Edward’s footsteps toward Yerevan, to the Avedisian School.”

Pamela Avedisian

In his remarks, AMAA Representative in Armenia Aren Deyirmenjian’s offered advice to the young graduates as they enter a new chapter of their lives.

The graduation’s keynote speaker was Armenia’s former Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan. His message was a challenge to the students to become a well of knowledge for Armenia.

Valedictorians Nare Bagratunyan and Maria Petrosyan delivered words of gratitude, the former in English and the latter in Armenian.

AMAA Avedisian School Principal Melanya Geghamyan

The highlight of the event was the speech delivered by Pamela. Pamela or, as the students of the Avedisian School call her, dear Pam, spoke from her heart in Armenian. “Dear graduates, today, one hundred times or more, we wish a good march. We believe that it will be so. And let the sky above you be cloudless, and the horizons always open and be inviting,” she said.

During the ceremony, the “Paros” Chamber Choir, directed by Raffi Mikayelyan, performed the favorite tunes of the late Edward Avedisian, and RA honored artist, conductor Sergey Smbatyan’s Orchestra of talented youth—made up of scholarship recipients of “Music For the Future” cultural fund—performed a few musical selections.

The graduates received diplomas under the flags of Republic of Armenia and the Avedisian School. After the classic cap-throwing ceremony, Rev. Hovhannes Hovssepian, Senior Pastor of the Evangelical Church of Armenia, offered the Benediction.

This year’s graduation ceremony went according to all the “rules,” but the emotions shown and felt were very different than usual due to the passing of Edward Avedisian.

Founded in 1918, the Armenian Missionary Association of America serves the spiritual, educational, and social needs of Armenian communities in 24 countries around the world including Armenia and Artsakh. For additional information, you may visit AMAA website.

GLENDALE—Glendale Library, Arts & Culture and the City of Glendale invite community members to join Glendale’s Poet Laureate, Raffi Joe Wartanian at his first of four community poetry workshops. The first workshop and reading, title, “Unearthing Roots: the heritages we herald and hide,” is free and open to all levels. The event will be held at the Brand Library Recital Hall on Saturday, July 22 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The workshop will feature Lynne Thompson (Los Angeles Poet Laureate) & Linda Ravenswood (The Los Angeles Press), and activities will include writing, reading, workshopping, performance, and discovery, light refreshments.

Additional poetry workshops and readings will be held quarterly around Glendale throughout the year. If you have poetry or creative collaboration ideas that you would like to submit to Glendale’s Poet Laureate, you can do so by visiting the website or emailing [email protected].

Raffi Joe Wartanian is the City of Glendale’s first Poet Laureate. The position serves as an ambassador for Glendale’s rich culture and diversity, promoting the art of poetry. As Poet Laureate, Wartanian will develop a project that engages community members of all ages in poetry writing, performance, and poetry appreciation; write a poem that celebrates Glendale’s rich culture and diversity; and read poetry aloud at special events throughout the City.

Following a grassroots call from a citizen of Glendale, the request of Mayor Ardy Kassakhian, and the approval of the City Council, Glendale Library, Arts & Culture created the City’s first Poet Laureate program and requested applications from resident poets. The selection panel was comprised of Arts & Culture Commissioner Sevana Zadorian, Los Angeles Poet Laureate Lynne Thompson, Poet and Founder of The Los Angeles Press Linda Ravenswood, and Poet and Instructor at Glendale Community College Julie Gamberg.

Raffi Joe Wartanian was selected as Glendale’s first Poet Laureate in recognition of his accomplishments in poetry and his vision for the “Glendale Poet Laureate as someone who can utilize writing to promote self-_expression_, find common ground across communities, and foster solidarity that celebrates diversity while embracing individuality.” His poems have appeared in No Dear Magazine, h-pem, Ararat Magazine, Armenian Poetry Project, and The Armenian Weekly and performed live with the Asian American Writers’ Workshop, and International Armenian Literary Alliance. His essays have appeared in The New York Times, Los Angeles Review of Books, Outside Magazine, Lapham’s Quarterly, The Baltimore Sun, Miami Herald, and elsewhere. His hybrid piece “A Letter to My Great-Grandson” is forthcoming in the anthology “We Are All Armenian: Voices from the Diaspora” (University of Texas Press, March 2023). Raffi currently teaches writing with UCLA Writing Programs, and his work has received grant and fellowship support from the Fulbright Program, Humanity in Action, and the Eurasia Partnership Foundation. In 2017, Raffi collaborated with Abril Books, the Lakota People’s Law Project, and In His Shoes to launch “Days of Solidarity: Celebrating Armenian and Native American Survival,” a multi-day performance and workshop that united Armenians and indigenous American tribes in Glendale. Raffi currently serves on the advisory board of the International Armenian Literary Alliance and advises the Tumanyan International Storytelling Festival.

Known as the “Jewel City,” Glendale is the fourth largest city of Los Angeles County. With a population of more than 200,000, Glendale is a thriving cosmopolitan city that is rich in history, culturally diverse, and offers nearly 50 public parks, and easy access to a municipal airport. It is the home to a vibrant business community, with major companies in healthcare, entertainment, manufacturing, retail, and banking.

Founded in 1907, the Glendale Library, Arts & Culture Department includes eight neighborhood libraries including the Brand Library & Art Center, a regional visual arts and music library and performance venue housed in the historic 1904 mansion of Glendale pioneer Leslie C. Brand, and the Central Library, a 93,000 square foot center for individuals and groups to convene, collaborate and create. The department also serves as the chief liaison to the Glendale Arts and Culture Commission which works to continually transform Glendale into an ever-evolving arts destination. Glendale Library Arts & Culture is supported in part through the efforts of the Glendale Library Arts & Culture Trust. For more information visit the website, or contact Library, Arts & Culture at 818-548-2021 or via email at [email protected].