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Florida Armenians Mourns the Loss of Haig “Ike” Basdekian
Haig Armenag Basdekian was born January 15, 1931 in Washington DC, the second of four children, Edward, Haig, Naomi and Mary to parents Armenag and Akabe Basdekian. He was raised in Washington, DC and as a young man became involved in the Armenian community and the ACYOA.
He was a founding member of the St. Mary’s Armenian Church of Washington, DC and served as its first parish council chairman. He has been a member of the Knights of Vartan for the past 50 years and was instrumental in starting the Knights of Vartan Ani Lodge in Washington, DC. He was a founding member and past commander of Hayasdan Lodge in Boca Raton, Florida.
In October, 1957, he married Mary Ann Kalyjian of Philadelphia. They were married for 40 years until her passing in 1998. Haig and Mary Ann had two wonderful daughters, Andrea, who now lives in Washington, DC, and Ani, who now lives in New York City with her fiancé Scott Yeckes.
In 1969, Haig and his family relocated to Ft. Lauderdale. Haig continued his career as a mechanic opening Ike’s Auto Service in Ft. Lauderdale. Haig continued this business right up until his last days, for the last 15 years with his colleague and close friend, Hrair “JR” Alboyadjian.
Service to his Armenian Church and community has always been a mainstay in Haig’s life and his giving of his time, treasure and talents has been a constant, no matter where he lived and which community he served, including Armenia itself. Haig was instrumental and founding member of what eventually became the St. David Armenian Church, from its earliest years in Ft. Lauderdale. For the past 14 years, he has been a faithful and committed member and supporter of the St. Mary Armenian Church of Hollywood and was one of the godfathers of the church representing the Knights of Vartan. His presence has been a constant at St. Mary’s, in church every Sunday, always supporting the church financially as a benefactor for many church projects including the playground, and physically with his continuing volunteer efforts whenever called upon to serve.
In addition, he has been a benefactor and supporter of the Diocese’s Ararat Center, the Armenian Tree Project and in Armenia, where he donated a patient room to the Children’s Hospital in Yerevan.
In addition to his service to his Armenian church and community, Haig has always been a dedicated and devoted family man, always available with his love, his support, his encouragement and guidance to not only his children, but also to his siblings and his many nieces and nephews. In recent years, he has also been a family man for Cookie Devers and her family, son Lloyd, daughter in law Ivy, and their children, Andrew and Tatiana.
Haig Basdekian entered eternal rest on June 14, 2012 at the Holy Cross Hospital in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. May God bless and illuminate beloved Haig Basdekian’s soul in the heavenly Jerusalem in eternal peace. Amen.
Kindly provided by Rev. Fr. Vartan Joulfayan, St. Mary Newsletter, June 2012.
*UPDATE: Mr. Basdekian’s 40th Day Requiem Service will be held on Sunday, July 29 at St. Mary Armenian Church in Cooper City, Florida.
South Florida Armenian Community Celebrates Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Nareg Berberian’s 20th Anniversary of Ordination to the Holy Priesthood
South Florida Armenian Community Celebrates Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Nareg Berberian’s 20th Anniversary of Ordination to the Holy Priesthood
H.E. Archbishop Barsamian Ordains New Deacons at St. David Armenian Church
Boca Raton, FL – On Saturday, January 21, around 250 members of the south Florida Armenian-American community gathered in Mardigian Hall at St. David Armenian Church to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Nareg Berberian’s ordination to the Holy priesthood. The celebratory banquet was widely attended by hundreds of Florida Armenians from across the state and many religious dignitaries from around the United States.
Guests enjoyed an eloquent and entertaining banquet over a fine three-course dinner, remarks from religious dignitaries and musical performances from local Armenian talents. Presiding over the banquet was His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America in New York. Joining him was H.E. Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Diocesan Legate of the Armenian Church of America in Washington, DC, Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, Dean of St. Vartan Cathedral in New York City, Rev. Fr. Mempre Kouzouian from Boston, Massachusets, Rev. Fr. Vartan Joulfyan of St. Mary Armenian Church in Cooper City, Florida, Rev. Fr. Nerses Jebejian, and Rabbi Robert Silvers of B’nai Israel Synagogue in Boca Raton and local clergy. Taniel Koushakjian, founder of Florida Armenians (www.FLArmenians.com), served as Master of Ceremonies.
Kicking off the program was Carol Norigian, Banquet Commemorative Committee Chair, who expressed her deep appreciation to Fr. Berberian and noted his hard work and many achievements over his decade-long tenure in the south Florida parish. Norigian spoke on behalf of committee members Beatrice Babgouni, Nadia Isguzar, Maral Kazandjian, Armen Melkonian, Rose Reynolds, Claudette Sarian, Nina Stapan, and Rose Tatarian who organized the evening’s festivities. Norigian also presented Fr. Nareg with a beautiful replicable Noah’s Ark, sent by renowned Armenian artist and designer Michael Aram, for his many accomplishments at St. David Armenian Church.
Several local talents performed for the packed hall to celebrate in Hayr Sourp Berberian’s 20 years of service in the Holy priesthood. St. David ACYOA talents Alique Mazmanian and Ani Manvelyan each sang Armenian songs and Alique joined Alex Crossley for a duet. Arman Avedyan, also from St. David ACYOA, inspired the crowd with his powerful performance of the classic Armenian opera Nessun Dorma. Later in the evening, St. Mary ACYOA violinist Sage McBride beautifully performed Aram Khatchadourian’s Groong. Following was local award-winning pianist Hratch Boghossian, who brought the crowd to its feet with his spectacular performance.
Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Nareg Berberian with family and Archbishop Khajag Barsamian and Archbishop Vicken Aykazian
Highlighting the banquet was the Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Nareg Berberian, who stated, “Today, I feel elated to have such a wonderful community, all of whom I value as my friends. It is unbelievable that 20 years have passed since my Ordination into the Holy Order of Priesthood, and ten years since you embraced me as your spiritual leader, your Pastor, here at St. David Armenian Church.” Fr. Nareg continued, “You are the Church, you are the mission, you are the ministry. Without you there would be no priesthood, without you there would be no vision. Thank you for making a positive difference in my life. God is working through each and every one of us. Let’s glorify His name and thank Him for bringing us closer to Him through the ministry of His Church.”
Fr. Nareg was also joined by his family who flew all the way from California. His niece, Joelle Awad, spoke eloquently about Fr. Nareg on behalf of his family. In addition, a special video message and film, showcasing photos of Hayr Nareg’s early life, was featured and is available below.
Concluding the banquet’s program was remarks from H.E. Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church. His Eminence spoke warmly about his friendly and professional relationship with Fr. Nareg, and reflected on his many years of service, having himself ordained Hayr Nareg twenty years ago. On behalf of the Armenian Church, Archbishop Barsamian presented Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Berberian with an award for his two-decade service to God and the Armenian-American community. Archbishop Barsamian’s passionate remarks and uplifting spirit was a wonderful conclusion to the evening’s celebration.
Then, on Sunday, January 22, H.E. Archbishop Khajag Barsamian led Archishop Vicken Aykazian, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Nareg Berberian, Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, Rev. Fr. Mampre Kouzouian, Rev. Fr. Nersess Jebejian and the south Florida Armenian-American community in Divine Liturgy (Holy Badarak). During Badarak, Archbishop Barsamian ordained two young St. David altar servers, Arlen Avedyan as a Deacon, and Gregory Merjian as Sub-Deacon, in the Armenian Church.
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NR# 2012-001
Photo Caption 1 (L-R): Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Nareg Berberian with family and H.E. Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church in New York, and Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Diocesan Legate of the Armenian Church in Washington, DC
Florida Armenians 