Teshoian gets a warm sendoff

Worcester Telegram , MA
July 15 2006

By Gary V. Murray TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
gmurray@telegram.com

Retiring Judge Sarkis Teshoian, left, receives the key to the city
from retired Judge Paul V. Mullaney. (ED COLLIER) Enlarge photo

I attempted to be understanding and, when warranted, to be
compassionate, while at the same time trying to honor the oath that I
had taken to uphold the laws of the commonwealth and the Constitutions
of the commonwealth and the United States.

WORCESTER- His stern demeanor on the bench belied an inherent
compassion and sense of fairness that earned him the respect of his
peers and the lawyers who appeared before him.

That was part of the portrait of Judge Sarkis Teshoian that emerged
yesterday as more than 100 sitting and retired judges, lawyers,
court employees, friends and family members gathered to wish him a
happy and healthy retirement.

A Worcester native and son of Armenian immigrants, Judge Teshoian
will turn 70 tomorrow, the mandatory retirement age for state court
judges. Yesterday was his last day on the job.

"It’s a sad day, my friend," said Darlene M. Perro, a sessions
clerk in Central District Court, where Judge Teshoian was regularly
assigned over the last several years. Ms. Perro, among those on hand
in Courtroom 408 to bid Judge Teshoian adieu, described the guest of
honor as "a man respected by all because he respects all."

"In 32 years of practicing law, he’s as fine a judge as I’ve been
before," said lawyer Michael M. Monopoli. "He’s consistent and you know
what to expect when you’re before him. He follows the law and does what
he thinks is right. He’s never been affected by the outside pressures."

Born in Worcester and a product of the city’s public school system,
Judge Teshoian graduated from Clark University and Boston College
School of Law. He passed the bar in 1962 and was then named secretary
to Worcester Mayor Paul V. Mullaney, who would also later become a
district court judge.

It was while he was working for the mayor that he formed a law firm
with Mel. L. Greenberg, now a state Appeals Court judge. The two were
soon joined by lawyer Alexander E. Drapos, who died earlier this week.

"We didn’t make much money, but we had a lot of fun," Judge Greenberg
told former City Clerk Robert J. O’Keefe at yesterday’s gathering.

"And you were good lawyers," Mr. O’Keefe said.

Mr. Mullaney, also retired from the bench, presented Judge Teshoian
with a key to the city yesterday on behalf of Mayor Timothy P. Murray.

In 1988, Gov. Michael S. Dukakis appointed Judge Teshoian as the
presiding justice of Uxbridge District Court, a position he held until
1997. For the last several years, he has generally been assigned to
his hometown court.

Regional Administrative Judge Paul F. LoConto, who was master of
ceremonies at yesterday’s retirement party, said Judge Teshoian was
"a person that all of us went to for advice" and "a mentor and model
to many, many new judges."

Judge LoConto said one of the things he admired most about Judge
Teshoian, who received the Judicial Excellence Award this year at
the Massachusetts Judges Conference annual dinner, was "his respect
and his love for his fellow man."

Chief Probation Officer William P. Mattei spoke of Judge Teshoian’s
integrity, work ethic and willingness to listen.

"He’s very fair to people and when people deserve a break, they get
a break," Mr. Mattei said.

"I’m humbled by your presence and I thank you," Judge Teshoian said
to those gathered in his honor.

In an earlier interview, Judge Teshoian reflected on his nearly 18
years on the bench.

"What I would like to think is that I was fair in the judgments that
I made. I attempted to be understanding and, when warranted, to be
compassionate, while at the same time trying to honor the oath that I
had taken to uphold the laws of the commonwealth and the Constitutions
of the commonwealth and the United States," he said.

While he feels he was able to contribute to society and do some good
as a judge, he said, the job also sometimes left him with a certain
sense of frustration."When you look at society as a whole, the level
of civility has diminished. It seems to me that the work ethic that
was the bedrock of this country developing is being eroded," Judge
Teshoian said. As times have changed, judges have increasingly been
called upon to try to modify behavior, according to the judge. "And
that is an extremely difficult goal to achieve," he said.

Although he has no specific plans for retirement at the moment,
Judge Teshoian said he was looking forward to just taking it easy
and spending more time with his wife of nearly 33 years, Ardemis
(Afarian) Teshoian, the woman he calls "God’s gift to me."

"I do have mixed feelings," he said of retirement. "I will miss some
of the camaraderie. I will miss some of the people. But I do think
it’s time for me to move on."