Fresnan had farming in his blood
By Jim Steinberg / The Fresno Bee11/17/06 04:43:29
Fresno Bee, CA
Nov 17 2006
More informationKeith Harry Avedisian
Born: June 18, 1949
Died: Nov. 13
Occupation: raisin grower
Survivors: wife Linda; daughters Stacy and Laurie Avedisian; son
Michael Avedisian; mother Eleanor Avedisian
Keith Harry Avedisian of Fresno carried on the raisin-growing tradition
that his family planted in the rich soil near Fowler after escaping
Ottoman massacres of Armenians early in the last century.
Mr. Avedisian died Monday of cancer after what his family called an
inspiring effort to survive. He was 57.
He was diagnosed in September 2005, when he was told to expect only a
few months of life. More than 100 people – family and friends – joined
recently to help celebrate his full year of life after his diagnosis.
Mr. Avedisian was born in Fresno to Harry and Eleanor Avedisian.
Harry Avedisian’s father, George, had fled Armenia for the San
Joaquin Valley. He began farming, as his ancestors had done in the
old country. Mr. Avedisian carried the family name and farmed the
family land.
"It is very important to old-time Armenians," daughter Stacy Avedisian
said. "The one with the name gets the farm. He had a brother who wasn’t
interested at all. My father loved everything about farming. He took
high school agriculture classes, pruning classes. I think it was just
something in his blood."
Mr. Avedisian had worked earlier for a bridge construction company
but knew his heart remained in working the soil, Stacy Avedisian
said. He married his wife, Linda, in 1977 and quit his construction
job the next year.
The Avedisians lived in the first home built in their area of Selma,
but the construction of more homes left Mr. Avedisian feeling too
urban.
"He felt cramped," his daughter said. "He didn’t like city life"
in Selma.
"He needed to be on the farm. He loved that. He was not one to lie
out on the beach. He could lie out in his field."
Mr. Avedisian’s aunt Ruby Abajian said the family came first to
Lonestar, then to Fowler, where they farmed from 1910 on.
Mr. Avedisian had a great-uncle who farmed near Lonestar.
"They had done farming in Armenia," Abajian said. "It was familiar,
and they picked it up in the United States.
"When our family started out, we had no tractors. We used horses. It
was primitive. Years went by, and we put in wells. They used to dig
wells by hand, just one fellow with a shovel and a pipe of some kind.
It was hard, but they made it."
Mr. Avedisian’s brother Darrell, an Ivanhoe pharmacist, died in July
2005. Their father died on July 30.
"I’ve had my share of crying," Abajian said. "I’m just trying to
be strong."
A service will begin at 10 a.m. Friday in Immanuel Lutheran Church
in Easton.
The family requests that any remembrance be sent to the church,
5955 S. Elm Ave., Fresno, CA 93706, or to a favorite charity.