FARMER LIVED A BROAD LIFE: PETER V. SIMONIAN TAUGHT AG TECHNIQUES TO NICARAGUANS
by Jim Steinberg, The Fresno Bee, Calif.
The Fresno Bee (California)
April 10, 2007 Tuesday
Apr. 10–Pete Simonian grew melons near Kearney Park, and took his
agricultural know-how and a passion for working with the poor to
Nicaragua, where he taught better farming techniques.
Mr. Simonian, 68, a past Fresno and state president of the Cabrillo
Clubs of California, died Saturday of complications from diabetes.
His charity work included the annual Easton auction and support
for the Burn Center at Valley Medical Center, then at University
Medical Center.
Mr. Simonian was born in Fresno and grew up on a farm. His parents,
Vasken and Lorenna Simonian, had him farming at an early age. He also
excelled at football, winning three all-state awards while playing
middle linebacker and team captain for Central Union High School.
He also played football at Fresno City College, but diabetes forced
him to leave the sport while he earned his bachelor’s degree in
agricultural machinery at Fresno State College. He married Patty
Costa in 1961, graduated from college in 1964 and went to work for
a farm equipment dealer.
Mr. Simonian and his wife began their own farming operation in 1971.
He became a consultant for melon growers in Nicaragua while he and
his family continued growing vegetables and fruit west of Fresno. He
also taught farm tractor classes at Fresno State.
The Simonians grew various strains of peppers. A light yellow pepper,
featured in a Burbank delicatessen, was a favorite of celebrity Zsa
Zsa Gabor, Patty Simonian said.
Mr. Simonian worked for six months every other year for nearly a
decade for a company doing business in Managua, Nicaragua, Patty
Simonian said:
"He was a little farmer from Rolinda who went to Managua and taught
people to grow crops that went onto Russian ships for sale in
Belgium. His life was farming."
Mr. Simonian enjoyed working with Nicaraguans.
"It was Third World. The people were so hungry," Patty Simonian said.
"He did whatever he could."
Mr. Simonian showed farmers how to pack their crops and avoid
scarring. He taught about nurturing bee colonies for pollination and
about the use of smokers — cans used to make and puff smoke into
hives — for calming bees.
In a written eulogy, Nanette Simonian remembered her father believing
deeply in God, if not attending church regularly. She recalled her
fights with her brothers, Talbert and Peter John, during which Mr.
Simonian was slow to anger — to a point. Past it, she said, "we knew
lightning was going to strike."
Nanette Simonian said her father’s outstanding traits were strength,
toughness and courage, "but he loved to joke around."
He turned on the sprinklers during one large outdoor dinner party to
enjoy the scramble.
A Trisagion service will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Jay Funeral Chapel
in Madera. A funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in St.
George Greek Orthodox Church in Fresno.
The family requests that any remembrance be sent to the California
Armenian Home, the St. George Memorial Fund or the Fresno County
Cabrillo Civic Club No. 10 Scholarship Memorial Fund.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
