TCA Arshag Dickranian Armenian School
1200 N. Cahuenga Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90038
Tel: 323-461-4377
Fax: 323-461-4247
Contact: [email protected]
Web:
DICKRANIAN SCHOOL STUDENTS MEMORILIZE GENOCIDE VICTIMS AND BENEFACTOR
ARSHAG DICKRANIAN
Los Angeles, April 27, 2009 – On Thursday morning, April 23, the
students of the TCA Arshag Dickranian School walked the half block
with their teachers and filled the pews of St. John Church to partake
in the requiem service in observance of the 94th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide and the 15th anniversary of the passing of
benefactor Arshag Dickranian.
Honoring the solemn event with their presence were the benefactor’s
wife Mrs. Eleanor Dickranian, daughters Cinthya Norian, Laurel
Karabian, and the school Board chairman George K. Mandossian.
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese presided
at the ceremony assisted by the church’s pastor Archpriest. Manoug
Markarian and joined by school choir.
Following the requiem service the students paid tribute to their
benefactor and the 1.5 Million victims of the Armenian Genocide in a
fitting program. Eleventh grader Ani Taglyan acted as MC, in turn
calling upon the program participants to present their speeches and
poetry recitations, while the school choir intermittently joined in
with hymnals and patriotic songs. The program also included a slide
presentation depicting the horrors of the Genocide.
Born on January 26, 1905 in Izmit, Turkey, Arshag Dickranian was a
survivor of the Genocide. The Dickranian family immigrated to the US
in 1923, thereupon setting off young Arshag to get into the fruit and
vegetable trade business, and eventually open the Premier Market in
Beverly Hills. Throughout his life he selflessly dedicated himself to
promote goodwill among the Armenian communities sharing his fortunes
generously wherever the needs were impending.
Dickranian’s proudest accomplishment became establishment of the
Tekeyan Cultural Association Arshag Dickranian School in 1981. Since
then, the school has become lasting legacy of his belief that the
Armenian spirit could only be preserved by educating the young
generations and nurturing their commitment to the Armenian cause.
Mr. Dickranian remained faithful to his beliefs until his death in the
early hours of April 24, 1996.
In his closing remarks Archbishop Derderian congratulated the students
for marking April 23 as Dickranian School’s annual day of remembrance
for the victims of the Armenian Genocide and for the school’s
benefactor. `Our ancestors chose to die rather than give up their
Armenian identity,’ said the Archbishop, `Therefore, it is up to you
to act like Mr. Dickranian and take the responsibility to preserve and
cherish that identity.’ He concluded.
Located at 1200 North Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles, the TCA Arshag
Dickranian Armenian School is a federally tax exempt, Pre-K to 12th
grade private educational institution. Call (323) 461-4377, or visit
the school website at for more
information.