ARMENIAN SYMBOL OF PERSEVERING DIES
Los Angeles Daily News
Jan 28 2009
CA
GLENDALE – Ghazaros Kademian, one of the oldest remaining survivors
of the Armenian Genocide and long hailed as a symbol of perseverance,
died in his sleep at his home Saturday. He was 101.
Kademian was 8 in 1915 when Ottoman Turks forced his family into
exile from their village of Zaitoun, Turkey. The family fled to
Baghdad, Iraq.
Through the years, Kademian grew into a beloved man who helped
the Armenian community in Iraq as a leader and adviser, said Ani
Garabedian, spokeswoman for the Armenian National Committee, western
region.
It’s estimated that 1.5 million Armenians were killed from 1915 to
1923 and 500,000 others forced into exile.
"Ghazaros Kademian’s story is one of survival and strength, courage and
conviction, passion and purpose," said Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. "He
emerged from one of the darkest chapters of human history and worked
to shed light on the tragedy of Armenian Genocide."
After moving to Glendale, Kademian became active in community events
sponsored by the Armenian National Committee and remained committed
to holding Turkey accountable for its bloody past.
Ghazaros and his wife, Azadouhi, had three children: Ohannes Kademian,
Asdghig Kaladjian and Anahid Kademian.