In Memory of Dr. George Petrossian

In Memory of Dr. George Petrossian

September 30, 1920 – February 24, 2009

Of Armenian birth, Dr. George Petrossian served in the U.S. army (stationed in
Italy) from 1945-1947. Following the war, he received his B.A., M.A., and PhD.
from the University of Michigan, in 1950, 1952, and 1974, respectively. He
joined Illinois State in 1963, and he taught at the University until his
retirement in 1991. During his long career, he served in the College Council
and the Academic Senate. He was also Director of the Illinois State Summer
Program in French at Grenoble, France, from 1970 until 1999. He also served as
the host of the popular Cercle Français (now in its 45th year). Even after
"retirement" George hosted the French Coffee Hour every week, arriving early to
prepare the coffee and cookies. Dr. Petrossian was inducted as Chevalier dans
l’Ordre des Palmes Academiques in 1993. This award, founded by Napoleon in
1808, is conferred by the French Ministry of National Education upon those
foreign citizens who have contributed to the diffusion of the French language
and Culture.

http://www.llc.ilstu.edu/faculty/petrossian.shtml