OUTSPOKEN GENOCIDE WITNESS, ADL VETERAN, APRAHAMIAN DIES AT AGE 101
DETROIT - Centenarian Souren Aprahamian, a pillar of the Armenian community here, died on August 6 at the Sunrise Assisted Living in Farmington Hills after a short illness. He celebrated his 101st birthday on June 15.
Both Souren Aprahamian and his late wife, Arminuhe, were Genocide survivors. Both were born in the village of Lezk, in Van, historic Armenia.
Souren Aprahamian, in memory of his 35 family members who died in the Genocide, became a leading and eloquent spokesperson in the greater Detroit community, both in speaking about the Genocide and in his untiring efforts for the Armenian Cause. In 1993, he published his autobiography, From Van to Detroit, Surviving the , which is now in its third printing. Of the heroic defense of Van, he describes the glorious morning of May 5, 1915, when, sitting on the garden wall in front of the family home, he watched as the liberating Russian army arrived in Van and saw "the numerous sailboats on Lake Van, moving, moving, away from the seaport Avantz. It was the Turks running away! That sight will never fade, seventy five or a hundred years later."
Aprahamian's incredible memory and his command of the English language has given readers a remarkable story of survival and of the difficulties encountered as life began anew in America. His book was translated into Eastern Armenian and published by the Tekeyan Cultural Association in Armenia in November 2001, at which time he was honored.
Aprahamian freely gave his book to those he thought were genuinely interested in learning about the Genocide. In his efforts to educate and influence, he sent letters to the media and politicians seeking recognition of the Genocide. At the April 24 Genocide commemorations, he was frequently interviewed by the press and television reporters. He spoke yearly at Wayne State University and at the AGBU Alex and Marie Manoogian Charter School in Southfield. He was often invited to high schools to speak to students who were studying the Genocide. His last interview, just weeks prior to his passing, was given to students from University of Detroit/Mercy at the Sunrise Assisted Living facility where he spent the last eight months of his life. Aprahamian's work as an educator and spokesman are compiled in a book titled A Journey of One Hundred Years, which was edited by his daughter, Elizabeth, and published in 2007 on the occasion of his 100th birthday.
Both Souren and Arminuhe Aprahamian were active members of the Detroit-Armenian community. They were both lifelong members of the Armenian Democratic Liberal (ADL) organization. They were carrying on a tradition of both of their fathers, who had been disciples of the Armenagan party founder, Mugerditch Avedisian, in Van. The Armenagan party was the forerunner of the ADL. Both were charter members of the Detroit Tekeyan Chapter. In January 2007, on the occasion of Souren Aprahamian's centennial birthday, the Detroit chapters of Tekeyan and the ADL awarded him the position of Honorary Life President. In October 2007, on his 12th trip to Armenia, he was honored and presented with an award by Tekeyan Cultural Organization of Armenia for his untiring work on behalf of the organization.
Both Souren and Arminuhe Aprahamian became members of St. John Armenian Church of Greater Detroit at its inception in 1931. Aprahamian served for 18 years on the parish council. He was a member of the Knights of Vartan. He was honored as "Father of the Year" in 1984 by the Men's Society of St. John; by the AGBU Detroit Men's Chapter in 1988 with a testimonial dinner, with both Alex and Marie Manoogian present, for his dedicated service to church organizations; and as "Father of the Year" in 2005 by the Women's Guild.
Aprahamian was the son of Apraham DerStepanian and Yeghsapet Melikian. His father died from cholera, as did thousands of others, during their first withdrawal from Van to Eastern Armenia in 1915 when they no longer under the protection of the Russian army. In the tortuous years following that withdrawal, Aprahamian credited his mother's instincts and efforts with keeping five members of the family alive. She never gave up hope when they left Van for the last time in 1918. They miraculously survived starvation and constant Turkish attacks as they fled for their lives and arrived at Bakouba, Mesopotamia (now called Iraq) under the protection of the British army. They lived for two years in the scorching heat in refugee tents. Aprahamian's brother Nahabed, who was in Detroit, brought the surviving members of the family which was comprised of Aprahamian, mother Yeghsapet, nephew Haigaz, (Nahabed's son) and their uncle Roupen and wife Satenig.
They arrived in Detroit on July 4, 1921. Aprahamian began school at 14, knowing no English but learned quickly. He received double promotions beginning in grade school and graduated from Detroit Central High School at 19. He attended Wayne University and graduated with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering in 1930 and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1931.
At 24, he met Arminuhe Amirian in Niagara Falls, NY. Miraculously, Arminuhe's mother, Prapion, had saved her three children, Arminuhe, Christina and Kourgan, during the eight years of the Genocide. She was able to deliver them in 1923 to her husband Hatchig who lived in Niagara Falls prior to the Genocide. Souren and Arminuhe were married in Detroit on November 1, 1931. They had three children, Ashod, Rhaffi, Edward Herach and Elizabeth.
Aprahamian worked for many years in family-owned grocery stores and in 1942 found employment at the Detroit Ordnance District. When the war ended in 1945, he was hired by War Assets but he resigned that position when he and his partner Haig Hughesian bought a grocery store, Telegraph Shopping Center, in Taylor, Mich. After selling the store in 1957, he was rehired by the Detroit Ordnance District as a mathematician. In 1965, he became head of the Engineering Branch of the Quality Assurance Directorate. In 1973, after losing the vision of his right eye, he retired after 21 years of devoted service to the federal government and became the first recipient of the defense supply agency distinguished service award.
Aprahamian is survived by a son, Edward, and daughter-in-law, Cynthia; daughter Elizabeth; grandchildren Edward, Mary, Jeffrey, David and Heidi; great-grandchildren Allison and Elizabeth; nephews and niece Arthur, Carol and Anthony, other relatives and many friends.
OUTSPOKEN GENOCIDE WITNESS, ADL VETERAN, APRAHAMIAN DIES AT AGE 101
1DETROIT - Centenarian Souren Aprahamian, a pillar of the Armenian community here, died on August 6 at the Sunrise Assisted Living in Farmington Hills after a short illness. He celebrated his 101st birthday ...HISTORIC MOMENT OF REDEMPTION
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Translated by L.H.
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