Our father, Haroutioun — or Artin, to his English-speaking friends — was an uncommon man, to say the least.
He was quiet and serious in his manner and in his pursuits, but he was approachable and kind; he also possessed a sharp wit and he enjoyed the company of boisterous people and their warm laughter.
He was a keen observer of humanity, a gifted writer who appreciated the humorous moments and small ironies of daily life.
He was a thoughtful listener who rarely expressed his own opinion unless asked, but who, for more than four decades, literally filled the pages of the trilingual weekly newspaper that he helped found.
He was an idealist as well as a realist, who worked tirelessly to enhance the lives of Armenians everywhere, overcoming obstacles wherever possible and patiently encouraging the eventual triumph of justice when necessary. In these endeavors, he was deeply respected not only by those who shared his views, but also by those who saw the issues differently.
He was a leader who persuaded quietly, with the force of his wisdom and his integrity.
He was justifiably proud of his accomplishments, but never boastful. He was motivated by a boundless love of our culture, our church, and our people. Traditional Armenian music held a special place in his heart, both folk songs and religious music, and just recently he told me how moved he had been, all his life, by the hymns of our church and by the works of Gomidas. He traveled to Armenia frequently, including with his children and grandchildren, and he rejoiced when Armenia gained independence in his lifetime. He sought out Armenian communities of the diaspora everywhere he traveled—among others, France, Egypt, Romania, Jerusalem, Australia, India, and of course throughout Canada and the United States—to lend support and better understand their needs. He was especially fond of visiting Armenian schools. Of course, my generation benefited greatly from the strong educational foundation provided to us by our own Armen-Quebec school, which he helped to create and which continues to thrive today.
He lived to serve: as a physician and researcher for nearly 40 years, as a guardian and caretaker of our precious institutions and cultural heritage, and as a husband and father. For all his professional and community obligations, he never missed a family dinner. His pillar of support was, of course, our mother, Sima, who brightened every day of his life from the time they met 62 years ago until the very last.
Haroutioun Arzoumanian was a gracious and respectful man, without exception and without fail, and as a result his influence on all who knew him was profound. He shone with humanity. To us, his family, he is a departed angel, now lovingly reunited with those who went before: his father Yeghia, mother Serpouhi, and sister Elize. May God rest his soul, and may his memory forever be a blessing to us all.
