BY KEVORK KEUSHKERIAN
Journalist Osheen Keshishian’s 90th birthday celebration was held on November 24 at the Tekeyan Cultural Association’s Beshgeturian Center in Altadena, California. Keshishian is well-known throughout the community for his work as an editor, teacher, counselor, and public speaker.
This unique celebration was primarily organized by Avedis Markarian and Joseph Ganimian, who have known and worked with Keshishian for years. Nearly 80 guests, including Keshishian’s family and a number of his close friends, were in attendance.
Ganimian, who served as emcee, took to the podium and invited Rev. Fr. Manoog Markarian to bless the food. As the attendees enjoyed lunch, musician Razmik Khatchikyan entertained the audience with a selection of songs, from Armenian and other well known composers, on the piano.
After the food was served, Ganimian took to the podium again and, this time, offered a brief biographical sketch of the honoree. He then noted that the celebration event was an open forum, where everyone was invited to offer remarks about Keshishian or recall their own memories with him.
Who is Prof. Osheen Keshishian? He was born in Jerusalem, where he attended the Holy Translators school until 1948. When the Arab-Israeli war began, his family fled to Amman, Jordan and a year later to Beirut, Lebanon.
Keshishian graduated from the Armenian General Benevolent Union’s Hovagimian-Manougian boys’ high school in 1955. He attended the American University of Beirut for a year and then immigrated to the United States, where he settled in California.
He graduated from the California State University, Los Angeles, and the University of La Verne with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Anthropology and American Studies. He served in the U.S. Army for two years, between 1959 and 1961, as a medic, working in Madigan General Hospital, outside Lakewood, Washington.
Keshishian was the owner and Editor-in-Chief of “The Armenian Observer,” an English language weekly newspaper founded in 1969. Aside from his editorial job, he was a Professor in the Language Department of Los Angeles City College, after which he joined the Glendale Community College faculty for 27 years.
He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Tekeyan Cultural Association of the United States and Canada. He was also a long time member of the Board of Trustees of the Tekeyan Cultural Association’s Arshag Dikranian school in Los Angeles.
Keshishian was on the Committee of the Armenian Genocide Monument, which was erected in 1968, in Montebello. He was entrusted with the transfer of the remains of the famous author William Saroyan to Yerevan, Armenia in 1982.
He was invited to the White House on three occasions, one of which was to accompany the President of the Republic of Armenian, Levon Der Bedrossian.
Keshishian is the recipient of St. Sahag-St. Mesrob Medal, along with the Encyclical, from His Holiness Vasken I, the late Catholicos of all the Armenians. He has also received the Vartkes Balian award for Journalism, from the Central Board of Directors of the Tekeyan Cultural Association of the United States and Canada.
Now, back to the 90th anniversary celebration of Prof. Osheen Keshishian. One by one, guests took to the podium to discuss how they had met the honoree, how long they had known him for, in what capacity they had worked with him, and, of course, to pay tribute to this one of a kind individual who has left an indelible mark on the Armenian community of Southern California.
Dr. Hovhannes Avedikian praised Keshishian for his contributions to the Armenian community in Southern California and presented him with a letter of appreciation, on behalf of the Organization of Istanbul Armenians.
Dr. Avedikian was followed by Dr. Hovig Melidonian, Dr. Guiragos Minassian, Dr. Raffi Balian, Dr. Minas Kojayan, Khatchig Janoyan, Hratch Sepetjian, Mayda Kueredjian, the Executive Secretary of the Tekeyan Cultural Association’s West Coast, and Keshishian’s older brother, Dr. Onnig Keshishian. I personally read a letter addressed to Keshishian by the late Kasbar Derderian of Beirut, Lebanon. It was written in 2015.
The speakers paid tribute to Keshishian for his tireless and valued contributions to the Armenian community.
At the end of the celebratory event, the two organizers, Markarian and Ganimian, presented Keshishian with a pen so that he may continue writing articles and, especially, his memoirs, until we celebrate his centennial anniversary.
The 90th anniversary cake was cut by Keshishian and distributed to the invited guests, who wished him good health and a productive life.
Ganimian hinted that a more public 90th anniversary celebration is being organized by “Nor Or” Publishing, which will take place in February or March of next year.
The celebration was a well organized event. I would like to thank both Avedis Markarian and Joseph Ganimian for organizing such a well executed anniversary gathering for such a well deserved member of the Armenian community.
