[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 138 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1822-E1823]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO ALEXANDER MANOOGIAN
______
HON. SANDER M. LEVIN
of michigan
in the house of representatives
Saturday, September 28, 1996
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, as the House adjourns today, I want to be
certain that we take the fullest note of one of this year's most
regrettable events, the death of Alexander Manoogian.
Mr. Manoogian was a towering figure in the Armenian-American
community and beyond. He built the Masco Corporation into a major
business entity in this nation. He used his wealth with immense
generosity for the benefit of his immediate community and the nation at
large.
We are thankful that he was given a long and full life. That will
only make it more difficult to fill the vacuum which his death leaves
for us all.
In further remembrance of Alexander Manoogian, I now insert into the
Congressional Record an article written after his death by Dennis
Papazian, a distinguished scholar as well as a leader in the Armenian-
American community.
A Befitting Tribute to a Great Man
(By Dennis R. Papazian, Ph.D.)
The Alex Manoogian era of Armenian history, spanning 95
years, has come to a close. His earthly remains were laid to
rest with great dignity and solemn ceremony at the majestic,
cathedral-like St. John's Armenian Church of Greater Detroit,
which he helped to design and build, on Thursday, July 18,
1996.
The dan gark (wake) and funeral, both held in the church,
were presided over by His Holiness Karekin I, Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians from Armenia and
carried out with the ministrations of several diocesan
Primates, a host of bishops and archbishops, and a score of
other clergymen and deacons representing the Armenian Church
in America, Armenia, and in the diaspora. Also represented at
the funeral were clergy of the Armenian protestant churches,
the Armenian uniate Catholic Church, the Armenian Prelacy, as
well as many sister American churches.
A delegation of government officials from Armenia, led by
former vice-president of the Republic and current President
of the Constitutional Court, Mr. Gagik Haroutunian, had flown
in from Armenia to show their deep respect and abiding
affection for the Honorary Citizen of Armenia and the
``National Hero of the Armenian People.''
Leaders of the Armenian community and virtually every
Armenian organization and political party in the diaspora
were represented at the funeral, including members of the
Diocesan Council, the Board of Directors of the Armenian
General Benevolent Union (AGBU), the Armenian Assembly of
America, the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party, the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation, and a host of others. Leaders of
the American community, from business, government, and
philantrophy, were visibly in attendance.
Distinguished American political figures in attendance
included the governor of Michigan, the Honorable John Engler;
the former governor of Michigan and current American
Ambassador to Canada, the Honorable James Blanchard; various
members of the state House and Senate; and representatives of
Senators Carl Levin and Spencer Abraham as well as of the
Michigan US Congressional delegation, including the Hon.
Sander Levin. The dan gark was also attended by the Honorable
Dennis Archer, mayor of Detroit, as well as by other civic
dignitaries.
The cavernous church was filled to overflowing on the
occasion of both the dan gark and the funeral with mourners
who had come from literally all over the world to pay their
last tribute to a great Armenian-American. Distinguished
personages arrived from as far as Armenia and Australia and
from Canada to Latin America, to pay homage to perhaps the
greatest Armenian philanthropist and leader of the 20th
century. Mr. Manoogian's rich and active life spanned 95
years, from the turn of the century to the present, from the
genocide of 1915 to the inauguration of the second free and
independent Armenian Republic.
The homily at the dan gark was delivered by His Eminence
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the
Armenian Church of America, from New York, who was introduced
by the pastor of St. John's Church of South field, MI, the
Very Rev. Fr. Baret Yeretzian, who also expressed his love,
respect, and devotion for Mr. Manoogian. Archbishop Shane
Ajemian from Jerusalem read the Epistle and Archbishop Vatche
Hovsepian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America, chanted the Gospel. Archbishop Hovnan
Derderian, Primate of Canada, recited the ``Christos vorti,''
Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian of New York read a message of
condolence from His Holiness Aram, I, Catholiocos of the
Great House of Cilicia, in Lebanon.
The formal eulogy at the funeral, filled with insight and
pathos worthy of the solemn occasion, was delivered by His
Holiness the Catholicos who drew attention to Mr. Manoogian's
love for his own people, for the world community, for the
Armenian Church,
[[Page E1823]]
for the good works of the AGBU, for Armenian education and
culture, and for all people great any small in America and
throughout the world. Before making his formal remarks, the
Catholicos prayed for the souls of the 230 persons who had
tragically lost their lives the previous day in the TWA plane
crash. Fr. Zaven Arzoumanian of Florida read the Epistle and
Archbishop Karekin Nersesian of Armenia chanted the Gospel.
Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian recited the ``Christos vorti.''
The Catholicos chose for the scriptural theme of his
address a reading from the Gospel of St. Matthew 26:31-46. ``
`Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take for your heritage
the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the
world. For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty
and you gave me drink I was a stranger and you made me
welcome; naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me,
in prison and you came to see me.' Then the virtuous will say
to him in reply, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed
you; or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a
stranger and make you welcome; naked and clothe you; sick or
in prison and go to see you?'' And the King will answer, `I
tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the
least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.' ''
Surely, said the Catholicos, this exemplifies the life of Mr.
Alex Manoogian.
At the end of the funeral, His Holiness the Catholicos
united the mourners in inviting all of them to join in the
singing of the Hayr Mer. (the Lord's Prayer). As the pipe
organ soared, the voice of the congregation filled the
cavernous church with brilliant song with testified to the
faith and hope of the people.
The clergy and the congregation marched in solemn
procession from the church into the Armenian Cultural
Building for the memorial meal which was attended by nearly
1,000 mourners. His Eminence Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian give
the invocation. Loving comments on the personal life of Mr.
Manoogian were made by Mrs. Louise Simone, President of the
Armenian General Benevolent Union, and Mr. Richard Manoogian,
Chairman of the Board of MASCO Corporation, Mr. Manoogian's
daughter and son.
Mr. Gagik Haroutunian delivered the condolences of His
Excellency Levon Ter Petrosian, president of Armenia, and
offered his own words, of sympathy on behalf of the entire
delegation from the Republic of Armenia. Mrs. Simone then
read telegrams of condolence from President Bill Clinton of
the United States and President Levon Ter Petrosian of
Armenia.
Telegrams were also announced from His Beatitude Torkorn
Manoogian, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, and His Beatitude
Karekin Kazanjian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople
(Istanbul), which were among the thousands receive from
dignitaries and common folk from all over the world.
Archbishop Karekin Nersesian of the diocese of Ararat in
Armenia give the benediction.
``Today the entire Armenian nation is mourning, as we take
part in the funeral services of our Patriarch,'' said Mr.
Haroutiunian during his remarks. ``Alex Manoogian's death is
a tremendous loss not only for the Armenian people. . . . Mr.
Manoogian was an epoch-making phenomenon who shaped history.
He gave charity a new meaning and new content; he set an
example for teaching how to live with one's people and
nation. He taught how to impart devotion and love.''
The color-saturated interior of the sanctuary, illuminated
by shafts of light pouring through the narrow, richly colored
stained glass windows and by dim golden lamps suspended from
the great parabola arches, was tastefully decorated by large
bouquets of white roses with cascading ivy. The black robes
and cowls of the numerous clergy stood is stark and solemn
contrast to the resplendent, although muted church.
The Komitas Choir of St. John's Armenian Church was
conducted by Maestro Khoren Meikhanedjian of New York and
accompanied by Mrs. Louise Yardumian of St. Petersburg, FL.
Soloists included Ms. Maro Partamian of New York and a
quartet comprised of Mrs. Violet Cholakian, Mrs. Arlene
Baylerian, Mrs. Denise Karakashian, and Mrs. Barbara Widener
of metropolitan Detroit, who sang moving sharagans (hymns)
during the funeral service.
Closed circuit television carried the services into the
lobby, the chapel, and the nursery of the attached Cultural
Building where elegant tables were set up to supplement the
700-seat Cultural Hall from where the ceremonies of the
hokejash (memorial meal), served to almost 1,000 persons,
were also telecast.
Entombment services, held by the His Holiness the
Catholicos and the numerous clergy from Armenia, Europe, and
America, took place at Woodlawn Cemetery following the
hokejash with only family members in attendance. The casket
was covered by earth brought from Armenia by Mr.
Haroutiunian, and the tomb was sealed by the Catholicos with
a cross. The site will be marked by a elegant kachkar (cross-
stone) brought from Armenia by the Catholicos.
``No one was invited to the funeral,'' said the pastor of
St. John's, Fr. Baret Yeretzian, ``that is not the custom.
Everyone, clergy and laity, attended of his own desire out of
love and respect for Mr. Manoogian. The funeral and dan gark,
attended by 2,000 persons over two days, were a fitting
memorial to a great and generous man.''
``Mr. Manoogian's genius lay in his determination to
resurrect the Armenian people after the genocide of 1915,''
said Dr. Dennis R. Papazian, a professor of history at the
University of Michigan, Dearborn, and a resident of Troy, MI,
``to rebuild the Armenian Church, to encourage a free and
independent Armenia, to preserve and expand Armenian culture,
and to help the Armenian people return to their rightful
place in the family of nations and in world history. We have
truly lost a great champion of the Armenian people.''
``We must also not lose sight of the fact that Mr.
Manoogian was a great American. In fact his life was a
monumental testimony to the greatness of America. Where else
in the world could a man rise from a poor immigrant to a
captain of industry, from a homeless boy to a great world-
wide philanthropist? Surely Mr. Manoogian represented the
American dream, and he never forgot it. He gave to all sorts
of American causes. We are all the poorer for his passing. He
will be sorely missed.''
The pallbearers were Mr. Manoogian's grandsons and nephews:
James Manoogian, Richard Manoogian, Jr., David Simone, Mark
Simone, Brian Manoogian, Douglas Manoogian, Chris Christo,
and Paul Christo.
Security for the various dignitaries in attendance was
provided by the Michigan State Police and Masco Corporation.
The Parish Council of St. John's Church, along with the
Pastor, were active in preparation and administration.
Cynthia Oknaian provided coordination with the various groups
involved on behalf of the Church.
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