[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 13869-13870]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               A TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE OF RICHARD DARMANIAN

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 25, 2008

  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of 
Richard Darmanian of

[[Page 13870]]

Fresno, California, who recently passed away at 81 years of age. He 
leaves behind his best friend and loving wife of 59 years, Armon, six 
children, and several grandchildren.
  Mr. Darmanian was born on November 21, 1926, in Sacramento, 
California, but was raised in the Central Valley. As a youngster, he 
lived on a farm where his passion for farming came to life.
  Upon graduation from Caruthers High School he attended Fresno State 
College and earned his B.A. degree in history and a master's degree in 
guidance and counseling.
  Upon graduating from Fresno State in 1952, Mr. Darmanian began his 
teaching career at Roosevelt High School, where he taught mathematics, 
history and government. Mr. Darmanian was also counselor and dean of 
the boys at Roosevelt High School. In 1959 he purchased a small farm in 
the Sunnyside area, where he built a home and raised a family for many 
years.
  In 1969 he became the assistant principal at Edison High School and 
then moved on to become the principal in 1972. He was also the 
principal at Hoover High School, and he served as district 
administrator in the Instruction Division from 1984 until 1988, where 
he was responsible for all the Fresno Unified School District's high 
schools.
  Mr. Darmanian not only had a passion for education but also for his 
Armenian community where he was both very active and an influential 
member. In 1950, he became a member of the Armenian Revolutionary 
Federation, ARF, in which he served several terms as a member of the 
Regional Executive Committee and the Central Executive Committee. From 
1952 to 1970 he served as regional secretary of the American Committee 
for the Independence of Armenia, Armenian National Committee. Also, as 
one of the founding members of the Armenian Community School that 
opened its doors in 1976, he served as chairman of the board of 
education for 6 years.
  His strong values and community ties led him to serve as a long-time 
member of the Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church Board of Trustees, 
as well as a member of the Executive Council of the Western Prelacy of 
the Armenian Apostolic Church of North America, where he was appointed 
to the Education Council of the Armenian Schools under the jurisdiction 
of Western Prelacy during the period of 1990 and 1994. He was also a 
member of the California State University Fresno Armenian Studies 
Advisory Board.
  Richard enjoyed the simple things in life and loved to be surrounded 
by his family, friends and colleagues from the Armenian community. He 
was especially proud to see the younger Armenian generation alongside 
with him engaged in activities that were dear to his heart. Those who 
were close to him are better people today thanks to his influence on 
their lives.
  It goes without saying that Mr. Richard Darmanian was an honorable 
man with a commitment to family, friends and the Armenian community 
that will forever live in the lives of the people he so graciously 
touched. His passion for family, education, and the Armenian culture 
will be remembered by all who knew him. I am honored and humbled to 
join his family in celebrating the life of this amazing man who will 
never be forgotten.

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