[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1575]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                 HONORING THE LIFE OF SARKIS SAHATDJIAN

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 9, 2016

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of 
Sarkis Sahatdjian of Madera, California, who recently passed away on 
December 29, 2015--at the age of 95. Mr. Sahatdjian was a remarkable 
farmer of 80 years, and a generous leader who was prideful of his 
community, and Armenian roots.
  Sarkis Sahatdjian was born in Constantinople in 1920 to Armenian 
parents, Vagharshag and Makrouhi Sahatdjian. The Sahatdjians were 
survivors of the Armenian Genocide of 1915, an event Sarkis would never 
forget. His family set sail on an unpredictable journey when Sarkis was 
two years old, and his brother Haig only five days old. The Sahatdjian 
family first landed in Buenos Aires, Argentina where they resided for 
one year and a half. After this the family immigrated to the United 
States, arriving through Ellis Island, and eventually settling in 
California's San Joaquin Valley in April of 1924. The Sahatdjians 
started off as migrant workers, working at canneries and packing houses 
throughout California following the crop cycles. In 1928, the family 
bought their first farm--twenty acres of vineyards, where Sarkis worked 
after school and on weekends while attending Central High School.
  After graduating from high school in 1939, Sarkis worked at the Mare 
Island Naval Shipyard, repairing warships. Sarkis joined the Army Air 
Force, serving in Guam during World War II as a military policeman 
guarding Japanese prisoners of war. After the war he married Iris 
Odabashian in 1947, and soon after had three children. The couple went 
on to purchase a farm in Madera, California in 1947, and Sarkis 
returned to farming.
  In 1963, Sarkis and his brother Haig Sahatdjian, purchased raisin 
processing equipment, placed it on 40 acres in Madera and named it in 
memory of their late father: Victor Packing. Victor Packing became a 
full-time farming and packing business when Sarkis and his brother Haig 
began to process and pack their own raisins along with the raisins of 
other growers. The business required all hands on deck. Sarkis's wife 
Iris handled the payroll; their eldest child Victor and his high school 
friends worked as clean-up crew; and their daughter Margaret and 
youngest child Bill joined in later. The family company Sarkis co-
founded has grown to become a leader in the raisin industry; growing, 
dehydrating, processing, and packing raisins that are sold and shipped 
worldwide. Victor Packing remains a family business, and currently 
employs five of Sarkis's 12 grandchildren. Hard work, desire, and 
business acumen ultimately paid off for the Sahatdjian brothers.
  Not only was Sarkis a well-known businessman, he was also dedicated 
to serving his community. Sarkis was a board member of the local VFW; a 
benefactor and delegate of Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church; 
major donor to California State University, Fresno's Viticulture and 
Armenian Studies Department; major donor to Fresno Community Hospital; 
board member of the Armenian Community School of Fresno; founding board 
member of the Armenian Technology Group; and countless other local, 
regional and international charities. Further, he was also a major 
contributor in establishing the Armenian Genocide Centennial Monument, 
which marked 100 years since the start of the genocide in Armenia in 
1915. The monument is displayed at California State University, Fresno 
and is the first monument on a U.S. college campus marking the 
genocide.
  Without question, Mr. Sarkis's integrity, honor and long-lasting 
involvement in the Central Valley made him a reputable man; he was well 
known, well-liked and shown enormous appreciation by anyone who had the 
pleasure of calling him a friend. Sarkis lived his life to the fullest, 
surrounded by family and friends. He leaves behind his loving family, 
including his wife of 68 years, Iris, their two sons and daughter; 
their spouses, twelve grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. It 
is my honor to join his family in celebrating the life of this amazing 
man, who will never be forgotten.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect that I ask my colleagues in the 
House of Representatives to join me in honoring the life of Sarkis 
Sahatdjian. His commitment to family and to his community will forever 
live in the lives of the people he touched. We are all better for 
having known Sarkis Sahatdjian, a remarkable Californian, and Central 
Valley native.

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