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November 26, 2012
The Basmajian Family of Toronto Donates $60,000 to AGBU
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Harry (Haroutioun) Artinian and Shant Kamer Basmajian.
Lifelong Supporters of AGBU Honor the Memory of Loved Ones with Generous Contributions
AGBU is pleased to announce that the Basmajian family, longtime and generous supporters, has donated a total of $60,000 to the organization in honor of their loved ones, Harry (Haroutioun) Artinian and Shant Kamer Basmajian. Mrs. Shakéh Basmajian has pledged $50,000 to AGBU in memory of her brother, Mr. Artinian, who passed away in November 2010. He was an active, generous and proud member of the Toronto Armenian community and, like his sister, a loyal AGBU Veteran member. Mr. Artinian played a critical role in the formation of the AGBU Toronto Chapter, serving as a member of the Chapter's Executive Committee when it was re-established by his brother-in-law, Kamer Basmajian, in 1958.
Born in Beirut, Mr. Artinian spent most of his life living in Canada, but his heart was always in Armenia, and he identified strongly with his cultural roots and his ancestral land. Upon his death and per his wishes, his ashes were buried in Armenia. Mrs. Basmajian sees it as a fitting tribute to her brother that her donation will support an AGBU facility in Armenia, which will bear her brother's name.
Mrs. Basmajian's daughter, Isabelle (Isa), also an AGBU Veteran member, has donated an additional amount of $10,000 in memory of her brother, Shant Kamer Basmajian, which will be allocated to support Armenian writers. Shant Basmajian was a well-respected and active poet in Toronto, who passed away in 1990 at the age of 39 after struggling for many years with a heart condition. During his lifetime, he taught poetry, was featured at poetry festivals across Canada, and published a great number of poetry books, books, reviews and articles. AGBU was proud to have Shant Basmajian's work featured in our own publication, Armenian-American Poets: A Bilingual Anthology (1976) compiled and translated by Garig Basmadjian (no relation). Mrs. Basmajian's other daughter, Knar, continues to serve the organization with the utmost dedication and has been leading the Toronto Chapter as chair for the past several years.
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