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From Beneficiaries to Benefactors
John and Sosi Balian’s story of transformation
We are so proud of our three sons, who are at different stages of pursuing medical degrees. They are also AGBU Camp Nubar alumni who spent many happy summers as both campers and staff, nurturing lifelong friendships.
Talia Jebejian Bouldoukian, Matthew Bender
When John Balian was a child in a remote village near the ancient Armenian city of Dikranagerd (today Diyarbekir, Turkey), he experienced extreme tragedy and poverty. At the tender age of six, he was sent to the Dadourian School and Armenian Seminary of Jerusalem for refuge under the sponsorship of the Missirlian family, who were AGBU donors. But by age 14, he was sent to Istanbul and forced to escape again. He became a destitute fugitive wandering Europe until the Missirlians were able to locate him and transform his life’s trajectory in 1979 with a permanent move to America. He later chronicled his early life experiences in a thriller entitled, Gray Wolves and White Doves. He was admitted to Columbia University in 1981 on a full scholarship, and obtained an MD from Tufts University School of Medicine (TUSM). AGBU also awarded him a scholarship during medical school.
“Kindness from strangers, who happened to be fellow Armenians, ensured that I obtained the highest education,” says Balian, who has served in senior executive positions at Pfizer and later joined Johnson & Johnson as the Chief Medical Officer for one of its three divisions. Today, he is the Co-Founder, Board member and International CEO of ClinChoice Inc., a multi-national clinical research company with an Armenia branch employing over 400 in Yerevan and Gyumri.
Sosi (nÈe Turabian) Balian’s parents repatriated to Gyumri, Armenia, from Egypt, but then the family immigrated to America in 1986. She, too, received an AGBU scholarship while pursuing her accounting BS from the University of Maryland, followed by CPA certification and an auditing career. Along the way, her aunt, who had benefitted from AGBU’s immigrant support infrastructure in the 1980s, was employed by the Missirlians’ company. An introduction was made between John and Sosi, and they married in 1992.
“Starting a new chapter with Sosi was a joyful turning point for me. We are so proud of our three sons, who are at different stages of pursuing medical degrees. They are also AGBU Camp Nubar alumni who spent many happy summers as both campers and staff, nurturing lifelong friendships.” he says.
Sosi agreed, adding, “John and I believe strongly in the ‘pay it forward’ ethos as we received many life-changing gifts as immigrants.” Currently, she volunteers for AGBU ANI Language Coaching, which helps women in Armenia improve English conversation skills through remote learning.
The couple established the AGBU Dr. & Mrs. John D. and Sosi Balian Scholarship Fund, an endowment benefitting TUSM students of Armenian heritage. If there are no eligible recipients during a given year, the scholarship will go to students at the American University of Armenia (AUA).
“The gift reflects our deep gratitude toward AGBU’s benevolence,” concludes John Balian.
November 20, 2024
