The area’s faith community is mourning the loss of the Rev. Bernard A. Guekguezian, pastor emeritus of First Armenian Presbyterian Church near downtown Fresno. He died Sept. 22 at age 85.
The Rev. Guekguezian served as pastor of First Armenian Presbyterian Church for 22 years, from 1978 to 2000. The church is California’s oldest Armenian congregation. It was chartered on July 25, 1897.
The Rev. Guekguezian also served in Near East, Worcester, Mass., Paramus, N.J., and Belmont, Mass. His ministry spanned nearly six decades.
His son, the Rev. Ara R. Guekguezian, who is senior pastor of Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church in central Fresno, says his father will be remembered for helping others.
“I am very grateful he lived so long,” he says. “My father was a very loving, generous man, especially with time and money. His most significant contribution to our community was helping new Armenian immigrants transition to life in Fresno. In the late ’70s, it was Armenians from the Middle East. In the ’90s, it was Armenians from Armenia.”