The epitome of gracious and selfless generosity and a perpetual shining light in the Armenian world, Artemis Nazarian of New Jersey passed away on April 9th, succumbing to complications of coronavirus infection.
“No words can truly express our profound sorrow that our dear Artemis has been taken from us,” said Berge Setrakian, AGBU President. “Her passing floods our hearts and minds with so many emotions and cherished memories—not only on a personal level, but also what she represents collectively to our AGBU family. Alongside her husband, the great philanthropist and former AGBU Central Board member Nazar Nazarian, her generosity has somehow touched the life of practically every last Armenian—across communities, generations, continents, and in Armenia.”
Born in 1932 in Aleppo, Syria, Artemis (nee Topjian) could never have imagined the life of destiny she would live and the impact her tremendous heart, kind disposition, and can-do spirit would make on the lives of thousands, both worldwide and in her own community. She served on countless committees, church ladies’ guilds, and the local Englewood Women’s Club, among other civic and cultural endeavors. Her travels and adventures in pursuit of helping others supplied ample content with which to sustain her love of storytelling.
Arriving in America as a toddler, she was raised in Watertown, MA, graduated cum laude from Boston University with a degree in accounting, and met and married the would-be philanthropist Nazar Nazarian, originally from Lebanon, who was a pharmacist by education, and member of the family’s international textile company established in Beirut by his illustrious philanthropist father Levon Nazarian.
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With the continued success of the family business in America and their passion to carry on the legacy of community service, the Nazarian couple became a transformative force for good that found its way into every corner and sector of Armenian community life—from the Armenian Church and AGBU schools, community centers and cultural pursuits to health centers of excellence and programs for youth, as well as for emergency humanitarian relief efforts around the world.
A patron of the arts and a firm believer in the power of education to transform lives, she supported numerous AGBU scholarships to students worldwide. What’s more, her special interest in children culminated in the opening the Artemis Nazarian Preschool of the AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian school in Los Angeles.
Another lifelong devotion of hers was the Armenian Church. Her unwavering support of the Armenian Catholicisate in Etchmiadzin reflected on the Sulahian side of her maternal family tree, which according to her, boasted numerous clergy. Other family members were active in Armenian political organizations, influencing her sense of activism and community and interest in Armenian affairs.
From New York to Etchmiadzin, Beirut to Los Angeles, Buenos Aires to Aleppo, there is bound to be a plaque, eponymous building sign or photo showing Artemis beaming with pride at the opening of a center, school or health facility, surrounded by grateful beneficiaries, or humbly receiving public honors by church leaders, dignitaries and officials from a cross section of Armenian institutions.
“Her steadfast support of all things AGBU and Holy Etchmiadzin was eclipsed only by her dedication to Nazar and their children,” Setrakian went on to say, likening her to the muse to her husband, always finding projects and endeavors worthy of the family’s moral and financial support.
Her joy of giving back obviously set the example for her son Dr. Levon Nazarian and daughter Seta Nazarian, both of whom are active in the AGBU leadership as central board member and development advisor respectively, along with daughter-in-law Claudia Nazarian, current chair of multiple AGBU program committees, and William Nazarian, current chair of the AGBU Young Professionals of Greater New York and one of the Nazarians’ five grandchildren who include: William and his brother Nicholas, the sons of Seta Nazarian; and Matthew, Gregory, and Daniela, the sons and daughter of Levon and Claudia Nazarian.
Under these extraordinary circumstances and to bring comfort to the immediate family who must grieve in isolation without the presence of relatives and friends around them, AGBU has created a special website for the community to offer condolences and celebrate her life at rememberingartemis.com. In honor of her love of the arts and support of young talents, the family has requested in lieu of flower donations to me made to the AGBU Artemis Nazarian Memorial Scholarship for Performing Arts (agbu.org/artemisnazarian).
“While more traditional memorials and commemorations for her are sure to follow in the future, the life and times of Artemis Nazarian tell an inspiring story all their own in both AGBU and modern Armenian history,” Setrakian noted.
The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) is the world’s largest non-profit organization devoted to upholding the Armenian heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian programs. Each year, AGBU is committed to making a difference in the lives of 500,000 people across Armenia, Artsakh and the Armenian diaspora. Since 1906, AGBU has remained true to one overarching goal: to create a foundation for the prosperity of all Armenians.
To learn more visit www.agbu.org.
Artemis Topjian Nazarian
1932-2020
Artemis Nazarian of Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey died on April 9th, succumbing to complications of coronavirus infection. Artemis was born in Aleppo, Syria on January 31, 1932 to parents of Armenian descent, Nicholas and Marie Topjian (nee Sulahian). Her family emigrated to the United States in 1934 and settled in Watertown, MA where she grew up in the Great Depression among a close-knit, loving extended family.
Artemis was an outstanding student who excelled at Watertown High School. Although accepted to Radcliffe College, she went to Boston University on a scholarship and obtained her bachelor’s degree cum laude; she was proud to be the first woman to graduate as an accountant from the College of Business Administration. After graduation, she worked at the firm of Haskins and Sells. During that time, she met her husband Nazar, originally from Lebanon, whom she married in 1954. The couple settled in the New York area where Nazar established his businesses, with Artemis being his in-house accountant.
Their daughter Seta was born in 1957 and son Levon was born in 1961. Artemis was a devoted mother who raised her children with kindness, intelligence, patience, humility, and sense of purpose. She also had a keen sense of humor and loved to tell jokes and stories. The stories, in particular, were legendary among her numerous friends and family members. She was the family historian and seemed to be able to speak with any Armenian she met for ten minutes and figure out how they were related to each other. A person of simple tastes, she loved crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, baseball, and Hershey bars. She also was a prolific knitter, and many of her sweaters and baby blankets won local awards. Artemis also was an accomplished piano player who accompanied her brother Joe when he played violin, including two recitals carried on Boston radio stations.
Nazar and Artemis lived together in Englewood Cliffs, NJ for more than 60 years. As Nazar’s businesses grew, so did his involvement in philanthropic activities. Although she did not seek recognition, Artemis was also an active philanthropist, both supporting her husband’s projects as well having many of her own. A patron of the arts and a firm believer in the power of education to transform lives, she supported numerous scholarships to students worldwide to the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU). Her special interest in children culminated in the opening of the Artemis Nazarian Preschool of the AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian school in Los Angeles. Artemis also created a scholarship at BU Business School with priority given for students of Armenia descent.
Another area of lifelong devotion was the Armenian Church. Her unwavering support of the Armenian Catholicosate in Etchmiadzin reflected the Sulahian side of her maternal family tree, which according to her, boasted numerous clergy. From New York to Etchmiadzin, Beirut to Los Angeles, Buenos Aires to Aleppo, there is bound to be a plaque, eponymous building sign or photo showing Artemis beaming with pride at the opening of a center, school or health facility, surrounded by grateful beneficiaries, or humbly receiving public honors by church leaders, dignitaries and officials from a cross section of Armenian institutions.
However, much of Artemis’s generosity was on a more personal level: she gave money to countless people in need, drove elderly or incapacitated patients to their doctor’s appointments through the organization FISH, and served for many years as treasurer of the Englewood Woman’s Club.
Even with all of her accomplishments, Artemis’s greatest pride and joy was always her family, especially her grandchildren: Seta’s sons William and Nicholas, and Levon and his wife Claudia’s children Matthew, Daniela, and Gregory. Artemis’s relentless positivity, wisdom, wit and love will live in their hearts forever. When the grandchildren were younger, Artemis spent countless hours reciting nursery rhymes to them by memory. As they got older, they learned her famous stories and soaked up her practical wisdom and stoicism – exemplified by having her tonsils removed in the kitchen of her childhood home without anesthetic.
Besides her children and grandchildren, Artemis is also survived by her beloved brother and sister-in-law, Hrand Joseph and Karen Topjian and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister Leona Boodakian in 2008.
Artemis was the epitome of gracious and selfless generosity and a perpetual shining light in the world. Her spirit will live on in all who were fortunate to have known her. Donations in lieu flowers can be made to the AGBU Artemis Nazarian Memorial Scholarship for Performing Arts at www.agbu.org/artemisnazarian.
During these unforeseen times, kindly join us online to remember our dear Artemis at: www.rememberingartemis.com.
