2021 -- S 0853

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LC002718

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF VARTAN GREGORIAN,

NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED HISTORIAN AND PHILANTHROPIST

     Introduced By: Senator Gayle L. Goldin

     Date Introduced: April 28, 2021

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     WHEREAS, It is with utmost sadness that this House has learned of the passing of

Vartan Gregorian, noted scholar and philanthropic leader, beloved husband of fifty-eight years to

the late Clare Russell Gregorian, devoted father of Vahé Gregorian and his wife, Cindy, Raffi

Gregorian, and Dareh Gregorian and his wife, Maggie, and the proud grandfather of Juan,

Maximus, Sophie, Miri, and Dashiell; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Gregorian was born to Armenian parents in Tabriz, Iran, and was the

brother of Ojik Arakelian. Although English-language limited, he immigrated to the United

States in 1956 to study history and the humanities at Stanford University. His experiences and

transition during these years became the foundation and inspiration for his life's work; and

     WHEREAS, From 1981 to 1989, Mr. Gregorian served as President of the New York

Public Library where he successfully revitalized and financially stabilized the institution. In

1986, he was a member of the inaugural class of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor awardees, and

from 1989 through 1997, he served as President of Brown University, where he was acclaimed

for his efforts to strengthen research, teaching and public service activities at the University, as

well as tripling its endowment; and

     WHEREAS, Beginning in 1997, Mr. Gregorian led the Carnegie Corporation of New

York where he was lauded as "a devoted and tireless leader an extraordinary champion of

education, immigration, and international peace and security"; and

     WHEREAS, Respected and revered for his myriad accomplishments, Mr. Gregorian was

a noted author, received dozens of honorary doctorates, and was hailed around the world as a

historian and a philanthropist. He received awards from the French, Italian, Austrian, and

Portuguese governments, and was the recipient of the National Humanities Medal in 1998, and

the Presidential Medal of Freedom, our nation’s highest civil award, in 2004. In addition, former

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg credited him with helping rebuild the city after the 9/11

terrorist attacks; and

     WHEREAS, Vartan Gregorian was a paradigm of the very best leadership and

humanitarian qualities, and his immense intellect, generosity, wit and sense of humor, and his

innate ability to encourage and challenge made him an unparalleled teacher, mentor, and

inspiration for many, and he will be dearly missed; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby extends deepest

condolences on the passing of Vartan Gregorian; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Vahé Gregorian, Raffi Gregorian, and Dareh

Gregorian.

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