Obituary: John Sarkis Manuelian (1927-2013)

Dr. John Sarkis Manuelian was born on Feb. 1, 1927, in Boston, Mass., to the late Sarkis and Margaret Manuelian. His family moved to Quincy when John was still a young boy. He received his undergraduate education at Boston College and his doctorates from the University of Vermont. Before entering medical school, he taught biology at Boston College. He completed his residency at Boston City Hospital and entered practice as an internist specializing in cardiology at the Carney Hospital in Dorchester. He was also a clinical professor of internal medicine at Boston University Medical School. He served as a captain in the United States Air Force and was chief of medicine at the Tactical Air Command’s England Air Force Base in Alexandria, La.

John Manuelian
John Manuelian

On Oct. 27, 1963, he married Lucille (Kuludjian) of Chicago at St. Stephen’s Church. They remained inseparable, enjoying the fruits of their labor, while continuing their dedicated service to the Armenian Church and nation.

A deeply devoted man of faith, at one time John considered studying for the priesthood. He later decided to be a healer of a different kind. Yet, he continued to serve his church and his fellow Armenians with great joy. He held virtually every office a layman could aspire to in the church on a local, national, and international level. He was also one of the founders of the Armenian Cultural and Educational Center (ACEC) in Watertown.

John will be remembered for his gentle ways, his dedication to his family and friends, his readiness to teach and learn from others, his ability to touch the hearts and minds of different generations, and his unwavering commitment to his church and the Armenian people.

Forty-three years ago in an article entitled “The Pastor’s Role in Our Community,” in the Prelacy’s “GILIGIA” journal, he wrote:

“It is when things go hardest, when life becomes most trying, that there is greatest need for having a fixed goal, for having a castle that the outside world cannot wreck. When few comforts come from without, it is all the more necessary to have a fount to draw from within. And the man or woman who has a star toward which to press, he or she cannot be thrown off the course, no matter how the world may try, no matter how far things may seem to be wrong. For us our fixed goal, our castle, our fount, our star is the Armenian Apostolic Church with its teachings, spirit, strength, and eventual salvation. We are privileged sons of that glorious people; we are humble servants of that church which is ours. Today the only real possession of the Armenian people is their church; may we guard her zealously.”

The Hairenik Association expresses its deepest condolences to the family and friends of John Manuelian.

Guest Contributor

Guest Contributor

Guest contributions to the Armenian Weekly are informative articles or press releases written and submitted by members of the community.

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