John P. Amboian
A Pillar of His Church
John P. Amboian of
Andover MA passed away peacefully in the comfort of the High Pointe
House on March 16th at the age of 87. The beloved husband of Patricia
(McLarnon) Amboian for 60 years. John was the devoted son of immigrant
parents, the late Asadour and Tourvanda (Juknavorian) Amboian.
Treasured father of Michael E. Amboian and his wife Patricia (Rook) of
Methuen, MA; John P. Amboian Jr. and his wife Ann (Lee) of Winnetka,
IL; Leslie Amboian and fiancé John Royce of Manchester, NH. Cherished
grandfather (Papa) of Michael Jr., Megan, Andrew, Madison, and Alexander
Amboian; Mitchell, and Lucas Takessian. Brother of Rose Amboian and
Sandra (Amboian) Boroyan of Chelmsford, MA. Beloved uncle of numerous
nieces and nephews.
John was born in July of 1931 in Lowell, MA.
John was a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Northeastern University earning a
B.S. Degree in Business. John was a former member of the Directors of
the National Council of Northeastern University, and a member of the
Sigma Epsilon Rho Honor Fraternity of the University.
He served in the U.S. Army as a Staff Sergeant in the Korean Conflict, receiving several medals and decorations.
John
was a retired Senior Vice President of Administration of the former
Arkwright Mutual Insurance Company, which merged into the FM Global
Insurance Company. He retired in 1992 after 32 years of service.
He
was a former President of the Boston Chapter of the Budget Executives
Institute, and a member of the National Financial Executives Institute.
John served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Waltham,
Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, and Chairman of the Finance Committee
of the Town of Dracut, Massachusetts.
John was an active member
of several fraternal organizations, some of which included: Pentucket
Masonic Lodge, in Lowell Massachusetts; 32 Degree Scottish Rite;
Aleppo Shriner; Armenian Knights of Vartan; Armenian-American Veterans
of Lowell; Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee of the Merrimack
Valley in Massachusetts.
John was a life-long active member of
Saints Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church, of Chelmsford MA. He
served in several significant leadership positions in his parish, along
with leadership roles in the New England Region, and with the Eastern
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America. John served as a Diocesan
Delegate for 32 years, was chair of the 1995 Diocesan Assembly Host
Committee, and chaired on a myriad of other committees. In 1996, John
chaired the Pontifical Visitation Committee to the New England Region,
upon the visit of, His Holiness Karekin I Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of all Armenians of blessed memory.
John’s willingness
to give generously of his time and talents found him elected to the
Diocesan Council and as a member of the Diocesan Board of Trustees of
the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America. John has served
as a member of the St. Nersess Armenian Seminary Board of Directors, and
has also been a recipient of the prestigious St. Nersess Shnorhali
Medal from the Holy See in Armenia.
In 2007, John was honored by the Diocese by being selected as the “Armenian of the Year”.
He
was part of the delegation which represented our Diocese at the 1995
and 1999 National Ecclesiastical Assemblies, convened in Holy
Etchmiadzin in the Republic of Armenia. The purpose was to participate
in the 1995 election of His Holiness Karekin I, Catholicos of all
Armenians of blessed memory; and in the 1999 election of His Holiness
Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.
ON TUESDAY, MARCH
19, YOU ARE INVITED TO HIS VISITATION FROM 4-8 P.M. IN THE SANCTUARY OF
SAINTS VARTANANTZ ARMENIAN CHURCH, 180 OLD WESTFORD RD, CHELMSFORD, MA.
ON WEDNESDAY HIS FUNERAL SERVICE WILL BEGIN AT 11 A.M. IN THE CHURCH. PROCESSION WILL FOLLOW FOR BURIAL AT EDSON CEMETERY IN LOWELL.
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, DONATIONS MAY BE TO: SAINTS VARTANANTZ ARMENIAN CHURCH OR ONLINE AT: stsvartanantz.com.
ARRANGEMENTS BY THE MCDONOUGH FUNERAL HOME, 14 HIGHLAND STREET, LOWELL, MA 978-458-6816.