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FUNERAL SERVICES HELD FOR ATTORNEY PETER KEZIRIAN, DEAD AT 48
Metropolitan News-Enterprise
Nov 27 2012
Services were held yesterday for attorney Aram Peter Kezirian Jr.,
who died unexpectedly last week at the age of 48.
A spokesperson for the Armenian Bar Association said Kezirian was
playing basketball at his church on Nov. 19th when he suddenly
collapsed. No cause of death has been given.
Kezirian became involved in politics while attending the School of
Foreign Service at Georgetown University, according to a biography
provided by the bar association. He became the first intern to work for
then-U.S. Sen. Pete Wilson, eventually joining his staff as research
assistant for national security. As a junior, Kezirian chaired the
largest Model United Nations program in the world, helping to earn him
recognition as the 1985 School of Foreign Service Student of the Year.
Kezirian first became involved with George Deukmejian while
volunteering on his 1982 gubernatorial campaign. Four years later
he worked with Deukmejian again as part of the finance team for the
governor's 1986 reelection effort.
Kezirian went on to earn his law degree from USC, where he was articles
editor of the law review.
When Wilson became governor in 1991, he appointed Kezirian general
counsel of the newly created California Department of Corporations,
which licenses and regulates a variety of financial services and
securities businesses.
A fifth-generation Armenian-American, Kezirian served as the state
chair of the Armenian Assembly and in 1995 was a member of the faculty,
headed by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, for the Armenian
Judiciary Conference in Yerevan, the Armenian capital, which worked
on issues of constitutional interpretation.
As a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Kezirian also served
on task forces evaluating NATO's military role in Bosnia and Kosovo
and a wide range of bilateral issues facing the U.S. and Mexico.
In 2003 he joined a team led by former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd
Whitman to oversee Cambodia's national elections.
Kezirian was an active member of the Pacific Council on International
Policy. He headed a delegation to observe and report on changes in
U.S. Army training tactics and methods in armored warfare and, more
recently, as a German Marshall Plan Fellow, worked with business,
governmental and philanthropic leaders in six countries to help
strengthen transatlantic relationships.
At the time of his death, Kezirian was general counsel for the
California department of the Cooperative of American Physicians,
which helps its physician members protect against professional
liability risks.
Kezirian is survived by his wife, Michelle Kezirian, his mother
Marilyn Kezirian, four brothers, two nieces and a nephew.
Yesterday's services were held at the United Armenian Congregation
Church, followed by interment at Forest Lawn in Glendale.
The family requested that in lieu of flowers charitable donations be
made to the Aram Peter Kezirian, Jr. Foundation at 2335 East Colorado
Boulevard, Suite 115-230, Pasadena, CA 91107.
http://www.metnews.com/articles/2012/obit112712.htm
Metropolitan News-Enterprise
Nov 27 2012
Services were held yesterday for attorney Aram Peter Kezirian Jr.,
who died unexpectedly last week at the age of 48.
A spokesperson for the Armenian Bar Association said Kezirian was
playing basketball at his church on Nov. 19th when he suddenly
collapsed. No cause of death has been given.
Kezirian became involved in politics while attending the School of
Foreign Service at Georgetown University, according to a biography
provided by the bar association. He became the first intern to work for
then-U.S. Sen. Pete Wilson, eventually joining his staff as research
assistant for national security. As a junior, Kezirian chaired the
largest Model United Nations program in the world, helping to earn him
recognition as the 1985 School of Foreign Service Student of the Year.
Kezirian first became involved with George Deukmejian while
volunteering on his 1982 gubernatorial campaign. Four years later
he worked with Deukmejian again as part of the finance team for the
governor's 1986 reelection effort.
Kezirian went on to earn his law degree from USC, where he was articles
editor of the law review.
When Wilson became governor in 1991, he appointed Kezirian general
counsel of the newly created California Department of Corporations,
which licenses and regulates a variety of financial services and
securities businesses.
A fifth-generation Armenian-American, Kezirian served as the state
chair of the Armenian Assembly and in 1995 was a member of the faculty,
headed by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, for the Armenian
Judiciary Conference in Yerevan, the Armenian capital, which worked
on issues of constitutional interpretation.
As a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Kezirian also served
on task forces evaluating NATO's military role in Bosnia and Kosovo
and a wide range of bilateral issues facing the U.S. and Mexico.
In 2003 he joined a team led by former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd
Whitman to oversee Cambodia's national elections.
Kezirian was an active member of the Pacific Council on International
Policy. He headed a delegation to observe and report on changes in
U.S. Army training tactics and methods in armored warfare and, more
recently, as a German Marshall Plan Fellow, worked with business,
governmental and philanthropic leaders in six countries to help
strengthen transatlantic relationships.
At the time of his death, Kezirian was general counsel for the
California department of the Cooperative of American Physicians,
which helps its physician members protect against professional
liability risks.
Kezirian is survived by his wife, Michelle Kezirian, his mother
Marilyn Kezirian, four brothers, two nieces and a nephew.
Yesterday's services were held at the United Armenian Congregation
Church, followed by interment at Forest Lawn in Glendale.
The family requested that in lieu of flowers charitable donations be
made to the Aram Peter Kezirian, Jr. Foundation at 2335 East Colorado
Boulevard, Suite 115-230, Pasadena, CA 91107.
http://www.metnews.com/articles/2012/obit112712.htm