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Fresno Bee, CA
Sept 28 2012
Longtime First Armenian pastor mourned
By Ron Orozco - The Fresno Bee
Friday, Sep. 28, 2012
The area's faith community is mourning the loss of the Rev. Bernard A.
Guekguezian, pastor emeritus of First Armenian Presbyterian Church
near downtown Fresno. He died Sept. 22 at age 85.
The Rev. Guekguezian served as pastor of First Armenian Presbyterian
Church for 22 years, from 1978 to 2000. The church is California's
oldest Armenian congregation. It was chartered on July 25, 1897.
The Rev. Guekguezian also served in Near East, Worcester, Mass.,
Paramus, N.J., and Belmont, Mass. His ministry spanned nearly six
decades.
His son, the Rev. Ara R. Guekguezian, who is senior pastor of Pilgrim
Armenian Congregational Church in central Fresno, says his father will
be remembered for helping others.
"I am very grateful he lived so long," he says. "My father was a very
loving, generous man, especially with time and money. His most
significant contribution to our community was helping new Armenian
immigrants transition to life in Fresno. In the late '70s, it was
Armenians from the Middle East. In the '90s, it was Armenians from
Armenia."
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. today at Pilgrim Armenian
Congregational Church, 3673 N. First St. Details: (559) 229-2915.
http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/09/28/3010248/longtime-first-armenian-pastor.html
From: Baghdasarian
Sept 28 2012
Longtime First Armenian pastor mourned
By Ron Orozco - The Fresno Bee
Friday, Sep. 28, 2012
The area's faith community is mourning the loss of the Rev. Bernard A.
Guekguezian, pastor emeritus of First Armenian Presbyterian Church
near downtown Fresno. He died Sept. 22 at age 85.
The Rev. Guekguezian served as pastor of First Armenian Presbyterian
Church for 22 years, from 1978 to 2000. The church is California's
oldest Armenian congregation. It was chartered on July 25, 1897.
The Rev. Guekguezian also served in Near East, Worcester, Mass.,
Paramus, N.J., and Belmont, Mass. His ministry spanned nearly six
decades.
His son, the Rev. Ara R. Guekguezian, who is senior pastor of Pilgrim
Armenian Congregational Church in central Fresno, says his father will
be remembered for helping others.
"I am very grateful he lived so long," he says. "My father was a very
loving, generous man, especially with time and money. His most
significant contribution to our community was helping new Armenian
immigrants transition to life in Fresno. In the late '70s, it was
Armenians from the Middle East. In the '90s, it was Armenians from
Armenia."
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. today at Pilgrim Armenian
Congregational Church, 3673 N. First St. Details: (559) 229-2915.
http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/09/28/3010248/longtime-first-armenian-pastor.html
From: Baghdasarian