Martha Aramian
(1934 - 2014)
Martha Aramian was born on June 9th 1934 in Providence RI. Her parents, Kazar and Nevart, migrated to the United States from Turkey after the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Aramian contributed to the Armenian American community of Providence in a number of ways, including her facilitation of the creation of the Armenian Heritage Park. The park commemorates the victims and survivors of Armenian Genocide. One and a half million Armenians were killed in Turkey during the genocide, with many more displaced from their homes, never to return. The park was built and dedicated in 1995 and contains a monument that states, “A tribute to honor our forefathers who searched for freedom and human dignity.” Aramian, along with her sisters Sue and Margo and the International YMCA, also established and financed the Kasar and Nevart Child Center in Vanadazor, Armenia. The center is for children from the ages of 2-6 and is intended to develop stronger children, families, and community. Because of her contributions to both the Armenian American community and the broader Providence community, Aramian received a number of awards. These awards included the Queen Zabel Award and Woman of the Year award from the Armenian Masonic Degree Team of Rhode Island, which honors Armenians for their contributions to the Armenian Community, and a key to the City of Providence from former Mayor Buddy Cianci. Martha Aramian passed away on January 11, 2014 and is buried at the North Burial Ground.
Anne Ledbetter, Student at Rhode Island College
Gallery
Martha Aramian (1934-2014)
Martha Aramian was born on June 9th 1934 in Providence, Rhode Island. Her parents, Kazar and Nevart Aramian, were born in Turkey and migrated in 1926. Her mother, Nevart, was born in 1909, a few years before the Armenian Genocide began. Kazar, her father, was born in 1908 in Kharpoot, Turkey, then came through Beirut (then part of the Syrian Arab Republic) and France before arriving in New York in September 1926. He worked in Providence as a tobacco salesman (Standard Tobacco and Candy Co.) and the family resided on Crimea Street, very near to Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Armenian Apostolic Church. Martha was one of three daughters born to Kasar and Nevart, the others being Sue and Margo.
Martha Aramian contributed to the Armenian Community in significant ways. She was a key facilitator of the creation of the Armenian Heritage Park in Providence. The park was constructed in late 1995 and dedicated November of that year as a tribute to the victims and survivors of the Armenian Genocide. In the park there is a small monument which states, “A tribute to honor our forefathers who searched for freedom and human dignity.” Three words—Heritage, Culture, and Tradition—are highlighted in the center of the stone, and the text concludes with “Wherever Armenian is spoken and written Armenia lives.” According to the memorial itself, it was a gift of Kazar and Nevart Aramian, who were themselves survivors of the genocide that began in 1915. The genocide left 1.5 million Armenians dead, which was about 1/3 of the Armenian population. The men were usually murdered on the spot, whereas women and children were kidnapped, raped and then murdered or left to die of “natural” causes.
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Martha, along with her sisters, worked with the international YMCA to finance the Kazar and Nervart Aramian Child Center in Vanadzor, Armenia. The center opened in 1997 as a non-governmental youth organization open to all people. The Child Center mainly focuses on developing strong children, families and communities in Vanadzor. The organization offers many activities for children according to their interests and needs, from dancing to computer courses.
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Because of Martha’s contributions and dedication to the Armenian community, she received many awards. These include the Queen Zabel Award and Woman of the Year award from the Armenian Masonic Degree Team of Rhode Island, which honors Armenians for their contributions to the Armenian Community, the Pillar of Prelacy and the ANCA Eastern Region Vahan Cardashian Award. She also received a key to the City of Providence from former Mayor Buddy Cianci. She passed away on January 11, 2014.
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Anne Ledbetter, Student at Rhode Island College
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Further Reading
Akçam, Taner. From Empire to Republic: Turkish Nationalism and the Armenian Genocide. New York: Zed Books, 2004.
Armenian Martyrs’ Memorial Committee, “Armenian Martyrs’ Memorial Monument, Providence, Rhode Island,” (Providence, R.I., 24 April 1977).
Balakian, Peter. The Burning Tigris: The Armenian Genocide and America’s Response. New York: Perennial, 2003.
Karentz, Varoujan. Mitchnapert (The Citadel): A History of Armenians in Rhode Island. Lincoln, Nebraska: iUniverse, Inc., 2004.
