A new endowment has been established with the Armenian Church Endowment Fund to honor the legacy of longtime Diocesan leader, the late Edward Onanian.
At the close of 2020, the Onanian family made a generous gift of $500,000 to establish the “Edward OnanianEndowment Fund.” The endowment will benefit lay staff members of the Eastern Diocese, providing them with an annual retirement benefit for the first time in the organization’s history.
It represents the realization of a goal for which Ed Onanian advocated throughout his long years of leadership in the Armenian Church. The spirit of dedication and sacrifice animating the clergy and staff of the Diocese was not lost on him, and in response Ed became a tireless advocate on their behalf. To him, retirement benefits were a critical part of securing the future—both for the employees of the Diocese and for the institution itself.
Since Dr. Onanian’s passing in 2019, the family has been contemplating a way to realize his vision. “My family is pleased to honor my father’s legacy in this way,” said Ed Onanian’s daughter Laurie. “Thanks to efforts by him and fellow Diocesan delegates, provisions were made to ensure an annual retirement benefit for our clergy. A similar benefit for the lay staff never materialized in his lifetime, however. I know dad would be very pleased with this gift.”
Laurie Onanian added that the family chose to give to the Armenian Church Endowment Fund because of its sterling record, but also because of her father’s long association with ACEF, and his great confidence in its mission. “I can fondly recall my father inviting to our home the late Colonel Victor Arzoomanian, ACEF’s tireless fundraiser in its earliest days. Over dinner they would discuss the importance of ACEF for our Diocese. It was only in its infancy back then, but they foresaw that ACEF would grow into a powerful benefit to the entire church.”
Gift of a Rare Individual
Deeply committed throughout his life to the Armenian Church, Edward Onanian was a member of the Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church of Providence, RI, and the St. Mary Church of Washington, DC. He was a pillar of both parishes, serving on their respective parish councils, investment committees, and nearly every endeavor that aimed to build, expand, or fortify those churches. He served on the Diocesan Council for 10 years (1983-1993), and as a Diocesan delegate for more than 25. These were the logical extensions of Edward’s youthful years of leadership in the early 1960s on the ACYOA Central Council (which he chaired) and the Choir Association.
“I instinctively associate the name Edward Onanian with the inner workings and leadership of our Diocese,” recalled Diocesan Primate Bishop Daniel Findikyan. “Long before I met him personally, I had heard his name constantly in various church circles. It was as if he was one of the legendary figures of our Diocese—which he was, in so many ways. The scope of his contributions was vast, and affected virtually every facet of our Diocese’s leadership and ministry.”
To many of the longtime Diocesan staffers, the name Ed Onanian awakens fond memories of a dignified but always down-to-earth gentleman.
“I loved talking to him and hearing what he had to say; I will never forget him,” said Elise Antreassian. “The Edward Onanian Endowment is such a beautiful gift to the Diocesan staff. It is the rare individual who gives substantively to something like this – not a building wing or a room or a statue, but a means of helping those who work ‘behind the scenes’ doing important but generally unacknowledged work. I have worked for the Diocese for decades in Christian Education and knew Ed as a deeply thoughtful, wholly dedicated, very loving leader, part of a generation of men and women who once drove the work of the church.”
For others who did not know the man himself, the gift is a deeply appreciated gesture of support for their work.
“For several years I have been the voice on our staff inquiring about a Diocesan Assembly resolution to offer a retirement benefit for Diocesan staff who are not clergy,” said Jennifer Morris. “Therefore, I was overjoyed to learn of the beautiful gift from the Onanian family to bring this to fruition. This annual contribution will be a great benefit to the Diocesan staff, and offer an incentive to those who have committed their lives to the service of our beloved church.”
Above: (left) The late Edward Onanian (1936-2019); (right) a vintage photo of Mr. Onanian among fellow leaders of the Washington, DC, community, during the 1987 visit of His Holiness Vasken I. Among those standing with the departed Catholicos are Diocesan Primate Abp. Torkom Manoogian, and St. Mary pastor Fr. Vertanes Kalaydjian, all of blessed memory.