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December 15, 2022
In Memoriam: Edward Avedisian
Edward Avedisian
It is with great sadness that AAHPO notes the passing of Edward Avedisian on December 7 at the age of 85. Mr. Avedisian, a great Armenian American philanthropist, made news this past fall for his $100-million donation to Boston University. This led to the renaming of the medical school to the "Boston University Aram V. Chobanian & Edward Avedisian School of Medicine."

Mr. Avedisian had made the donation with the proviso that the medical school not be named for him, but for his close friend, Dr. Aram V. Chobanian, its former dean and a great friend of AAHPO. Dr. Chobanian, however, persisted and convinced Mr. Avedisian to put his name there too.

Boston University President Robert A. Brown called it “one of the most remarkable grants in the history of higher education." The $100-million gift will be divided three ways: $50 million to support scholarships for medical students, $25 million to support endowed professorships and $25 million to the Avedisian Fund for Excellence to keep the school at the forefront of research and teaching.
BU Gift 1
Mr. Avedisian, left, and Dr. Aram Chobanian at the renaming ceremony of the medical school at Boston University.
BU gift 3
The "Boston University Aram V. Chobanian and Edward Avedisian School of Medicine." Dr. Chobanian, the former dean of the school, and Mr. Avedisian, the benefactor of a $100 million gift to Boston University, were boyhood and lifelong friends.
The son of Armenian Genocide survivors, Mr. Avedisian was born in 1937 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. He grew up in an immigrant neighborhood where he attended public school and served as president of his graduating class. He furthered his education on a scholarship to Boston University where he earned his BM and MM degrees.
Mr. Avedisian’s professional career spanned four disciplines: a performing symphonic musician, a university professor, an arts administrator, a consummate investor, and philanthropist.

In 1998 Edward and Pamela Avedisian founded the Avedisian School in the Malatia-Sepastia district of Yerevan, operated by the Armenian Missionary Association of America, as a tuition-free Kindergarten for students from economically disadvantaged families. The current K-12 grade school building, officially opened in 2014, was the dream of Mr. Avedisian to honor his Genocide survivor parents, Khoren and Shooshanig Avedisian, who had placed an extremely high value on education. 

His philanthropy was vast and deep rooted, as it served countries located on both sides of the Atlantic. His many contributions to Armenia include philanthropic investments to the American University of Armenia, the Tsitsernakabert Genocide Memorial and the Nork Marash Children’s Cardiac Hospital, as well as the complete renovation of a school in the Haghtanag Village.

In the U.S., his outstanding commitment of service and philanthropy was recognized in 2016 when he was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. In 2017, a gift was made to the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy (URI), in honor of his late brother Paramaz Avedisian. Recognizing Edward’s accomplishments and civic-minded values, URI bestowed him with an Honorary Doctorate Degree in 2019.

A longtime resident of Lexington, MA, Mr. Avedisian is survived by his wife, Pamela Wood Avedisian, his sister, Zvart Onanian, his brother, Paul Avedisian, and extended family. Edward is predeceased by his parents and his brother, Paramaz. A memorial is being planned for Spring 2023.

Our Board & Our Mission

Lawrence V. Najarian, MD, President
Ted Chaglassian, MD, Past President
Garbis Baydar, MD, Vice President
Lynn Cetin, MD, Corresponding Secretary
Debra Ferman, MD, Recording Secretary
Joyce Kurdian, DMD, Treasurer
Louiza Puskulian-Kubikian, DDS, Membership Committee
Arthur Kubikian,DDS, Parliamentarian
John Bilezikian, MD, Aram Cazazian, DDS, Lynn Cetin, MD, Kim Hekimian, PhD, Gregory Kazandjian, DDS, Knarig Khatchadurian, PhD, Tsoline Kojaoghlanian, MD, Lena Merjanian, MD, Vahe Tateosian, MD, Lucy Tovmasian, MD

AAHPO's mission is to improve health care awareness, increase disease prevention and early detection, foster fellowship and career development of Armenian health care professionals, and provide medical support and education to both our local communities and Armenia.

Call AAHPO: 908-914-5549