The community leader in Los Angeles George Mandossian, passed away on Oct. 17. A prominent member of the Armenian Church, Mandossian was also active in the Armenian General Benevolent Union.

The Arshag Dickranian Armenian School and the Montebello Armenian Martyrs Memorial Monument were both founded with his help. 

The Early Days

In 1934, Antranig and Haiganoush Mandossian had a son named George Mandossian, born in Jerusalem on Feb. 24. 

According to the Mirror-Spectator, Mandossian went to the Catholic College des Freres after graduating from the Armenian elementary school of Holy Translators. 

The young athlete joined the Armenian Young Men's Society (Hoyetchmen) to take part in scouting, sports, and cultural and social activities, as well as to make friends

To make ends meet while teaching calligraphy at the nearby Hetoumian Elementary School in Amman, Jordan, Mandossian got his first job in 1952 as a draftsman for the US Foreign Aid Program.

He enrolled in the American University of Beirut's engineering program in 1955. His family was granted refugee status in 1959 after fleeing Palestine

Moving to Los Angeles

Mirror-Spectator reported that Mandossian became a member of the choir at St. James Armenian Church and the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party or ADL and the Armenian Church Youth Organization of America in his community.

In 1964, Primate of the Western Diocese Bishop Torkom Manoogian chose Mandossian and five young men to be trained as deacons. 

In 1965, Mandossian contributed to the construction of the Armenian Martyrs Memorial Monument in Montebello, California, by combining forces with other Armenian professionals to form the Armenian Monument Council, according to the report. 

Honors and Awards

Mandossian was awarded the St. Sahag – St. Mesrob Medal of Honor by Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II in 2007 and has earned numerous other awards. The Tekeyan Cultural Association presented an award to Mandossian at the Beshgeturian Center in 2018 in his honor.

According to the president of the TCA, Edmond Y. Azadian said Mandossian was a guy of few words, but his actions spoke volumes about him and his passion for the community, as stated in the report. 

Because of Mandossian, the Armenian community in Los Angeles has grown and flourished. There has been progress in the fight for historical justice for the Armenian people in the United States due to his contributions. 

St. James Armenian Church

St. James Armenian Apostolic Church is part of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America. 

This church has a long history of success, growth, and development, according to its website. A committee was formed in 1941.

By April 1942, the first parish assembly had been held in a converted property on West Adams Boulevard and was consecrated on Dec. 27, 1942, when it was first constituted.

The church thrives because of the different church organizations' contributions, strength, energy, and direction and guidance provided by the parish, its parish priest, and the parish council.

A coffee hour with traditional Armenian delicacies is provided every Sunday following church services, giving congregants and the Armenian faithful a chance to meet and interact.