Balassanian

HAGOP BALASSANIAN

The Balassanians ranged among the most influential families in Hadjin, Cilicia. In the 1850s, Sarkis agha Balassanian married Sara Kalaidjian, and they had four children: Krikor, Hagop (1879, Hadjin – 1951, Buenos Aires), Giragos and Misak (1895, Hadjin – 1984, Buenos Aires). During World War I, the Balassanian family had to leave their native town of Hadjin and move to the safer city of Sis. In Sis, the Balassanians were engaged in agriculture. At the age of 20, Hagop married 15-year-old Hripsime Mavilian (1882, Hadjin – 1946, Buenos Aires) and they had 11 children, only five of whom survived – Boghos (1900, Hadjin – 1980, Buenos Aires), Karnik (1902, Sis – 1976, Buenos Aires), Haigazun (1909, Sis – 1993, Buenos Aires), Dikranuhi (1911, Sis – 1996, Buenos Aires) and Sarkis (1919, Damascus – 2003, Buenos Aires): Hagop Balassanian was an educated and well-known person in Sis; everyone called him “baba” (daddy). He transcribed passports and documents in Armenian and Latin Turkish, and his wife, Hripsime Mavilian, was a midwife. In 1920, when France decided to leave Cilicia, the Balassanians safely reached Mersin, accompanied by the French troops withdrawing from Sis. The elder children of Hagop and Krikor, veiled as border-guard police officers, joined the French army in the Port of Mersin. Then they sailed by ship to Beirut and then to Aleppo. The presence of the two border guard soldiers helped the family escape the impending massacre. Then Hagop and Hripsime moved from Aleppo to Damascus with their children. Like the other 60 families, they lived in an Armenian refugee camp. Hagop worked as a shoemaker in Damascus, and his children did different jobs. It was quite hard to make a living in Damascus, and in 1923, 20-yearold Karnik Balassanian left for Argentina, promising his parents and other family members to help relocate there as well. In Argentina, Karnik initially lived in a family of Hadjin natives and learned to tailor. He sent the money he earned to Damascus to cover his family’s travel expenses. In 1926, Karnik’s 17-year-old brother Haigazun left for Argentina as well. Hagop’s other child, 26-year-old Boghos, married 16-year-old Srpuhi Balassanian. In September 1926, Hagop Balassanian’s family left Damascus for Marseille and, together with numerous other Armenian emigrants, sailed to Argentina by the English ship ‘La Plata.’ The ship reached Santos (Brazil). The next port was Montevideo, Uruguay. However, the government of Argentina, considering the high rate of diseases brought by the immigrants, forbade Armenians and those coming from the Middle East to continue their journey; they were forced off the ship. The family was in a desperate situation. In the public premises of the Department for Refugees, they came across their old friend Baghbudarian, who, well aware of Hagop agha’s difficult situation, hosted his family in his house for about two weeks. Finally, on 7 November 1927, the Balassanian family reached Argentina:

LIFE IN BUENOS AIRES

 Initially, Hagop Balassanian’s children were engaged in street trade. Hagop Balassanian, «baba» himself, rented a stall in the market and sold the handiworks and clothes sewn by Srpuhi and Dikranuhi. This is how the main occupation of the Balassanians – trading- kicked off. In 1933- 1934, they became the first merchants in the famous once district. In the first generation of the Balassanians, only Sarkis received education. He graduated from the Medical School at the State University of Buenos Aires and became a famous cardiologist. Sarkis ranges among the first prominent professionals in the generation of immigrants to Argentina. The Balassanians dedicated themselves to the cause of preserving the Armenian identity in the Armenian community life by joining various institutions. Boghos and, after his death, Haigazun and then Sarkis were members of the Board of Trustees of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and Srpuhi long served for the Ladies’ Committee of St. Gregory the Illuminator (Lusavorich) Mother Cathedral. The family also supported the activity of the Hadjin Compatriotic Union. The new generations of the Balassanian family also support various institutions implementing projects to preserve the Armenian identity, are involved in multiple programs for the development and prosperity of Armenia, and have strong attachments with Motherland:

THE 1ST and THE 2ND  GENERATION IN ARGENTINA

 The children  of Srpuhi  and Boghos BalassanIan

 The first child in the 2nd generation (the 1st generation in Argentina) was Lusasin, born in 1927. Today, she is 96 years old and the Balassanian family’s most senior member. Lusasin is a teacher, a member of the Auxiliary Committee of Mothers under St. Gregory the Illuminator (Lusavorich) educational institution in Buenos Aires, a member of the Ladies’ Committee of the AGBU (Armenian General Benevolent Union), and a member of the Tekeyan Cultural Association. Pedro was a well-known dentist and a member of the Tekeyan Cultural Association. Maria was an English and Stenography teacher and a member of the Ladies’ Committee of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the RA Embassy. Armando was a merchant and an AGBU Board Member.

 The grandchildren of Boghos and Srpuhi Balassanian 

 Lusasin Balassanian and Barkev Dergarabetian have three daughters: Susana Dergarabetian is a designer of internal divisions of buildings, a member of the Boards of the AGBU and the Tekeyan Cultural Association, a member of the Ladies’ Committee of the RA Embassy, and an editor of «Sardarabad» newspaper. Diana Dergarabetian, a Spanish Literature and Language teacher, Latin teacher, cultural figure, writer, Head of ‘Armenia’ Chair of John Kennedy University, former Editor and Director of «Sardarabad» newspaper, a member of the Boards of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Tekeyan Cultural Association, and a member of the Ladies’ Committee of the RA Embassy. In addition to various editorial works, in 2012, she published the book «Ian-s in the Argentinian-Armenian Art» («Եան-երը արժանթինահայ արուեստին մէջ») dedicated to Yerevan World Book Capital Program and in 2015 she published «The art that does not shut up» («Անլռելի արուեստը») dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in 2015. The presentations of both books were held under the auspices of the RA Ministry of Culture. Silvia Dergarabetian is a tourism specialist, a member of the AGBU Sports Committee, and a member of the Tekeyan Cultural Association. Pedro Balassanian and Antonia Rovito have two children, Pablo and Claudio, and both of them are traders. Maria Balassanian and Pablo Gechidjian have three children: Juan Pablo – a famous entrepreneur, Eduardo – an entrepreneur and a trader; and Maria Cecilia – a lawyer (USA). Armando Balassanian and Alicia Basmadjian have four children: Gabriel (accountant), Alejandro (trade specialist), Andres (trader), and Mariela (programmer).

The children of Karnik BalassanIan and Zartar BayramIan

 Juan Carlos is a trader; Arturo – a well-established notary public; Adela is a Geography teacher; Anna Cristina – a teacher and director of the kindergarten at the AGBU Marie Manoogian School Educational Institution; and Rafael – an accountant and an AGBU Board Member.

The grandchildren of Karnik  BalassanIan and Zartar BayramIan 

Juan Carlos Balassanian and Maria Gechidjian have two children: Mariana, an engineer, and Juan Carlos, a PR and trade specialist, BA, and a General Manager at 1190 Sports in Peru. Arturo Balassanian and Lidia Kasparian have one child, Andrea, who is a lawyer. Adela Balassanian and Carlos Arzoumanian have three children: Anna Carolina, an accountant and Bachelor of Business Administration; Maria Florencia and Carlos Hernan, a Bachelor of Economics and a General Manager of Blan Inc. Ana Cristina Balassanian married Miguel Kaprielian. Rafael Balassanian and Marta Youssefian have three children: Ignacio, a Bachelor of Business Administration and an AGBU Board Member; Francisco – a Bachelor of Economics; and Guillermo – a lawyer.

The children of Haigazun BalassanIan and NazelI Tchataldjekian

 Beatriz, a member of the AGBU Ladies’ Committee and of the Hadjin Compatriotic Union Committee; Margarita, a member of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS); Ester – an accountant and a member of the AGBU Ladies’ Committee and of the Hadjin Compatriotic Union Committee, and Hagop – a trader (São Paulo, Brazil). 

The grandchildren of Haigazun BalassanIan and NazelI Tchataldjekian

Beatriz Balassanian and Ruben Der Avedisian have three children. Silvana – a French teacher and a member of the AGBU Sports Committee, Daniel – a sports journalist, and Roxana – a corporate networks manager. Margarita Balassanian and George Pushidjian have four children: Melik (a Bachelor of Business Administration and entrepreneur), Cristina (an entrepreneur), Raffi (a Bachelor of Commercialization and entrepreneur), and Carolina (an architect). Ester Balassanian and Pablo Sarafian have three daughters: Liliana – a Math teacher; Valeria – an architect, and Silvina – a lawyer. Hagop Balassanian and Marisa Djanikian (São Paulo, Brazil) have four children: Fernando (an engineer), Melina (a PR specialist), Fabio (BA), and Marina (BA).

The children of Dikranuhi Balassanian and Vartivar Horigian

 Jose Horigian, an engineer (USA), Alicia – a trader and Chairwoman of the AGBU Ladies’ Committee; Ruben – a trader and a member of the Mekhitarist College Parent Board; Alberto – an accountant and an entrepreneur. 

The grandchildren of Dikranuhi Balassanian and Vartivar Horigian

Alicia Horigian and Carlos Kuchikian have three children: Gustavo, a famous entrepreneur, Ricardo – a renowned entrepreneur; and Graciela – a Business Administration, BA, and an English teacher. Ruben Horigian and Lucia Bozoghlian have four children: Fernando – a Bachelor of Economics and a University lecturer, Viviana – a psychiatrist (USA), Mariluz – a language professional and planner of internal divisions of buildings; and Vartan – a Bachelor of Economics and Communication. Alberto Horigian and Ana Bergamali have three children: Matias – a Bachelor of Economics, Gonzalo – a Bachelor of Business Administration (USA); and Maria Florencia – a Bachelor of Business Administration.

The children of Sarkis BalassanIan and AlicIa AtchabahIan 

Diego – a trader; Jorge – a famous cardiologist; Daniel – a famous traumatologist. 

The grandchildren of Sarkis BalassanIan and AlicIa AtchabahIan 

Diego Balassanian and Jacqueline Koruk have two children: Nicolas – a Bachelor of Marketing, and Mariana – an accountant. Jorge Balassanian and Cristina Balukian (São Paulo, Brazil) have two children: Vanessa – a Bachelor of Communication (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), and Maria Laura – BA in HR (Mexico). Daniel Balassanian and Claudia Topchian have three children: Federico – an accountant, Gonzalo – an engineer, and Maria Eugenia – an architect.

 THE 3RD GENERATION 

The great-grandchildren of Boghos and Srpuhi BalassanIan

 Susana Dergarabetian and Sergio Nahabetian have three children: Rodrigo – an accountant (USA), Luciana – a lawyer and Alex – a Bachelor of Business Administratio (USA). Sergio Nahabetian was a Member of the Parliament. Thanks to his efforts, in 2006, the National Assembly of Buenos Aires Province adopted the first law condemning the Armenian Genocide, followed by the state law adopted in 2007. Mr. Sergio and Mrs. Susanna Nahabetian support the ‘Vasn Hayrenyats’ Movement operating in Armenia; thanks to them, the Armenian flag is waving in Ani Pemza on the Armenian-Turkish border. Diana Dergarabetian and Carlos Perez Valderrama have a daughter, Carla Perez Dergarabetian, a lawyer. Silvia Dergarabetian and Santiago Takessian have two children: Gonzalo – a Bachelor of Commerce and Marketing, and Alina – a Bachelor of Advertising. Pablo Balassanian has three children: Paula, Franco, and Pedro. Claudio Balassanian and Gabriela Feiman have one child, Matias. Gabriel Balassanian and Mariela Eiraz have two children, Candela and Manuel, who are students. Mariela Balassanian and Sebastian Klenidjian have two children, Santino and Ambar, who are students. 

The great-grandchilden of Karnik  BalassanIan and ZartaR BayramIan 

Juan Carlos Balassanian and Silvina Paperin have one child, Simon. Carlos Hernan Arzoumanian and Gabriela Sarafian have three children: Martina, Joaquin, and Manuel. Ignacio Balassanian and Eugenia Toitoitchian have two children: Lara and Elias. Francisco Balassanian and Andrea Balukian (São Paulo, Brazil) have two children, Luca and Martin. Guillermo Balassanian and Daniel Schick have one child, Ulises.

The great-grandchildren of HaIgazun BalassanIan and NazelI Tchataldjekian

 Silvana Der Avedisian and Adrian Muradian have two children: Federico – an engineer, and Lucas – a Bachelor of Business Administration and Foreign Trade. Roxana Der Avedisian and Diego Rodriguez have two children: Nicolas – an architect, and olivia – a University student. Melik Pushidjian and Karina Pamboukchian have three daughters: Sol – a University student, Guadalupe – a University student, and Delfina – a student. Cristina Pushidjian and Diego Jofré have two children: Francisca and Ilario Jofré are students. Raffi Pushitdjian and Rita Arsenian have three children: Rocío, Tiago, and Talin are students. Carolina Pushidjian and Alberto Bresan have three children: Felipe, Ramiro, and Julia, who are all students. Liliana Sarafian and Victor Manuel Arslanian have three children: Agustina – a doctor; Michaela – a graphic designer, and Manuel – an engineer. Valeria Sarafian and Gaston Abrahamian have two children, Valentina and Juan Pablo, who are students. Silvina Sarafian and Gustavo Guizirian have two children: Catalina and Victoria. Fernando Balassanian and Natasha Durazzo have two children, Bernardo and Barbara, who are students (São Paulo, Brazil). Melina Palasanian and Vartan Horigian have two daughters, Martina and olivia, and both are students (São Paulo, Brazil). 

The great-grandchildren of Dikranuhi Balassanian and Vartivar HorIgIan

 Gustavo Kuchikian and Roxana Bonacci have four children: Tatiana – a fashion designer, Antonella – a Bachelor of Business Administration, Denise – a Bachelor of Advertising Art; and Diego – a student (USA). Ricardo kuchikian and Paola Colalillo have three children: Sofia – a Bachelor of Web Design; Lucas – a Bachelor of Business Administration, and Ignacio – a Bachelor of Graphics. Graciela Kuchikian and Pablo Sagraniche have two children: Greta – a University student, and Vigo – a student. Fernando Horigian has three children: Pilar (USA), Agustin, and Amelia, who are students. Viviana Horigian and Levente Arango have two daughters, Valentina and Nicolette, both are students (USA). Mariluz Horigian and Daniel Vaneskeheian have two children: Melina – a clothing designer, and Lucas – an accountant and a University lecturer. Vartan Horigian and Melina Balassanian have two daughters, Martina and Olivia – students (São Paulo, Brazil). Matias Horigian and Jessica Chavez have one child, Emilia. Maria Florencia Horigian and Javier Rodriguez have three children: Sofia, Joaquina, and Tomas.

The great-grandchildren of SarkIs BalassanIan and AlIcIa  Atchabahian

Nicolas Balassanian and Maria Victoria Cottier Gambo have one child, Candelaria. Mariana Balassanian and Alexis Kemancioglu have two children: Vartan and Delfina. Maria Laura Balassanian and Rodrigo Bilbao have three children: Francisco, Isabella, and Simona, who are students (Mexico).

 The 4th generation

 The 4th generation of Boghos and Srpuhi  Balassanian

 Rodrigo Nahabetian and Silvina Albornoz have one child, Brandon Barkev – a University student (USA). Like his parents, Rodrigo also supports the “Vasn Hayrenyats” Movement operating in Armenia; it is under the auspices of his family that the Armenian tricolor is waving in Artanish village of Gegharkunik region (marz) of Armenia. Luciana Nahabetian and Gregorio kambourian have three children: Lucero, Francisco, and Teresita (students). Alex Nahabetian and Dora Perez have three children: Milo, Noah, and Luna (USA). Alex Nahapetian is the editor of the work entitled “Eternal Armenia” («Յաւերժական Հայաստան»), which presents historical documents and unique miniature samples. The book was published in a number of languages: Armenian, English, Spanish, Russian, French and German. Alex also supports the “Vasn Hayrenyats” Movement. Under the auspices of his family, the Armenian tricolor is waving in Artsni village of Lori region (marz) of Armenia. Paula Balassanian has one child, Lola.

 The 4th generation of HaIgazun BalassanIan and Nazeli Tchataldjekian

 Federico Muradian and Valeria Mastronardi have one child, Ignacio Muradian Mastronardi.

 The 4th generation of DikranuhiI BalassanIan and Vartivar HorigIan

 Tatiana Kuchikian has two children: Ulises and Tobias. Denise Kuchikian and Santiago Daneloghlu have a daughter , Aurora.