History

Reading this article and understanding what these particular groups were doing and attempting to accomplish, rather roused Partamian’s curiosity.  Partamian recalls commenting to himself that if these organizations can meet and have a purpose and goal, why couldn’t an association of Armenian American Pharmacists?

The following morning, Partamian took it upon himself to make phone calls to specific individuals he thought would make a formidable nucleus and committee with which the formation of this new organization could be formed. 

The individuals contacted were: A. Richard Goolkasian, Larry Pahigian, Z. Robert Surabian, Elissa Karaian, Steve Karoghlanian, Steve Avedikian, Susan Krikorian, and Haig Jamgochian.  These individuals were requested to convene at a meeting on June 2nd 1981 at Fantasia’s Restaurant in Cambridge, MA for the purpose of forming this new association.

The convened group dealt with many issues that evening and each individual donated $10 to aid in covering the initial costs of operating and an initial mailing to recruit members.  Subsequent meetings were held in July and August, 1981 in anticipation of the formation and realization of this fine professional association.

The initial organizational meeting was held on a Tuesday evening, October 27, 1981 at the Kernwood Restaurant in Lynnfield, MA with cocktails and dinner following.  Present were pharmacists from all over the New England area that represented all phases of the pharmaceutical profession.  By laws were adopted and officers for the ensuing term were elected at the assembly with the ultimate goal of a fruitful future for one of the professions fine organizations.  Officers elected that first meeting were as follows:

• President – Harold R. Partamian

• Vice President – A. Richard Goolkasian

• Secretary – Susan A. Krikorian

• Treasurer – Stephen Karoghlanian

Various committees were also established at this first meeting to be perpetuated through the years.  They included the following committees with the first chairperson:

• Executive Committee – Harold R. Partamian

• Good Standing committee – Francis A. Najarian

• Nominating Committee – Larry Pahigian

• Fund Raising Committee – George Srabian

• Auditing Committee – Francis A. Najarian

• Social & Hospitality Committee – Donald P. Sahagian

• Membership Committee – Kenneth Sanasarian

The initially elected executive committee remained in office by unanimous acclaim to lead the association in its infancy until the meeting of October 8, 1985 at which time a new slate of officers were elected to serve. 

The AAPA had many outstanding speakers over the past years of its existence.  To name a few as follows:

• Steve Kirkjian – Chief Investigative Reporter, Boston Globe Spotlight Team

• Romulus DeNicola – Former Executive Secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Pharmacy

• Peter Torigian – Honorable Mayor of Peabody, MA

• Janet Jeghelian – Talk Show Hostess and Candidate for US Senator

• George Keverian – Honorable Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives

• Charles Khachadourian Jr. – Drug Control Administrator for the State of Rhode Island

…and many other outstanding speakers.

In May of 1984, the AAPA established a scholarship fund where it was awarded at its annual meeting to a deserving individual(s) as deemed by the scholarship committee.

On Saturday, November 9, 1985, the Armenian American Pharmacists’ Association, the Armenian American Medical Association, the Armenian American Dental Society, and the Armenian Law Society joined together to celebrate with dinner and dancing.  The gala was held at the Marriott Copley Place in Boston, MA.

It was a special day at the November 1987 annual meeting where there was also a testimonial in honor of Harold R. Partamian, founder and first president of the AAPA, and recently elected Executive Secretary/Director of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Pharmacy.  The meeting was held at the Kernwood Restaurant in Lynnfield, MA and was attended by some 150 attendees representing all facets of the pharmaceutical profession as well as friends and relatives in honor of Harold Partamian.

Organizational meetings are and have been held biannually since the inception of the AAPA.  It should be noted that at every annual meeting, the AAPA made a sizeable donation to the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and the Armenian Nursing Home in Jamaica Plain, MA.