Hye Sharzhoom Armenian Action
Staff Report
The Armenian Studies Pro gram major benefactor, Mr.Henry Kazan, visited Fresno State during a long weekend from the 16th to the 19th of September. The principal reason for the trip was to attend the Monday afternoon course of Dr. Richard Hovannisian, the first incumbent of the Henry S. Khanzadian, Kazan Visiting Professorship of Armenian Studies.
Mr. Kazan, who is from Juno Beach, Florida, came from Long Island where he keeps a summer residence. This is his fourth trip to California State University, Fresno.
In addition to a nearly $400,000 endowment in support of the Kazan Visiting Professorship, he and his wife have also established the M. Victoria Karagozian Kazan Endowment Fund for the Armenian Studies Program, which is intended to provide general support for the Program and financial support for research, publications, and conferences related to Armenian studies.
Mr. Kazan said he has invested in Armenian Studies at CSU Fresno because he considers it the most active and the best undergraduate program in the country.
During his visit he attended Prof. Hovannisian’s Monday afternoon course, Armenian Studies 105 dealing with the Armenian Genocide and its denial. Henry Kazan is himself an historian having completed his bachelors in history from New York University before going on to complete law school. His working career was with NuTone Company from which he retired some thirty years ago.
During Mr. Kazan’s stay, the Armenian Studies Program Advisory Board held a special reception at the home of Dr. Arnold and Dianne Gazarian. Mr. Kazan was given a surprise 95th birthday cake.
Also in attendance were members of the Armenian Studies Program Advisory Board, faculty of the Armenian Studies Program, Dr. Hovannisian and his wife Dr. Vartiter Hovannisian, President John Welty and his wife Dr. Sharon Brown, Vice President for Development Dr. and Mrs. Peter Smits, Dean of the College of Arts & Humanities, Dr. Luis Costa and hi wife Wendy, and Acting Dean of the College of Science and Mathematics, Dr. Stanley Ziegler and his wife Frances, who is secretary of the Armenian Studies Program. Accompanying Mr. Kazan was his close friend from Long Island, Joe Deven.
Dr. Varoujan Altebarmakian, Chair of the Advisory Board, invited Mr. Kazan to make some remarks. After thanking the Advisory Board and the Program for the reception, especially Board member Arlene Srabian, who was responsible for the arrangements, along with the Gazarians, and Frances Ziegler, Mr. Kazan presented a detailed narrative of just how the Visiting Professorship was established.
The following day, Monday September 18, after individual meetings with officials at the University Foundation and the Development Office, Mr. Kazan visited with Coach Jerry Tarkanian and attended Dr. Hovannisian’s class. Early the next morning he returned to New York pleased that the new endowed professorship has gotten off to a good start.