APRIL 25, 2020 Mirror-SpeTHE ARMENIAN ctator Volume LXXXX, NO. 40, Issue 4633 $ 2.00 NEWS The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 IN BRIEF Former Ambassador to Greater New York Region US Shougarian Dies BOSTON — Ambassador Rouben Shougarian Devastated by COVID-19 died on April 21 after a stroke, his family reported. “It is with great sorrow that we announce that our loving father and husband, Ambassador community, however, has been one of vigi- Rouben Shougarian, PhD, passed away peacefully By Taleen Babayan lance. From medical professionals to busi- this morning in Boston, Mass. after suffering a nesses to outreach-minded organizations, Special to the Mirror-Spectator stroke last week,” his son, Narek, said in a each group has mobilized during this Facebook post. unprecedented time to meet the needs of Shougarian is survived by his wife Lilit NEW YORK — Life has grinded to a halt its consumers, give back, and provide hope Karapetian-Shougarian and sons Narek, Tigran and in the United States as the coronavirus pan- during this calamitous period. Haik. demic spreads through the nation, particu- While Toufayan Bakeries is well-known Businessman and He served as Armenia’s deputy foreign minister larly in the densely populated metropolis of for its pita bread and baked goods, the fam- (1999-2005), ambassador to Italy, Spain and ily-run company also Philanthropist, Portugal (2005-2008), and was Armenia’s first focuses on corporate Tekeyan and ADL Ambassador to the United States (1993-1999). social responsibility He also served as a senior staffer for the in their daily opera- Leader Armand Armenian Parliament’s Standing Committee on tions. Headquartered Foreign Affairs (1991), and a senior foreign policy in Ridgefield, NJ, Norehad Dies aide and spokesperson for President Levon Ter- with additional facto- Petrosyan (1992). ries in Florida, CHICAGO — Businessman and phil- Shougarian most recently was a lecturer at the Toufayan Bakeries is anthropist Armand Orie Norehad, age Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts helping out in vari- 85, passed away on Saturday, April University. ous ways — from 11, 2020. He was born on June 16, A more complete notice will appear in next increasing wages of 1934 to Christine (née Kashian) and week’s issue. frontline workers to Onnig Norehad (Norhadian), who fled donating to food Turkey during the Armenian banks and hospitals Genocide. His parents’ immigrant Researcher Says Social across the country. roots and faith in God shaped him Toufayan Bakeries into the wonderful man he was. Distancing May Be has a history of giv- Armand is survived by his wife of Necessary Until 2022 ing back since its 59 years, Marilyn (née Calderini), and founding in 1968, three sons, David, Michael (wife, CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (Reuters) — The US may From left, Kristine Toufayan, Greg Toufayan, Karen Toufayan and Michelle), and Steven. He also leaves need to endure social distancing measures to fight Harry Toufayan according to Karen Toufayan, vice presi- his grandchildren, Julie, Jennifer, the coronavirus outbreak until 2022, according to dent of marketing Jessica, John, Peter, and Margot, as researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health. New York and New Jersey. The hardest hit and sales. An integral philanthropic pres- well as his sister, Anna Marie, and The study comes as more than 2,200 people died region has experienced loss, chaos and dis- ence not only in the Armenian-American brother, Ernest. in the United States from the outbreak on Tuesday, ruption at every turn, for every industry. community but nationwide, Karen and her see NOREHAD, page 7 a record, according to a Reuters tally, even as the The response from the Armenian-American see COVID, page 5 country debates how to reopen its economy. The overall death toll in the US from the virus stood at more than 28,300 as of Tuesday, April 21. “Intermittent distancing may be required into 2022 unless critical care capacity is increased sub- stantially or a treatment or vaccine becomes avail- able,” the Harvard researchers said in findings pub- CORONAVIRUS lished Tuesday in the journal Science. Dr. Rosemary Guerguerian, NBC News’ medical fellow, said that as with most mathematical models, UPDATE the researchers’ predictions are based on assump- tions we don’t yet know about the virus. The study acknowledged that prolonged distanc- Armenian Nursing and ing would most likely have profoundly negative eco- Rehabilitation Center nomic, social and educational consequences. According to the findings, it is likely that COVID- Reports More COVID-19 19 could re-emerge every winter. The World Health Organization has warned that Deaths, Seeks Funding to infections had “certainly” not yet peaked. Nearly 2 Meet Crisis million people globally have been infected and more than 124,000 have died in the most serious pan- demic in a century. By Aram Arkun Mirror-Spectator Staff Ararat Adult Day Health Care Center in Glendale, California INSIDE JAMAICA PLAIN, Mass. — The Armenian Adult Day Health Care Centers in Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (ANRC) on April 15 provided an update to its situation in Los Angeles Area Adapt to COVID-19 the middle of the surge of COVID-19 in the ‘O’ There Is Boston area. This month so far there have been GLENDALE — The situation of the elderly during the COVID-19 9 deaths connected to this virus at the center. pandemic has been particularly precarious due to their greater vul- Nursing homes in general in Massachusetts nerability to the disease. Those living in assisted living and nursing ‘Acoustic’ Music and elsewhere are experiencing rising numbers homes in particular have fallen prey to of deaths and difficulties in staffing. it in great numbers. There is also an Chief Executive Officer Stewart Goff in his By Aram Arkun intermediate group of elderly who Page 9 informative and often times eloquent weekly Mirror-Spectator Staff were living in their homes but going report said that there were 11 deaths this during the day to special centers for month total, which is of course higher than the assistance. This group, including many average of 2-7 monthly deaths prior to the Armenians in Glendale and other areas in Los Angeles County, has INDEX advent of COVID-19. also been gravely affected by the coronavirus crisis. Arts and Living . 9 ANRC stayed one step ahead of evolving Berdj Karapetian, involved in the ownership and administration of Armenia . 2 guidelines by deciding to test all residents, seven adult day health care centers in the Los Angeles basin serving, Community News. 4 even those who are asymptomatic, on April 7, see ADAPTING, page 8 Editorial . 13 see CRISIS, page 8 International . 3 2 S ATURDAY, A PRIL 2 5 , 2 0 2 0 T HE A RMENIAN M IRROR -S PECTATOR ARMENIA News From Armenia Cases Continue Increasing in Armenia YEREVAN (Combined Sources) — On RFE/RL’s Armenian service. through renewed business activity and Armenian Archbishop April 16, a large amount of medical sup- “I think the reason for this is that tackling the deadly virus. plies necessary for protecting front-line people are not taking [the epidemic] “My thoughts are constantly with Indicted health care workers fighting the global seriously and believe that it’s based on such families because they lack COVID-19 pandemic arrived in Armenia false information,” said Giorgi Kantaria, reserves, so to speak, to get by for one, YEREVAN (RFE/RL) — Archbishop Navasard on a charter flight from China. a doctor from the Surp Grigor two or three months [without work,]” Kchoyan was charged with fraud and money laun- Thanks to a $ 100,000 donation from Lusavorich hospital who is currently he said. “They obviously need assis- dering on April 15, amid mounting tensions between the Izmirlian Foundation (as well as treating about 100 infected people tance and that assistance must come Armenia’s political leadership and the Armenian donations from other charitable organi- quarantined at a Yerevan hotel. not only from the state. Apostolic Church. zations) and as facilitated by the United “I want to assure them that it’s real “Of course, the state and business In a statement, the National Security Service Nations World Food Program in and their help is also necessary,” said need to cooperate very closely, and I (NSS) claimed that he had colluded with a business- Armenia (UNWFP) with the support of Kantaria. “Doctors’ help is not can see that the government is taking man to defraud another entrepreneur. the Office of the High Commissioner enough.” some steps in the financial, social and Although the statement named no names, it clear- for Diaspora Affairs, more than 150,000 Such appeals fell on deaf ears in the business sectors. To the best of my abil- ly referred to Ashot Sukiasyan, who was convicted in personal protective equipment (PPE) northern city of Vanadzor where more ity, I certainly give my advice when nec- December 2017 of having misappropriated most of a items, including medical suits, masks, than 2,000 employees of the local textile essary, but it’s a quite difficult prob- $10.7 million loan which his former business part- gowns, safety goggles, gloves etc. were factory, Gloria, defied a government to lem.” ner, Paylak Hayrapetyan, borrowed from an delivered to the Ministry of Health of return to their workplaces on Tuesday, “It’s not an Armenian problem, it’s a Armenian commercial bank in 2012. Sukiasyan had the Republic of Armenia. April 21, one month after being put on global problem, and it’s hard to find the pledged to invest that money in diamond mining in In addition, the United States will unpaid leave. Police officers fined sever- right balance between public health Sierra Leone.