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Librarian And Author Virginia Tashjian Dies At 86

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  • Librarian And Author Virginia Tashjian Dies At 86

    LIBRARIAN AND AUTHOR VIRGINIA TASHJIAN DIES AT 86
    By Jillian Fennimore

    Watertown TAB & Press
    April 1 2008
    MA

    WATERTOWN - If there's one thing Virginia Tashjian was quite good at
    it was telling stories.

    Now her close friends and family are joining together to tell her
    own tale.

    Tashjian, 86, was well known as former director of the Newton Free
    Library, a children's book author and Sunday school supervisor at St.

    Stephen's Armenian Apostolic Church in Watertown. She died Friday,
    March 28 from a brain tumor.

    Virginia's son, Douglas Sevan Tashjian, said while growing up on
    Belmont Street in Watertown, both his parents made a life out of
    giving to others. He jokes about becoming "tiresome" thinking of his
    mother's extensive resume.

    "Above all things, she spent her entire life catering to needs of
    other people before she did anything for herself," Douglas said.

    "She's gone now but she is still helping me out."

    Kathy Glick-Weil, the recently retired director of the Newton Library,
    said she followed in Virginia's footsteps for the past 14 years.

    "What I really remember is that she left the library in such incredibly
    good shape," she said. "Virginia was an exceptional person. She had
    more energy on the day she left than I had on the day I walked in."

    As former chairperson of the library's Board of Trustees, Dorothy
    Reichard said she worked diligently with Virginia in their efforts
    to get the new library built through fundraising and citywide support.

    "Virginia was one of the most dedicated professional women I had the
    privilege to work with," she said. "It was her determination and love
    for her work in the Newton community that led to the building of one
    of the finest buildings in the community."

    Mary Alemian, a close friend and volunteer at the library, said
    Virginia was a household name in the building for 50 years as both
    a branch librarian and director.

    "Everyone knows Virginia and everyone adored her," Alemian said. "She
    was so able, especially with the children."

    Friends of Virginia say she had a strong connection with kids as a
    professional children's librarian and storyteller. So much that the
    Newton Library's children's room was dedicated to her.

    According to her obituary, Virginia was also president of the
    Children's Roundtable, president of the Massachusetts Library
    Association, president of New England Library Association and a member
    of the American Library Association. Her six children's books received
    several honors and citations.

    "She did it all," Alemian said.

    At St. Stephen's Armenian Church, Virginia began a Sunday school
    program and served as the school's supervisor and kindergarten teacher.

    Virginia's credits also include being a member of Newton League of
    Women Voters, Women's National Book Association, Boston Museum of
    Fine Arts, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Newton Symphony Orchestra,
    Huntington Theater and Boston Lyric Opera.

    Douglas said while sorting through his mother's paperwork he found
    a handful of single unused tickets to upcoming shows and symphony
    orchestras.

    "If she was not lecturing, she was going to some concert," he said.

    "She made a life of that."

    Ernest Webby, Jr., a part-time reference librarian at both Newton
    and Wellesley Libraries, said he knew Virginia for many years and is
    comforted with his good memories of her.

    "She was a wonderful, thoughtful woman, who always treated me and
    others with kindness," he wrote in an email. "Her passing brings
    sadness to all who knew her."

    Wife of the late James H. Tashjian, Virginia also leaves behind her two
    grandsons, two grandsons, Jonathan Scott Tashjian and Jeffrey Maxwell
    Tashjian of Hopkinton; two nephews, Dr. Kenneth Shant Manuelian and
    Roy Shahan Der Manuelian; and her great-nephew, John Kenneth Manuelian
    of Florida.

    She was sister of the late Armenoohi Armane Manuelian.

    Remembering Virginia Funeral services are scheduled to be held
    Thursday, April 3, at 11 a.m., in St. Stephen's Armenian Apostolic
    Church, 38 Elton Ave. in Watertown. Visiting hours are scheduled for
    6 to 9 p.m., Wednesday at the Aram Bedrosian Funeral Home, 338 Mount
    Auburn St. in Watertown.

    Burial will be at Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge.

    Memorial donations may be made to St. Stephen's Armenian Church,
    38 Elton Ave., Watertown, MA 02472-4116; Friends of Armenian Culture,
    P.O. Box 87, Belmont, MA 02478-0002; or to the Newton Free Library, 330
    Homer St., Newton Centre, MA 02459, Attention: Nancy Perlow, director.

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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