ForeverMissed
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A great visionary, strategic leader, true promoter of education and arts, Mr. Aso Tavitian, 80, has passed away in Stockbridge, MA, on April 21, 2020. When thinking and speaking of Aso, the first word that crosses everyone's mind is integrity and dedication. Self-made success story he is one of the pioneers in the field of Information Technology, a co-founder of Syncsort corporation, a truly disruptive innovation in the field.

Please, share at this site your memories, upload pictures, tell your stories, write tributes. We will rely on memories you share when planning service to honor Mr. Aso Tavitian later this year.

In lieu of flowers,
please 
Donate to American Red Cross to combat Covid Outbreak
May 10, 2020
May 10, 2020
The legacy Mr. Tavitian has left on each Tavitian scholar is unmatched by any words that can be written. He changed our lives forever and we will never forget his generosity and graciousness.
What a blessing it was to meet him this February. The memory of his warm and very encouraging smile will stay with us forever.
We always will aim to make him proud of us and seek to justify the chance he gave us.
Forever grateful
May he rest in peace.
May 2, 2020
May 2, 2020
UNIQUE TEACHER of Humanity and Care, Generosity and Kindness, Love and Devotion.
Memory of Your Encouraging smile and Warm handshake will guide me towards Great deals.
April 27, 2020
April 27, 2020
One of the most value-added of the Tavitian Program was the chance to meet and spend time with Aso Tavitian whose greatness was in humbleness and personality spoke volumes. Meeting Aso Tavitian was life-changing. He sensitized to the feeling and ability to give back. To give back to the Earth, to our country and people in need. He lifted self-confidence and courage in us to think wider, create and act fearlessly.

He will live with us as long as we transfer the values, the values shared by him. Gratitude is far beyond what I feel...

Rest in Peace Mr. Tavitian. Your legacy will live forever.
April 27, 2020
April 27, 2020
Aso Tavitian set a very high bar with his utmost generosity and devotion to his identity and his ideals.
We, the Tavitians, carry within us Aso Tavityan’s values and his vision of the development of our homeland, which will definitely lead us to shaping the prosperous and great future of Armenia and Artsakh.
He will stay with us and within us forever.
April 26, 2020
April 26, 2020
He will always stay in our hearts and as long as we live HE lives in US...
We are Tavitian....We are family and family is forever!

April 26, 2020
April 26, 2020
Dear Mr. Tavitian,
You are a long-term visionary and have invested in one of the most important things: Education. You have given us the opportunity to learn, to grow, to discover new horizons and to develop an "out of the box" thinking. Thank you for the time you spent with us! You have shown us how to be a good and generous person. You will always stay in our hearts.
April 26, 2020
April 26, 2020
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Tavitian Fellowship for our group, and its impact echoes beyond years with our stronger ability to think and act in our roles, both in hard and easy times. For me being Tavitian scholar is a lifetime status, which I carry with pride and with all Tavitian philosophy therein…

Mr. Tavitian, just being who you are unveiled a lot to us on how to excel on every preferred avenue of life, be it profession, philanthropy, interests or altogether. But foremost - how to be an unconditionally loving and caring person, creating a family feeling from the very moment of knowing you. Every meeting with you, during the fellowship or later in Armenia, would turn into a lesson of wisdom and leadership. I will cherish all the memories from our conversations, well-peppered with empathy and humor, with always right advice and encouragement from you...

Thank you for being everlasting inspiration and a 'lighthouse' on how to live meaningfully, with generosity and humbleness. It's a long journey for us to follow the standard!

Rest in Peace, Sir, you will always be in our hearts and thoughts!

April 26, 2020
April 26, 2020
Honored and blessed to have known Aso Tavitian personally and fortunate to get his generous input in my education.

The Great Man with kind Heart and nice Soul... May God give you eternal rest and the strength to your family, to bear this painful loss.

You will be missed by so many of us ... and never forgotten ...
April 26, 2020
April 26, 2020
Received with great sorrow the news of Aso Tavitian’s demise, an extraordinary person, a man of wisdom and foresight, a paragon of virtue.
His passing is a big loss for all of us.
Aso Tavitian brought the most significant contribution to the development of Armenia and Artsakh by enabling young professionals to get fundamental education at one of the most reputable educational institutions, The Fletcher School at Tufts University. I was honored to be one of them, and like all of the Tavitians, I am personally grateful for this life-changing experience.
With his life and activity Mr Tavitian proved nothing is impossible, and the impossible is merely a challenge, became a role model to follow suit, planted the seeds of hope and determination in the hearts of hundreds of young people to believe in their potential, strive for the better and bring about change.The best way to keep his memory bright is to live through the values he cherished.
I have fond memories of the meeting with Mr. Tavitian in February 2020, during a dinner given in honor of him at the Fletcher School. Had the privilege to talk to him and get his advice: "Always try to put yourself in the place of other people with whom you deal, and try to think out your problems in terms of their prejudices. It is a gift. "
You will be remembered, dear Aso Tavitian. Huge thank you!
Just another Tavitian, Class 2020
April 26, 2020
April 26, 2020
I am grateful for the opportunity to know You...You will be always in our hearts.
April 26, 2020
April 26, 2020
Aso Tavitian was a humble man; he never liked to be the center of attention. In life and now in death, he wouldn't want us to focus on him. He wouldn't want us to focus on the sadness of his death, but instead focus on the happiness in our lives. He would want us to appreciate each other and our future.
A man as humble and loving as Aso will always be remembered by those of us who knew him and loved him. Although we will miss him, his smile, his love, we and take consolation in the good feelings of our memories.

Dear Aso,
You were a role model, and a friend. Your guidance and love will carry me through to the end of my days. I love you Aso, until we meet again.

Ave atque vale Aso
April 26, 2020
April 26, 2020
I had the privilege of working on a few projects supported by Mr. Tavitian. An ardent art aficionado, he was on the frontlines of promoting Armenian arts and culture to a broader public. His generosity and efforts to make this world a better place will forever be missed by those whose lives he changed. Mr. Tavitian's passing is a huge loss for the global Armenian community. Sincere condolences to his family, colleagues and friends.
April 25, 2020
April 25, 2020
Once 15 young Armenian specialists from different governmental fields siting in a intelegent home in Stockbridge said "We are all Tavitians"... Now it has become the credo of our life.
You taught us to think big and have big goals...You will continue to live in our minds, hearts, memories and stories which we will tell to our children... The Tavitian Family will continue as we will continue your work.
April 25, 2020
April 25, 2020
Aso changed lives and destiniesof many of us. We are all always be grateful to him for the "ticket" he gave us and for the chance to be a change he wanted to see in Armenia. Thank you, words cannot explane the pain of losing such a MAN, such a HUMAN in our lives. You were a great example of personality, of a good system of values. Thank you for a chance to know you.
April 25, 2020
April 25, 2020
Our life is divided to life before Tavitian program and after. And this is not only because we got the education, knowledge, independent and creative thinking, but also for having the honor and privilege to meet and know him – Aso Tavitian – The Great Philanthropist, Great Patriot, Kind and Generous Man and Individual – our UNCLE ASO. That is why it is very hard to realize missing him, his frank talks, his hugs, his smile, his devotion and LOVE to his fellow scholars…
April 25, 2020
April 25, 2020
I always wanted to share achievements with Aso so that he could be proud of us. He inspired us to give and to serve leading by example. That is a simple and true meaning in life that he found, so many people can't find. We will give the greatest tribute to him by living our lives with this inspiration and meaning.
April 25, 2020
April 25, 2020
It’s heartbreaking. I’ll always remember Aso, his kind sense of humor & reserved smile. I am one of the several dozens young Armenians who benefited from his generosity. I’ll keep talking to you, recalling every conversation and meeting we had. RIP Aso Tavitian, I will miss you
April 25, 2020
April 25, 2020
Mr. Tavitian also took the path to eternity: a man with unique personality, whose love for Armenia was real and practical, and not pathetic or artificial. He was a person, who invested for Armenia without expecting profit and demanding something in return. He was a person, who saw the light through education and brought that light to many young people.
I am grateful to him for my dream of studying in the U.S. to come true, and equally I am thankful to the destiny to be blessed with the chance of meeting him and storing each minute of those meetings in my memory.
April 25, 2020
April 25, 2020
There are no words to describe this greatest personality:
Just a man, who changed us, our lives and who taught us how to change the others.
Our best thanks will be to "Pay it forward" by continuing your work.

Rest In Peace dear Mr. Tavitian. You will always stay in our hearts and our minds.
April 25, 2020
April 25, 2020
A great patriot that made a real difference.

Rest in Peace, Mr. Tavitian, you will always be in our hearts...
April 25, 2020
April 25, 2020
Dear Mr. Tavitian, you had such a kind and generous spirit without expectation of receiving anything in return.
I remember you were telling a story of your English teacher who supported and inspired you. You've impacted and empowered so many lives.
I'll always be grateful to you. May your soul rest in peace. 
April 25, 2020
April 25, 2020
May I dare to say I am happy to have known Mr. Aso Tavitian personally. He impacted the whole group from the very first meeting in 1999. The most generous, great yet the most humble Man I have ever met, who inspired hundreds of young minds to become what we are now. Your contributuion towards constructing a better Armenia with Artsakh is priceless, your imput to each of us is immence. Thank you, Sir!
Always with warm and bright memories in our hearts and minds, forever yours the Young Armenian Diplomats, 1999.
April 25, 2020
April 25, 2020
Aso Tavitian's pledge for education and arts, his vision of the future was the greatest lesson I learned from him. Aso's personal story inspired and will inspire many generations of Armenians throughout the world. May your soul rest in peace.
April 25, 2020
April 25, 2020
You will always stay in my heart...
You are the One who realised my dream, gave me the most important and priceless advise in my life, gave me real friends. THANK YOU. Rest in Peace
April 25, 2020
April 25, 2020
It wasn't about the funding he provided; it was about the light he spread around.
April 25, 2020
April 25, 2020
This is a major loss for Armenia, Artsakh and the Armenians worldwide, because Mr Tavitian had the closest connection with what is called Armenian, Armenia and the unique sense of the true value and power of education. 

By educating us, Mr Tavitian gave us an invaluable opportunity to lift ourselves out of discouragement and hopelessness...
He encouraged to find ourselves as creatures of excellence, intelligence and skill.

I extend my sincere and deepest condolences to his family, friends, the Tavitian foundation, the Board of Trustees, the Barsamian family and to all of his kids - us: alumni’s of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.
April 25, 2020
April 25, 2020
Rest in Peace dear Aso Tavitian, the greatest generous personality I ever met.
The words will not be enough to describe the sorrow I feel and mourn. You will always be in my thoughts.
April 25, 2020
April 25, 2020
Many have noted the generosity of Aso Tavitian. If I may add the warmth and care by which he gave, the individual interaction, the intellectual connection with each Armenian student he cherished and wanted to be reunited back at home. I felt like he was nurturing and protecting us as he would his own children, with full acknowledgment of the context we were coming from. Yet he was more humble than any one of us. I don't even know if we deserved so much attention... perhaps we still have time to deserve it.
April 25, 2020
April 25, 2020
A man of honor, a man of Love, a man of Mission !
Your investment in the future of Armenia is priceless.
Your generosity is in our heart.
Your commandment is in our mind.
April 24, 2020
April 24, 2020
I first met Aso Assadour Tavitian about two decades ago when I was serving as dean of St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral. We were together for occasions both sad and joyful. I also enjoyed visiting his home many times for meals and other gatherings, especially with the participants from Armenia attending the Fletcher School of Diplomacy, through his sponsorship. I am grateful and blessed for having all these opportunities.
Aso was a man of honor, generous spirit, intellect, vision and kindness. Throughout his life, he became an inspiration and a hope to many, in the same way that he was inspired early in his life by his mentors.
I pray that Aso will rest in the heavenly lights and receive his reward for all the goodness that he has brought to others.
My love and condolences to Isabella and all his family members.
May he rest in eternal rest and peace.
With prayers,
Fr. Mardiros Chevian
Dean, St. Nersess Armenian Seminary
April 24, 2020
April 24, 2020
Dearest Mr. Tavitian,
You were and will always be a unique role model of kindness, generosity and grace for me. I have learned so much from you: how to approach life, believe in myself, care and be kind without any expectations. It is so hard to imagine life without someone like you. You were exceptional.

Mr. Tavitian, you will always be in our hearts and memories. Just like you were telling us the story of "Sir", I have been and will always be telling the story about YOU.
April 23, 2020
April 23, 2020
You will be always in our thoughts, forever in our hearts.

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Recent Tributes
May 10, 2020
May 10, 2020
The legacy Mr. Tavitian has left on each Tavitian scholar is unmatched by any words that can be written. He changed our lives forever and we will never forget his generosity and graciousness.
What a blessing it was to meet him this February. The memory of his warm and very encouraging smile will stay with us forever.
We always will aim to make him proud of us and seek to justify the chance he gave us.
Forever grateful
May he rest in peace.
May 2, 2020
May 2, 2020
UNIQUE TEACHER of Humanity and Care, Generosity and Kindness, Love and Devotion.
Memory of Your Encouraging smile and Warm handshake will guide me towards Great deals.
His Life

Aso O. Tavitian Obituary

April 24, 2020
Aso O. Tavitian passed away on April 21, 2020 after his courageous battle with cancer with his loving wife, Isabella Meisinger at his side.

Mr. Tavitian was born in Sofia, Bulgaria. In 1959, after leaving Communist Bulgaria, he arrived in Beirut, Lebanon. After learning English from an Armenian English High School teacher in Beirut, he was accepted at Haigazian College on a full scholarship but couldn't afford his living expenses and thought he would not be able to pursue his education when an anonymous benefactor altered his life. Mr. Tavitian later learned that his English teacher of minimal means made his education possible. 

This act of generosity and kindness is one that he never forgot. Throughout his life's journey, Mr. Tavitian was a model of integrity and decency. He approached every part of life with intellectual rigor but also with enthusiasm and a generosity of spirit. He was passionate about the arts and his heritage. He was loved and respected by all who knew him. 

Mr. Tavitian attended Columbia University and graduated in 1965 with a Master of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering and in 1969, he co-founded Syncsort Inc. and was its CEO from 1975 until April of 2008 and continued to be involved with Syncsort at the Board level until 2015. 

In 1995, he established and funded the Tavitian Foundation where his generosity and passions flourished. Always keeping his heritage close to his heart, he strived to strengthen the governance of the Republic of Armenia as well as providing educational opportunities for individuals of Armenian ethnicity. Mr. Tavitian supported research on issues of significance for a globalized world and his love of the arts. 

His Foundation's work on strengthening the governance of the Republic of Armenia includes the organization of a series of six-month special training programs for mid-level employees in various Armenian Ministries & Governmental Institutions. These programs have been designed in conjunction with the faculty of the Fletcher School of Law and International Diplomacy and are taught at Fletcher. The pride in his work could not be more evident than when attending the student graduations. There have been close to 350 graduates of this program, Tavitian Scholars.

Mr. Tavitian's efforts have been recognized by the government of Armenia through the awarding of the Order of Honor on October 7, 2017 as well as the Prime Minister's Medal in 2012. Tavitian has also been awarded Honorary Doctorates from Tufts University and Yerevan State University.

Mr. Tavitian was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Board of Trustees of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the Board of Trustees of the Frick Museum in New York, NY and the Board of Trustees of the Clark Museum in Williamstown, MA.

He is survived by his loving wife, Isabella Meisinger, his stepdaughter, Natalie Barnett (Forrest Barnett) and granddaughter, Annika and his cousins, Anahid Tatcheva, Anahid Hatzigeorgiou (Aristotle Hatzigeorgiou), his godsons, Aris Hatzigeorgiou and Athan Hatzigeorgiou and his cousin, Philippe Ohanessian (Sylvia Ohanessian) and Jean Philippe Ohanessian. He was predeceased by his parents, Ohanes Garabed Tavitian and Armeno Mavi Tavitian and brother, Henry O. Tavitian and 1st wife, Arlene Tavitian.

A private service will be held for immediate family members and a memorial service will be planned at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The American Red Cross towards the Coronavirus Outbreak fund https://www.redcross.org
Recent stories

Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center

May 22, 2020
Tomorrow it will be a month without Aso. On Sunday, May 24, one of his favorite musicians and a cherished friend, world-renowned cellist  Yo-Yo Ma is performing online Bach's Six Suites for Solo Cello. He dedicates this to those we lost in this terrible pandemics. I came across announcement through recommendation of the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center - a center of cultural excellence in Berkshire, which Aso so much enjoyed during his visits to Stockbridge.

Join us on Sunday, May 24, at 3pm EST at Live Stream of Yo-Yo Ma performance



The Boy in a Red Beret: Remembering Aso Tavitian, with sadness and gratitude

May 2, 2020
The Boy in a Red Beret: Remembering Aso Tavitian, with sadness and gratitudeby Elzbieta Matynia, Professor of Sociology at The New School for Social Research and Director of Transregional Center for Democratic Studies
https://blogs.newschool.edu/tcds/2020/04/28/a-boy-in-a-red-beret-remembering-aso-tavitian-with-sadness-and-gratitude/

It was almost exactly 5 years ago that I found myself sitting at the dinner table in an Upper East Side home whose walls were filled with an extraordinary collection of early European portraiture. I remember how the 17th-century Portrait of a Boy with a Red Beret by Sassoferato looked down upon our side of the table with a gently welcoming gaze. The dinner was hosted by Aso Tavitian, an Armenian-American philanthropist and inventor born and raised in Communist Bulgaria who — yearning to study — had managed to escape the compulsory army draft through a complicated exodus via Beirut. There, an Armenian teacher taught him English and, without his knowledge at the time,  helped to facilitate his studies at Columbia University when he landed as a refugee in New York City in 1961 at the age of 19. 

Among Aso’s dinner guests was , on the one hand, a quiet Turkish philanthropist named Osman Kavala, who had studied at NSSR in the early 1980s and was now well known for his support of human rights organizations in Turkey; and on the other hand, the widely respected Archbishop of the Armenian Apostolic Church in New York; and a few other Turks and Armenians.  The dinner was taking place just before the Centennial of the 1915 Armenian genocide in which one and a half million Armenians were exterminated by the Turks of the Ottoman Empire.  As I listened to the dinner conversation I gradually became aware that I was observing a highly-sensitive effort to address the crimes of the past by trying to set in motion what came to be known as the politics of regret. 

Would the Turkish government be willing to offer — in some emblematic moment one century later — a public apology? 

As I headed home I remember admiring Aso’s remarkable talent for bringing people together, and the trust he placed in those around him. The guests at the table all seemed to sense the gravity and the potential of the moment. Shortly thereafter the gentle Turkish philanthropist took part in a commemoration of the Armenian Genocide held near Taksim Square in Istanbul. Little did we know then in 2015 that Osman Kavala would be arrested two years later, and would still be a political prisoner today in Erdogan’s Turkey. 

Our host that memorable evening, Aso Tavitian, was a humanitarian to the core, deeply shaped by his emigree experience. His talents and professional achievements enabled him to express his curiosity and love of life and people through the generous support of a wide range of initiatives and causes. He was on the Board of Governors of the New School for Social Research and appreciated its continuation of the University-in-Exile ethos. 

As a special friend of the Transregional Center for Democratic Studies (TCDS), Aso got to know the young students from Armenia and Bulgaria whose visits to the New School or to our summer institute in Poland he had supported. They reminded him of his own younger self to whom somebody had once given a chance. Beneficiaries of the wide embrace of Aso’s generosity and warmth included school children in Massachusetts who had reading difficulties, promising future government officials in Armenia, and distinguished Visiting Professors at NSSR like Galina Starovoitova, Julia Kristeva, and Adam Michnik. 

The heartbreaking news of Aso’s passing on April 21, already announced by the president of Armenia, first reached me in an email from Yerevan the next day with condolences from Alexander Markarow, NSSR’s very first visiting fellow from Armenia. Sasha Markarow, whose 1995 fellowship had been funded by Aso Tavitian, is now a professor of politics, Deputy Vice-Rector of Yerevan State University, and (appropriately enough) head of its International Cooperation Office. 

A major source of personal joy for Aso was that extraordinary collection of pre-19th century portraits, which he would share with guests in a touching demonstration of utterly unpretentious pride, humor, and encyclopedic knowledge. I was privileged to enjoy Aso’s personal friendship, and my heart goes out to his wife, Isabella Meisinger, who has warmly co-hosted so many of us from The New School. As happened every year, their Christmas card featured a painting from Aso’s collection. This past year’s, still propped up on my desk, is that one of the Boy in a Red Beret, whose peaceful and tender gaze is only fully felt if you look at it often.  

It is good to have it nearby these days.  

Originally published on Public Seminar.

Condolences by His Holiness Catholicos of All Armenians, Supreme Patriarch Karekin II

April 24, 2020
by Hov N
With deep sorrow we were informed of the sudden passing of the great benefactor of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and Armenian Nation, a humanitarian and patriot, our beloved friend Aso Tavitian. His death is a great loss for our Holy Church and the whole nation. It is impossible to list all the patriotic deeds of our dear Aso.
The Armenian Church played an important role in his variety of activities, and by supporting it, Mr. Tavitian paid a special tribute to the initiatives to strengthen the national identity and spirit. Due to his honest commitment and zeal, “The Armenian Church in the 21st century” program was launched in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin with the vision of having an Armenian Church governed in harmony with the realities of the new century. In this regard, we have had many opportunities to enjoy the presence of the great Armenian son in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. 
Our beloved Aso also supported the education and upbringing of the new generation with the motive of having a stronger Armenia. Due to the “Tavitian” Foundation, about 350 young people from Armenia continued their education at Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University of USA, and today, they bring their service to the brightening of our Homeland in various fields.
We raise our prayer to Almighty God, to receive the soul of our devoted son with sweetness in His dwellings, and with His mercy, to compensate for his many benevolent deeds, due to which our late Aso Tavityan lived as a humble faithful, and will remain in our memory and the history of our nation.
Dear Aso, rest in peace.
On the upcoming Sunday, in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, a Repose of Souls service will be offered for the peace of the soul of Mr. Aso Tavitian.
Blessed be the memory of the righteous.

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