Armenian Assembly of America Honors Mary Garabadian for More Than Three Decades of Dedicated Service

Mary Garabadian, Archivist

Washington, D.C. - The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) proudly honors Mary Garabadian for more than 30 years of dedicated service to the organization, marking her retirement and celebrating a legacy defined by dedication to community.

Mary joined the Armenian Assembly in 1991 as a secretary. What began as a trial period soon became a lifelong commitment. Over the next three decades, Mary became a constant and trusted presence at the Assembly—someone whose deep familiarity with the organization’s history, people, and activities made her an invaluable resource to staff, leadership, and members alike.

Throughout her tenure, Mary served in a number of essential roles, including Archivist, longtime support to the Executive Director, and a member of the Membership & Development team. She helped safeguard decades of organizational records, supported Board operations and elections, assisted with events and briefings, and served as a steady point of contact for members seeking information, assistance, or simply a friendly and familiar voice.

Mary’s connection to the Armenian Assembly was deeply personal. The daughter of genocide survivors, she grew up immersed in Armenian community life, with a strong sense of responsibility to preserve heritage, memory, and identity. That commitment shaped her decades of work at the Assembly, where she approached even the smallest task as part of a larger mission to ensure Armenians are remembered, represented, and connected.

Reflecting on her years at the Assembly, Mary shared that her work there meant more to her than any other role she had held. She took pride in witnessing the organization grow from the vision of a small group of dedicated founders to the institution it is today, and remained hopeful that the Assembly would continue striving to make the world a better place for all Armenians, without ever forgetting their heritage.

Mary Garabadian will be recognized for her extraordinary contributions at the Armenian Assembly of America’s Celebration of Service on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at the Artists for Humanity EpiCenter in Boston, Massachusetts. Alongside Armenian Assembly Board of Trustees members and fellow longtime staff, Mary will receive the Armenian Assembly of America's Distinguished Service Award in recognition of more than 25 years of service.

"As the first employee in the Armenian Assembly’s history to retire, Mary Garabadian leaves behind a legacy defined by dedication, warmth, and an unwavering commitment to community," said Anthony Barsamian, Immediate Past Co-Chair, and Van Krikorian, Chair Emeritus. "Her generosity of spirit and deep-rooted connection to the Assembly’s mission helped shape the organization across decades of change. The Armenian Assembly of America extends its heartfelt gratitude to Mary Garabadian for her extraordinary service and wishes her the very best in her well-earned retirement."

Although general tickets for the Celebration of Service have sold out, a limited number of Young Professional tickets are available.

Supporters near and far can still be part of this special moment. ​​In recognition of their contributions, we invite you to make a tribute gift in honor of this year’s Distinguished Service Award recipients.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a strictly non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization. 

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