Obituary of George Bezirganian

Dr. George Bezirganian went home to be with the Lord on November 18, 2022, surrounded by his family. Born in Beirut on February 4, 1928 to Ohannes and Anna (Kelleyan) Bezirganian, Dr. George Bezirganian attended the Armenian Evangelical Elementary and High School before receiving his MD degree at the American University of Beirut in 1953. For five years he served as a Staff Physician in three different hospitals: the Christian Medical Center in Beirut; the Southern Baptist Mission Hospital in Ajloun, Jordan; and the Presbyterian Mission Hospital in Tripoli, Lebanon. He met nursing instructor Mary Pauline Bezirganian (no relation) in Ajloun; they married in 1958 and subsequently emigrated to the United States. He then completed an internship in Chicago followed by a residency at the Buffalo Psychiatric Center. From 1963 until his retirement in 1991 and move to Falls Church, VA, he practiced psychiatry at the Middletown Psychiatric Center—rapidly rising to the position of Deputy Clinical Director. He served as President of the West Hudson District Branch of the American Psychiatric Association in 1968. The Bezirganians raised three children in Middletown, NY: John, a psychiatrist in Ithaca, NY; Carol, a psychiatrist in Fairfax, VA; and Steve, an International Trade Analyst at U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Dr. Bezirganian became involved in the Armenian Missionary Association of America in 1960 during Reverend Tovmassian’s tenure as Executive Director. Over the ensuing years, he participated in the Personnel, Bylaws, Finance, and Executive Committees, completed numerous terms on the Board of Directors, and served as Vice President in 1960-61 during Dr. D.Y. Kassouny’s Presidency. During Dr. Bezirganian’s first presidential term (1982-84), the Armenian Missionary Association of Canada was established. During his second term (1987-88), Rev. Dr. G.H. Chopourian retired after 18 years of dedicated service as Executive Director and was succeeded by Rev. Movses Janbazian. In 1989, he went to Armenia to participate in AMAA relief efforts after the catastrophic earthquake of 1988. While living in Middletown, he was a member of the Armenian Presbyterian Church in Paramus, NJ. Upon his move to Virginia, he attended the DC Armenian Fellowship as well as the Capitol Baptist Church where, until the pandemic, he actively participated in weekly Bible study. During his retirement, he spent joyful time with his grandchildren (Allie and Nick Perez and Simon and Andrew Bezirganian), as well as watching soccer and listening to his beloved hymns. He is predeceased by his brother Sarkis and his sister, Marie Manougian, and is survived by his wife Mary Pauline, his children and grandchildren, and his sister Sirarpie Hagopian, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. He will be greatly missed, but in the words of his favorite hymn, “In the sweet by and by, we shall meet on that beautiful shore.”