Former Massachusetts House Speaker George Keverian, 77, is mourned

by Lou Ann Matossian

Published: Wednesday March 11, 2009

Former Massachusetts House Speaker George Keverian, 2nd from right, with, from left, the Armenian National Committee's Sharistan Melkonian, Lt. Governor Tim Murray, and Governor Deval Patrick, October 2006. ANC Boston - Lying in state at his beloved Massachusetts House on March 11, former Speaker George Keverian was remembered as a champion of free speech and government reform, and as a powerful politician who never forgot his Armenian immigrant roots. Revered for his kindness, generosity, and loyalty, Mr. Keverian was devoted to his family and friends, his hometown of Everett, and the legislature, which he had served for a quarter-century.

"As an Armenian-American, I am deeply saddened by the passing of former Speaker George Keverian," stated Massachusetts Representative Peter J. Koutoujian. "He was a hero in our community, not only in Massachusetts, but throughout the country and around the world. Armenians everywhere were incredibly proud of George and the great strides he made on behalf of our culture."

The firstborn son of a shoe repairer and a dressmaker, Mr. Keverian was educated at Tufts and Harvard colleges. His political career, which began in 1953 with a successful bid for a seat on the Everett Common Council, culminated in his six years at the helm of the Massachusetts House.

"Speaker Keverian's commitment to free speech and open government set the standard for civic reform throughout the Commonwealth – a legacy which has touched all levels of Massachusetts governance," stated Armenian National Committee of Eastern Massachusetts chairwoman Sharistan Melkonian. "At the same time, his commitment to proper U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide and devotion to Armenian-American concerns garnered the respect and admiration of our communities nationwide."

Both Rep. Koutoujian and the ANCA credited Speaker Keverian with organizing the annual Armenian Genocide observance at the State Capitol, which continues to this day. When he was no longer serving in the House, Mr. Keverian returned to speak at the commemoration, Rep. Koutoujian told the Armenian Reporter.

"Here in the greater Boston area, across the nation, and even rippling across to Armenia, he was a significant Armenian-American figure," Rep. Koutoujian said. "Probably tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of people know about Armenians and the Armenian Genocide only because of George Keverian.

"He was a person who rose to very high levels of prominence in political circles but remained proud and vocal about two parts of his life," added Rep. Koutoujian. "One was his home city of Everett, which he spoke of all the time. The other was his Armenianism."

At the 1988 Democratic National Convention, Speaker Keverian, Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, and Boston Herald political columnist Peter Lucas were watching on television as Texas Governor Ann Richards nominated Mr. Dukakis for president. "As Richards winds up her rip-roaring speech and the convention breaks out in wild applause," Mr. Lucas recalled in the Boston Globe, "Keverian looks at Dukakis and then at me and says: ‘Here we are, an Armenian American, an Albanian American, and a Greek American. And one of us is being nominated for president. Is this a great country, or what?' "

Mr. Keverian taught officials "not to forget your roots," current House Speaker Robert DeLeo told the Globe. A board member of St. Stephen's Armenian Elementary School in Watertown, Mr. Keverian inspired others to follow in his footsteps.

"Even as a young teen, I remember my father bringing me into the State House to visit with Speaker Keverian," Rep. Koutoujian recalled in an interview with the Reporter. "I've come full circle from having met this man to serving in the chamber he served in." Although Mr. Keverian left the House about six years before Rep. Koutoujian was elected, he continued to refer young Armenians to the legislator for mentoring.

On the morning of his death, Mr. Keverian was scheduled to read at an Everett elementary school that bears his name, the Globe reported. A lifelong bachelor who doted on his extended family, the former Speaker was found by co-worker Carl Surabian in the "three-decker" house in Everett where he had lived his entire life.

Funeral services were announced for 11 a.m. on March 12 at Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church of Greater Boston, 145 Brattle St., Cambridge. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations were suggested for the Eliza Keverian Charitable Foundation, a fund that serves the needy and was established in memory of Mr. Keverian's mother.

Mr. Keverian was "a great example of what it means to be a public servant, Armenian-American and human being," stated Rep. Koutoujian. "We all mourn the loss of an exceptional man and a kind, gentle soul."