Remembering Sosy Krikorian Kadian

 

Sosy Krikorian Kadian

   There is a famous quote from the great Armenian writer William Saroyan. The quote is inspirational and speaks of the resilience and pride of the Armenian people especially in the Diaspora. The last line basically says that whenever two Armenians "meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” No one I have ever met embodied this spirit more than Sosy Krikorian Kadian.  If she were one of the two people that met, their new Armenia simply shined brighter.  

      Sosy passed away on August 12, 2016.  Everyone that knew her, even casually if it was even possible to know Sosy in merely a casual way, was saddened to hear the news.  We knew that we had lost someone quite special.  She was part of that great American generation but in a very American Armenian way.  While she was born in the US (October 18, 1928) and, as far as I know, never visited her ancestral homelands which are in present day Turkey, she carried that noble spirit of those lands, the yergir, and people in her heart and in her soul.  Nonetheless, she created a new Armenia in everything she did.  Her Armenia was an inspiration to countless Armenians.  

     We got to know Sosy at the Armenian Week in the Poconos which started in the mid-1980s and ran until the late 1990s.  With her father, Anoush Krikorian, they were responsible for the cultural programs at these gatherings.  There were poems, plays, songs, and dance some well planned and other more impromptu that entertained everyone.  She involved everyone, those who were willing and those who were more on shy side.  She especially loved to get the children up to sing or recite as they were clearly our future.  Her energy and enthusiasm were boundless and, what always impressed me, completely authentic.  With her guidance and example, we created a new Armenia every night in the Poconos.  

     Sosy made everyone feel welcome, engaged, and special.  At the Poconos, this included my wife's grandmother Anagil, our parents, us, and our children.  Thus in our specific case, Sosy's charm and magic easily spanned four generations.  

     As I write this, her funeral services are tomorrow.  I wish I were still out East so I could attend.  No doubt there will be many in attendance by people who all see Sosy in the same way.  There will certainly be more people that want to eulogize her or share a few memories than can possibly be accommodated.  She was that kind of lady.  

Sosy and Hagop

     Sosy and Hourig Papazian-Sahagian partnered through the years in many different cultural events and shows.  Before leaving New York for Chicago in 2006, this duo got me involved in a production called The Way We Were.  It was play, a musical revue, about the first generation of Armenians to come to the US.  It was a delight and honor to perform with the troupe for two performances.  I was glad to have had that experience.

     One cannot think about Sosy without fondly recalling her husband, Hagop Kadian.  Hagop, a wonderful fellow, had passed away in 1994.  They were a great and endearing couple.  Many of the Facebook posts on Sosy's passing comment that Sosy and Hagopig are together again, dancing again as they were renowned for.  The great Onnik Dinkjian, a close friend to the Kadians, wrote a verse in tribute to Sosy and Hagop in his song Karnan Dzaghig:

Sosyin baruh yar djan, Hagopin heduh yar djan

Polor ashkharuh yar djan, chigah numanuh yar djan yar yaro djan

Sosi's dance, with Hagop

There is nothing like it in this world.

Anyone that has ever seen Sosi and Hagop Kadian dance knows that Onnik captured a perfect memory.  He also captured something much more. When the danced they did indeed create a new Armenia for themselves and everyone in the room.

Our deepest condolences to the Baylerian and Kadian families.

Asdvadz hokin lusavoreh.

===

Photos in this posting were taken from Nvair Beylerian's (Sosy's daughter) Facebook page.

Also, please read Ara Topouzian's lovely tribute to Sosy on his blog hyetimesmusic.com.