The AECP’s board and staff shares our deepest sympathy on the passing of Mr. Luther J. Khachigian. As we say goodbye to our beloved friend, we reflect on Luther’s booming personality, love of family, thoughtful generosity, and his relentless desire to give back and make a lasting impact for the people of Armenia. Luther came from humble beginnings as the son of John and Elizabeth Khachigian. His father, “Ohannes,” fled his historic homeland as a survivor of the Armenian Genocide, and when settling in Central California the Khachigian family personified the many Armenian immigrant families who made their livings as farmers.
Luther worked alongside his brothers on the family farm through his college years and began his own successful business on one acre leased on the soil where he toiled as a young man. From there, he went on to form his own business and determined to honor his Armenian heritage through charitable giving. A longtime supporter of the AECP, Luther has contributed greatly to our organization’s many sight-saving initiatives. This includes the funding of a Regional Eye Center in Gyumri – the John Ohannes Khachigian AECP Regional Eye Center – named after Luther’s father who Luther loved and respected very much.
“Luther was not only a great supporter and a generous and committed benefactor, but he was also a very dear friend,” AECP Founder Dr. Roger Ohanesian shared. “He was instrumental in providing long-term support to various AECP initiatives and always stressed the importance of getting more Armenians involved.” Luther’s tremendous impact and contribution to eye care in Armenia will be felt for generations to come as thousands of patients continue to be treated at his regional center in Gyumri. He will be sorely missed by us all.
