Fr. Artoon A. Sempadian

He passed away in his home on Sunday, January 15, 2012, with his loving family at his side after a long illness.

At age twelve, he was admitted to the St. James Seminary of the Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem. Upon graduation, he entered the Theological School and was ordained deacon by Patriarch Cyril I.

He was invited to the United States in 1950 by Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan to study at Seabury Western Episcopal Seminary in Evanston, Illinois.

He also served as deacon at that time in Racine, Wisconsin, where he met and married Betty Borian, and where he was ordained into the sacred priesthood of the Armenian Church and served for five years.

In 1955, he was called to assume the pastorate of St. John Armenian Church in San Francisco. There he undertook the planning and supervision of the construction of a new church complex and served fourteen fulfilling years as pastor.

He accepted the position of first executive director of the newly established Armenian Church Endowment Fund based in New York City, traveling extensively throughout the United States.

He returned to California in 1977. He continued his service as visiting priest at St. James parish in Sacramento. Later he assumed the position of executive director of the newly established Western Diocese Endowment Fund. He retired in 1993, after three years as parish priest of St. Mary in Yettem. He was a contributor to several publications, writing especially about the Armenian Church.

He was predeceased by sons, Michael and Tiran; his sisters, Nevere, Knar; and brother Joseph.

He is survived by Betty, his wife of 61 years; his son John; as well as grandchildren, Kimo, Tarani and Sara; three great-grandchildren, and many loving cousins, nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Funeral Home on Thursday, January 19, 2012 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. followed by an Evening Service at 7:00 p.m.

The Funeral Service is scheduled at St. John Armenian Apostolic Church in San Francisco on Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be at Cypress Lawn Cemetery in Colma, Ca.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to The Fr. Artoon Sempadian Library Memorial Fund at St. John Armenian Church, 275 Olympia Way, San Francisco, Ca., 94131; or the St. Agnes Hospice team, 6729 N. Willow, Ste. 103, Fresno, 93710. Their loving care will never be forgotten.