A big loss for our community and the whole Armenian nation. His presence, leadership and dedication will be sorely missed. Zaven was like a father figure to many, including myself, leading by example in the most difficult situations. But we need to continue on the same path that he set us on—to keep the mission alive, to touch lives through our Christian faith and create prosperity for our people.
May his soul rest in the loving hands of our Lord.
Aren Deyirmenjian
Armenia Representative
It is with deep sadness that the Board of Directors of the Armenian Missionary Association of America announces the untimely passing of its beloved Executive Director/CEO Zaven Khanjian, on August 9, 2024, in Glendale, CA.
“The AMAA mourns the passing of its Executive Director/CEO Zaven Khanjian who served the organization in this position for 10 years with utmost care and dedication. In fact, his entire life was an example of service to his church, community, and the entire Armenian nation in our Homeland of Armenia and in the Diaspora,” said Dr. Nazareth Darakjian, President of the AMAA Board of Directors. “He was a true leader, very much loved by the staff, Board members, and supporters of the organization. He was a man of vision, a great communicator, a multitalented writer and speaker. He was a kind person, a family man, and his many grandchildren were the light of his life. Above all, he was a man of unshakable faith and a true soldier of Christ. Mr. Khanjian’s passing is a great loss for the AMAA, the Armenian Evangelical Church, the Armenian nation, and all of humanity. May the Holy Spirit console his family and friends and may the Lord bless his memory until the end of time.”
Husband, father, grandfather, author, and advocate of the Armenian culture and heritage both in Armenia and the Diaspora, Zaven peacefully passed away surrounded by his loving family.
Born July 31, 1944 and raised in Aleppo, Syria, he was one of five children of Armenian Genocide survivors Vasken and Verjin Khanjan. He grew up in the Armenian Evangelical Emmanuel Church and was an active member of its youth group.
Following his graduation from Aleppo College, he attended the American University of Beirut in Lebanon and in 1967 earned his bachelors degree in Business Administration. Soon after graduation he moved to the Persian Gulf and spent 13 years working in his profession, assuming top positions in prestigious companies while creating “Little Armenias” together with like-minded Armenians in the area.
He married his devoted wife Sona Kelligian in 1973 and together they began their family of two sons and a daughter. In 1979, Zaven moved with his family to California and after working for a few years, went into the real estate business starting his own successful real estate company, Kanjyan Realty in Glendale in 1987.
Zaven was appointed as Executive Director/CEO of the AMAA on September 1, 2014. During his 10-year tenure, he oversaw many milestones, including the opening of the Khoren and Shooshanig Avedisian School in Yerevan, the commemoration of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide in 2015, a successful AMAA Centennial Capital Campaign, and the AMAA’s 100th Anniversary in 2018.
Over the years, Zaven was an active member of the Greater Los Angeles Community, serving in leadership capacities at the Armenia Fund, The Armenian Evangelical Union of North America, The Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School, The United Armenian Congregational Church, Haigazian University of Beirut, the Glendale Family YMCA, The Salvation Army-Glendale Corps, American for Artsakh, The Armenian-American Real Estate Association and as Chairman of the Syrian Armenian Relief Fund, raising over $1 million dollars.
He contributed volumes of bilingual articles to American Armenia media and was the author of three Armenian books: Ays dune Kuget e Te Ims? (Is This Your House or Mine?); Srdi yev Mdki Tsolker (Reflections of the Mind and Soul); and Haleb Arachin Gayaran (Memoirs of a Memorable Childhood.)
Zaven was the recipient of numerous awards, including the Medal of Gratitude from RA President Serzh Sargsyan on May 28, 2017, in Armenia for his contributions toward strengthening Armenia-Diaspora relations and preservation of the Armenian identity. On September 13, 2019, he was awarded the Honorary Member Title from the Writers’ Union of Armenia for his books and articles on Armenia.
He was a member of the United Armenian Congregational Church in Los Angeles.
Zaven leaves behind his wife Sona; three children Vasken, Hrag and his wife Michelle, and Vana and her husband Armen Vartanian; five grandsons and one granddaughter; his brother and sisters, Laura Prather, Dicky Dodd and Dikran and Mariette Asdghig Khanjian. He was predeceased by his sister Anahid Terjimanian in April 2024.
Memorial service information will be forthcoming.
