Aram Peter Kezirian

Peter Kezirian, beloved husband, brother, uncle and son passed away suddenly on November 19, 2012. He was only 48. Born June 1, 1964, the first-born son of Aram Peter Kezirian, MD and Marilyn Tevriz Kezirian of Los Angeles, Peter attended Harvard School in North Hollywood and graduated with honors from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. He later earned his law degree from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, where he was Articles Editor of the Law Review and competed in Moot Court competitions. He married Michelle Marie Janigian on November 7, 1998.

Peter's devotion to public service and love for politics began early. After nurturing his interests as a competitive high school speaker and debater, attending a university in our nation's capital was the logical next step. While at Georgetown, he became the first intern to work for U.S. Senator Pete Wilson and ultimately joined his staff as the Research Assistant for National Security. As a junior, he chaired the largest Model United Nations program in the world, with 3,200 students and a multi-million dollar budget. His commitment to the school and his fellow students earned him recognition as the 1985 School of Foreign Service Student of the Year.

Upon returning to California, Peter served for two Governors. He volunteered for George Deukmejian's California gubernatorial campaign in 1982 and was a member of his finance team for the Governor's re-election effort in 1986. He continued his commitment to the then-Governor Wilson, who appointed him as the General Counsel for the California Department of Corporations. The Department had regulatory and oversight responsibilities for nearly 60% of the California economy, including health care, securities, bond offerings and financial services. His work earned him recognition by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the top 50 Californians in health care.

Peter extended his civic involvements to numerous international organizations. With the ratification of Armenia's constitution after independence, Peter was a member of the seven-member faculty, headed by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, for the 1995 Armenian Judiciary Conference in Yerevan on issues of constitutional interpretation. As a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Peter served on task forces evaluating NATO's military role in Bosnia and Kosovo and a wide range of bilateral issues facing the U.S. and Mexico. In 2003, with the International Republican Institute, he joined a team spearheaded by Governor Christine Todd Whitman to oversee Cambodia's national elections. As an active member of the Pacific Council on International Policy, he headed an eight-member delegation to observe and report on changes in U.S. Army training tactics and methods in armored warfare, a skill he developed as the eldest of five brothers. More recently, as a German Marshall Plan Fellow, Peter worked with business, governmental and philanthropic leaders in six countries to help strengthen transatlantic relationships.

Reflecting his deep commitment to America and Armenia, Peter, a fifth-generation Armenian-American, brought his considerable expertise to the Armenian Assembly as its State Chair in California. Peter was an integral part of the Assembly's leadership and served on the national Board of Trustees. In 2009, Peter was recognized as a community leader by the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church.

Peter's devotion to public service was complemented by his work in the private sector. After completing law school, Peter joined the international law firm of Debevoise & Plimpton, where he practiced corporate and securities law for six years. In 1998, Peter joined the Cooperative of American Physicians-Mutual Protection Trust, a medical malpractice trust, and was most recently the Senior Vice President for Corporate Strategy and Strategic Development. For the last 14 years, he was instrumental in creating programs to serve physicians and promote patient safety while developing business opportunities and intellectual property. Peter's brilliance, passion, and energy were the source of countless innovations both at CAP and beyond.

Passionate and compassionate, Peter embraced life and adventure. His lifelong enthusiasm for sports was highlighted by being a Georgetown basketball play-by-play announcer during the Patrick Ewing era and an amateur NBA capologist. He was a fountain of information, fuelled by his voracious reading of history, politics, and biographies. His zest for learning and insatiable curiosity triggered numerous world travels, a passion he shared with Michelle. Many will simply remember Peter as a mentor – to his four younger brothers, their friends, his colleagues, and anyone he encountered. Integrity and loyalty guided him, and as Peter often reminded all of us, he was happiest when those around him were happy.

Peter is survived by his beloved wife Michelle; loving mother Marilyn; his four admiring brothers Michael, Eric (Lorig), Stephen (Elizabeth), and Douglas; his sister-in-law Nicole Simonian (Andrew); his darling nieces Charlotte Kezirian and Ashley Simonian and nephew Alex Simonian.

In lieu of flowers, charitable donations can be made to the Aram Peter Kezirian, Jr. Foundation at 2335 East Colorado Boulevard, Suite 115-230, Pasadena, CA 91107.

Visitation will be at Forest Lawn Glendale on Sunday, November 25 from 2:00-9:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the United Armenian Congregational Church on Monday, November 26 at 12:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Glendale