Garo Matossian

Garo S. Matossian (b. August 5, 1921) passed away surrounded by family on March 11, 2004, at his son’s home in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was 82. Born Garabed Setrak Matossian in Aintab, Cilician Armenia, he was the son of Professor Setrak Matossian of Central Turkey College and educator Eliza Ayvazian Matossian. The Matossians and their children were forced into permanent exile in 1922 during the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide. They eventually settled in Aleppo, Syria.

Matossian graduated first in his class from the medical school of the American University of Beirut, where he met his future wife, historian Mary Allerton Kilbourne. He immigrated to the US in 1952 to continue his studies at Harvard University’s School of Public Health.

He was married in 1954 and became an American citizen in 1958. After holding medical positions in Boston and in Buffalo, New York, Matossian joined the Yater Clinic in Washington, DC, where he remained for 28 years and served as chairman of its board. While professor of hematology at the Georgetown University School of Medicine, he received the Vicennial Award for teaching. He also was attending physician at Georgetown University Hospital, Washington Hospital Center, and Sibley Memorial Hospital. Matossian was a fellow of the American College of Physicians and resided for 40 years in Bethesda, MD.

Long active in Armenian affairs, Matossian was a steadfast supporter of the Armenian Assembly of America (Fellow Trustee), the Armenian General Benevolent Union, the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research, the Armenian Library and Museum of America, and the Armenian Numismatic Society.

He is survived by his wife Mary, daughters Lou Ann and Michele Irene, and sons Viken Raffi and Mark Garo.