Nishan Parlakian: 75 Years of Personal Memories

This paper is a revised version of a talk, “A Tribute to Dr. Nishan Parlakian,” presented on November 19, 2008 at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral.

We are honoring tonight a person who was larger than life, both literally and figuratively!

Nishan Parlakian’s life experiences parallel those of his contemporaries described in Tom Brokaw’s 1998 book, The Greatest Generation. Nishan was a member of a group who came of age during the Great Depression, served in World War II and then developed useful lives.

Let me share personal memories of this unique man whom I knew for nearly 75 years.

Let’s call these memories “Parlakiana!”

My First Encounter with Nishan Parlakian

Nishan Parlakian first entered my life in September 1937 at Wingate Junior High School (P.S. 40) on East 20th Street. A small group of 12-year-olds were selected for the “Rapids Class” to complete the 3-year Junior High program in 2 years.

Nishan was elected Class Secretary. Here is what he wrote about me in my graduation book:

“May your speed never be unsurpassed

And your marks always pass.”

Question:  Were these enigmatic remarks the beginning of Nishan’s writing career?

Our Stuyvesant High School Days

The next step in our academic journey was prestigious Stuyvesant High School, then located on East 15th Street.

Nishan’s accomplishments  printed in our June 1942 yearbook pointed to a promising career in science or engineering: Honor Roll; Physics Society; Engineering Society; Electrical Society; and, Silver Scholarship Pin.

During our Senior Year, Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941. Little did Nishan or I realize that, in another two years, we would be drafted into the army and enter combat in Europe.

City College Days

Nishan and I entered City College in September 1942 as engineering students. Competition was fierce at that school. Most of us were children of immigrants determined to train for meaningful professions.

On a humorous note. I don’t know whether wartime patriotism motivated us — but Nishan and I enrolled in ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corps) at City College. We wore World War I-style uniforms.  Nishan was over a foot taller than me.  Imagine subway passengers gawking at these disproportionately-sized “soldiers” resembling the cartoon characters Mutt and Jeff!  Perhaps people thought: “Looks like the army is scraping the bottle of the barrel!”

Nishan and I finally had a reality check. We were eventually drafted into the army.

I went first in December 1943, assigned to the 29th Infantry Division in Normandy.

Nishan’s Military Career

Nishan was subsequently drafted in 1944 and assigned to the 87th Infantry Division (“Golden Acorn”). He was awarded Battle Ribbons for the following campaigns: Ardennes; Rhineland; and Central Europe.  His division participated in the Battle of the Bulge during the bitterly cold winter of 1944/1945. It was a last- ditch effort by Hitler to break the Allied grip on the Western Front.

Here is remarkable coincidence.

In January 1946, I returned to the U.S. from Germany for discharge. While being processed at Fort Dix (New Jersey), I heard a familiar voice from an adjoining room barking out orders to soon-to-be veterans. You guessed it! It was 20-year-old Staff Sergeant Nishan Parlakian, who would be discharging me from the army!

This was another milestone in our lifelong friendship!

Nishan and the Davenport Free Theatre

After his military service, Nishan transferred to Syracuse University, majoring in English and Drama. He caught the acting bug and even starred in William Saroyan’s The Beautiful People.

Unknown to many, another phase of Nishan’s acting career took place in a New York City building (138 East 27th Street) with Armenian connections. The building had once been a Swedish Baptist Church, later a Knights of Columbus Hall and an Armenian church, only to finally be transformed into the Davenport Free Theatre.

Butler Davenport stocked his casts and production crews with young student volunteers, including ….  Guess who?  Nishan Parlakian!

Davenport rechristened Nishan with a new name, “Mark” Parlakian! So, during the 1940s, “Mark” Parlakian was listed in Davenport Free Theatre Programs playing roles such as Sir Lyddon Crane in A Builder of Bridges and the Judge in The Bells.

After his Davenport career, the name “Mark” Parlakian was mercifully put to rest!

Nishan’s Memorable Visit to the University of Michigan

In the summer of 1949, Nishan “invited himself” to my apartment at the University of Michigan where I was a graduate student in chemistry.

For one week, I had to suffer listening to two budding “literary superstars”: my 23-year-old hard- charging apartment mate, Alfred Slote (a future best-selling author) and 24-year-old laid-back Nishan Parlakian, each trying to convince the other on the soundness of their literary theories and writing styles.

It was a rare experience to witness the clash of these two talented young writers.

Nishan’s Family

A major milestone in Nishan’s life was his marriage to Florence (“Flo”) Mechtel in December 1952. I was honored to serve as Nishan’s best man.

Dear Flo, I always admired the steady support you gave Nishan in nearly 60 years of marriage. I have always been impressed with your quiet dignity.

Nishan and Flo were blessed with two children: Elisabeth and Nishan Payel. Young Nishan was named in honor of his paternal grandfather, Raphael Parlakian, affectionately known as “Payel.”

Nishan would often share stories with me about his creative dignified father, Raphael: Jeweler; Poet and Artist.

What a rich legacy Nishan inherited from his father, Raphael!

Did you know that, in 1911, young Raphael walked many miles in his native Sepastia (Sivas) to meet the famed Armenian poet, Daniel Varoujan, who was later martyred in 1915?

Nishan, a dutiful son, made a trip to Armenia in 2006 to arrange for republication of his father’s book of poetry: Yergink, Yergir, Yev Khorurt (Heaven, Earth and the Supreme Intelligence).

Raphael also wrote a book in English in 1943, published by Harbinger House, entitled One Hundred and One Nights: A Philosopher-Poet’s Commentary on Life and Art.

In retrospect, time was not gracious in recognizing the talents of this Armenian intellectual.

Nishan Parlakian and the Armenian Theatre

Here are a few personal insights on Nishan’s contributions to the Armenian Theatre.

From 1950-1954, I recall seeing many Armenian Students Association sponsored plays where Nishan served as Artistic Director. Nearly 50 years later (1999), the ASA honored Nishan as the 14th recipient of the prestigious Arthur H. Dadian Award, for his lifetime efforts as a champion of Armenian culture.

We are all aware of Nishan’s later role as Artistic Director of the Diocesan Players from 1972—1988.

Let me just focus on one play for personal reasons.

Sooren Manuelian’s play, Sardarabad, was presented on February 17, 1977 on the occasion of the observance of St. Vartanantz. Sardarabad was the site of a life-and-death struggle in May 1918 between poorly armed Armenian troops and overwhelming Turkish forces, which led to the establishment of the first Armenian Republic.

On the Playbill, beneath the title, Sardarabad, were listed three names:

• Director – Dr. Nishan Parlakian
• Costumes – Ruth Thomason (Thomasian)
• Costume Assistant – Gadarine Boudakian

Who were the other two names besides Nishan?

As Costume Designer, Ruth Thomasian sought photographs of authentic Armenian costumes. This ultimately led Ruth to switch her career path and launch the renowned Project Save Armenian Photographic Archives.

The Costume Assistant, Gadarine Boudakian, was my late mother who contributed her talents as an experienced seamstress for Nishan’s plays.  She provided another Boudakian linkage to Nishan, besides myself.

Closure with the Past

As you recall, Nishan and I met in 1937 at Wingate Junior High. Suddenly, in the 1990s, Wingate became part of our lives again. I proposed to Nishan and other classmates that we hold a Wingate Reunion. The idea caught on fire!

We started having annual reunions: New York City, Saratoga Springs and Tucson.

Nishan and Flo even celebrated marriage and retirement milestones by gracious inclusion of Wingate classmates as guests.

Conclusion

My final words to my departed friend and Brother:

“Dear Nishan: You have enriched the lives of so many people. What a wonderful Legacy. Thank you!”

Editor’s Note: A memorial service honoring Dr. Nishan Parlakian, Ph.D., will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2011 at 11 a.m. at the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), 630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016 (at 34th Street). Refreshments will follow the service. Please RSVP to Florence Parlakian at 516-632-8111 or via e-mail to Elizabeth Parlakian at eparlakian[at]gmail[dot]com.