Kevork Arslanian, 100, survived WWI massacre

March 30, 2006
The Plain Dealer
Richard M. Peery, dpeery@plaind.com, 216-999-4807
Plain Dealer Reporter

Garfield Heights- Kevork "George" Arslanian, 100, a survivor of the slaughter of Armenians in Turkey during World War I and a Cleveland barber since 1928, died Monday at Marymount Hospital.

Arslanian was living in Malatia, Tur key, when he and two sib lings were res cued by an un cle who had converted to Islam and a Muslim woman.

Their parents and other family members died in the massacre that took an estimated 1.5 million Christian Armenians' lives.
[...]
Although 24 nations have labeled it an act of genocide, the Turkish government denies responsibility for the deaths.

The children were placed in a Red Cross orphanage in Syria.

Another uncle in Cleveland tried to send for them but was blocked by immigration quotas. The uncle provided passage to Cuba, where the children shined shoes and did odd jobs for several years. In 1927, prohibition-era rum runners smuggled them into the United States.

Arslanian never attended school beyond kindergarten, but he taught himself to read using a dictionary and newspapers. He enrolled in Miller Barber College and was awarded the 11th license issued in Ohio. In 1932 he opened a barbershop with his brother.
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Although two years ago Arslanian stopped driving to the barbershop to cut hair each Friday, he continued to help repair rugs one or two days a week.

Arslanian was a founding member of St. Gregory of Narek Armenian Church. The congregation built the area's first Armenian Orthodox church in Richmond Heights in the 1960s. He remained one of its leaders throughout his life.
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