Armenian Author Still Writing, Flying Planes at Age 87

So much for an 87-year-old who doesn’t know the meaning of retirement. In fact, he’s enamored by it.

Twenty years ago, Khanbegian made his debut as a successful author with “Garoong,” a fictional work based upon stories and characters he encountered as a youth born in Lawrence, MA and raised in New York City.

A decade later came the sequel, “Flames of Artsakh,” which follows the careers of his previous characters through the devastating earthquake and ongoing saga of Turkish oppression.

So why stop now?

A third book is currently in process called “Onnig.” All Khanbegian will say...[only] that it’s about a family friend with an unbelievable life story that should be told.

“Since it’s still a work in progress, I don’t wish to speak too much about it right now,” he confirms. “You’ll have to wait for the book.”

If it’s anything like the first two, look for brisk sales and a delightful read. The books found themselves in many Armenian homes and bookstores with buoyant reviews.

Mention his age and it draws instant debate.

“It’s only a matter of numbers,” he admits with a debonair look. “I may be older chronologically, but not old.”

So what keeps him going? The literary scene, for one, still writing books for publication.

Flying for another. Khanbegian is a licensed pilot who finds a sensation of being in control above the clouds that’s difficult to match.

Then there’s the call of the volunteer group of pilots in “Angel Flights” who transport sick people to hospitals that cannot otherwise afford the cost. Many cancerous children were flown to Boston from Northern Maine with Khanbegian in control.

And finally, there’s his job as a quality control manager for a precision machine company in Salem. Khanbegian writes procedures, handles inspections and interfaces with vendors to make certain the finished product meets military specifications.

A regular and disciplined exercise routine, nourishing food, his spiritual belief and creative view of life are all prerequisites for a long and rewarding life.

“I’ve always enjoyed working with younger people,” he says. “They keep me sharp and on top of my job. I happen to be a one-man operation for my company.”

When Khanbegian decided to write “Garoong” 20 years ago, at the ripe age of 67, he wanted to tell the Armenian story in such a way that would also appeal to outsiders.

Based on fact, the book spoke to many first-generation children of immigrants and their struggle to assimilate in such a way that it read effortlessly.

The novel follows three generations through their life cycles, much like Pearl Buck’s “The Good Earth.”

“So often, readers have confessed to me they found a relationship with the characters and the challenges they faced,” Khanbegian brought out. “Non-Armenians expressed disbelief and shock when they read of the genocide and how our race was dismantled and thrown to the far corners of the world.”

The sequel turned into a natural progression for Khanbegian in his attempt to portray a family’s welfare in what has become society’s “melting pot.” There is pathos, understanding, joy and sadness woven into the plot.

Khanbegian and three siblings were born in Lawrence, Mass., a thriving Armenian community surrounded by churches and organizations. Both his parents hailed from the Armenian village of Tchemesh Gedzek just before the genocide.

“My mother decided to hide all the family valuables, believing always in her eventual return to Armenia,” said Khanbegian.

Aurora Mardigian, a first cousin to Khanbegian’s father, remained behind and suffered through the atrocities. Through certain Christian charities, she managed to escape her captors and eventually arrived in America.

With the help of a couple who became her guardians, she wrote a book about her experiences titled “Auction of Souls,” which was published in 1918. The work was converted into a film the following year which created quite a furor throughout the Western world.

The book is available on the Internet entitled “Ravished Armenia,” the story of Aurora Mardigian.

The Khanbegians moved to New York City when Peter was 4 and settled in Brooklyn where the father operated a dry cleaning and tailor shop. After graduating from Brooklyn Technical High School, he served with the Navy in World War II where he rose from an ordinary seaman to machinist’s mate first class.

His wife, Jean, is a professional artist who ran her own gallery in Bar Harbor, Maine, for 20 years. The two decided to go out on a limb and purchased a small hotel and restaurant in Bar Harbor, which they turned into a successful venture.

“Although she’s an odar [sic], Jean has adapted well to Armenian culture, especially from a culinary standpoint,” he says. “She learned many of the special recipes from my mother.”

A correspondence with California author Laura Kalpakian has led to mutual respect and lasting impressions of one another’s literary talents. Kalpakian has authored several works, including “Cosette,” a sequel to Victor Hugo’s “Les Miserables.”

Khanbegian finds Armenia on a very crucial threshold today, with Russia trying its best to re-establish its influence throughout the Eastern Bloc countries like Ukraine, Estonia and Poland.

He would like nothing better than to see Armenia become an economic free trade republic.

“With the blockade by Turkey and Azerbaijan, Armenia’s only hope is to have good relations with Georgia in terms of exports and imports, even though they were never sympathetic to our problems,” he feels. “Georgia is a Christian country and one would expect that it be on friendly terms with its neighbors.”