Mirror Celebrates With Style

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By Alin K. Gregorian
Mirror-Spectator Staff

WATERTOWN, Mass. — The Armenian Mirror-Spectator is marking its 78th anniversary on December 9 at 7:30 p.m. with a program featuring local and national journalists at the elegant Taj Boston Hotel.

The program, titled “Celebrating 78 Years and Beyond” will feature as keynote speaker Tim Kurkjian of ESPN. Kurkjian is a baseball analyst and reporter for ESPN TV and the Emmy award-winning ESPN productions’ “Baseball Tonight” and “SportsCenter.” He is also a senior writer for ESPN magazine and ESPN.com and a frequent contributor to baseball discussions on Tony Kornheiser’s “Pardon the Interruption,” ESPN radio and numerous other radio baseball programs, including NPR’s “Only a Game.” He has been covering major league baseball for 30 years, including eight years writing for Sports Illustrated before joining ESPN in 1998. He wrote his first book, America’s Game, in 2000. His second book, Is This a Great Game or What?, was released in 2007.

Kurkjian grew up in Bethesda, Md. And attended Walter Johnson High School, named for the great Washington Senators pitcher. He graduated from the University of Maryland with a BS in journalism in 1978. He currently resides in Darnestown, Md. with his wife, Kathy, and two children, Kelly and Jeffrey.

Kurkjian said he was thrilled to help out with the Mirror-Spectator celebration, especially because it’s an Armenian organization and “an Armenian called me and asked me to help.” He noted that helping out fellow Armenians is a part of the ethos of the community.

“I travel across the country and meet people. Some come up to me and say hello only because they’re Armenian,” he said.

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For Kurkjian baseball is in the genes. “My father, who grew up in Watertown, loved baseball. It was the language we spoke at home. It was something we were all taught to love at a very early age. It always was a really important part of my life.”

He concluded, “I still love baseball. I want to go to games as much as ever and talk to the players. I hope that lasts a whole lot longer.”

Kurkjian and Wendy Semonian Eppich, publisher of the Improper Bostonian, will receive awards of excellence that night. Handing out the awards will be Tim Kurkjian’s cousin, Pulitzer- Prize-winning journalist Stephen Kurkjian, and Armen Keteyan of CBS News, both recipients of the 2007 Award of Excellence.

The emcee for the evening will be Chris Talanian of NECN’s Style Boston.

Serving on the benefit committee are Alexandra Allukian, Nigoghos and Roset Atinizian, Leslie Aznoian, Aida Bejakian, Rita Bejakian, Rebecca Tellalian Cahaly, Nina Festekjian, Alin Gregorian (editor), Michael Guleserian, June Hatfield, Carol and Richard Ishkanian, Robert Khederian, Michele Kolligian, Kevork Marashlian, Antranig and Christina Mardiros, Mark McKertich (art director), Dr. Armineh Mirzabegian, Hasmik Saroyan (advertising), Chris Talanian, Barbara Tellalian (chair), Carolyn Atinizian Yardemian, Esq. And Johnny Yardemian. For invitations to the event on December 9 or for more information, write to anniversary@ mirrorspectator.com.

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