MILBRIDGE – On Nov. 16, 2003, Helen Augusta Halsey Haroutunian, resident of Milbridge, and former resident of Cincinnati, Chicago, and Iowa City, died peacefully at the age of 89. Mrs. Haroutunian was born to Jesse Halsey and Helen Isham Halsey (Quass) in 1914. In 1942, she married Joseph Haroutunian, a well-known theologian who taught at Wellesley College, McCormick Theological Seminary, and the University of Chicago. He died Nov. 15, 1968. Mrs. Haroutunian is survived by her sister, Abigail Van Allen (James Van Allen); sister-in-law, Frances R. Halsey; children, Sophie Haroutunian-Gordon (Robert P. Gordon), Joseph Halsey Haroutunian (Gay Haroutunian), Peter Isham Haroutunian; grand children, Rachel Gordon, Benjamin Gordon, Maya Haroutunian Packard (William Packard), Mischa Haroutunian (Charles Smith); great-granddaughters, Julia Riley Packard and Laila Haroutunian Smith; and many nephews and nieces. Mrs. Haroutunian was an artist, writer, and teacher who enjoyed the benefits of a fine education. She was a 1932 graduate of Miss Doherty’s School in Cincinnati. She earned a bachelor’s of arts degree from Western College for Women (Miami University), Oxford, Ohio, in 1936. In 1940, she received a master’s of arts degree in general studies from the Yale Drama School, and in 1980, a second master’s degree in art history from the University of Iowa. Her works of art in of art in oil, watercolor, pastel, charcoal, and collage covered subject matter from urban scenes to rural landscapes. She showed her work at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Milbridge Historical Society. In 1998, Mrs. Haroutunian and her son, artist Joseph Haroutunian, had a joint retrospective show at the University of Maine-Machias that revealed influences of mother upon son and vice versa. Mrs. Haroutunian’s published works include, “Incident on the Bark Columbia: Being Letters Received and Sent by Captain McCorkle and the Crew of his Whaler, 1860-1862” (Cummington, Massachusetts: The Cummington Press), 1941, a true story conveyed through letters, which she compiled and edited, and “Joseph Cornell in ‘View,” Arts Magazine, 1983. Teaching was another life-long interest. Mrs. Haroutunian taught both visual and language arts in middle and high schools, at the Cummington School, Cummington, Mass., and at the Francis W. Parker School in Chicago. Above all, Mrs. Haroutunian was a loving and devoted wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-aunt, and friend. Her paintings, writings, and teaching, indeed all her endeavors, were characterized by remarkable care and attention to detail. She was an exemplary cook and gardener, and a committed member of her church. Her sweetness, style, intelligence, and command of the English language inspired all who knew her. A celebration of her life will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28, 2003, in the Milbridge Congregational Church, Milbridge. Contributions may be made to the Scholarship Fund of the Francis W. Parker School, Chicago, Illinois, the McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, Illinois, or the Milbridge Congregational Church.
HELEN AUGUSTA HALSEY HAROUTUNIAN
