FAU Announces New Armenian Genocide Memorial Pavilion Funded by Marta and Jim Batmasian’s $500,000 Gift
BY CARLOS MENDEZ, HOODLINE
Functioning as an oasis for contemplation, the Batmasian Memorial Pavilion is intended to offer a peaceful space for reflection and remembrance. In addition to honoring the Batmasians’ family members, a plaque will acknowledge the 1.5 million Armenian lives lost between 1915 and 1923. “We are grateful for this opportunity to give back to a cause that is near to our hearts,” Marta Batmasian said in a statement obtained by BocaNewsNow.com.
The Wallach building aims to be more than a monument to past horrors, but also a hub for education and leadership. It will encompass the Craig and Barbara Weiner Holocaust Museum of South Florida at Florida Atlantic, a recital/lecture hall, and the George and Irina Schaeffer Dimensions in Testimony digital display among others. Michael Horswell, Ph.D., dean of the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, told BocaNewsNow.com, “We are proud to be able to honor the memory of those lost during the Armenian genocide, which is so deeply personal to both Marta and Jim, as part of the Batmasian Memorial Pavilion. Our vision is to have the Wallach building use history’s lessons to combat ignorance, fear and distrust that breeds hatred and violence, including keeping the memory of the Armenian genocide alive through education.”
As construction on the Kurt and Marilyn Wallach Holocaust and Jewish Studies Building progresses, members of the community who wish to contribute or learn more about potential naming opportunities can reach out to Laurie Carney, as detailed in FAU’s announcement. Laurie Carney can be contacted at 561-297-3606 or through her email address, Lcarney@fau.edu.
