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Vartan Gregorian, the late co-founder of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, was remembered by international leaders during an online Aurora Dialogues event on June 5, according to the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative. Moderated by Washington Post columnist David Ignatius, the gathering paid tribute to Gregorian’s intellectual and moral legacy, highlighting his impact across multiple fields of education and philanthropy.

Remembering a Humanitarian Legacy

Opening the commemorative event, David Ignatius paid tribute to his longtime friend. „We are here to pay tribute to the late co-founder of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative and my dear friend, the unique Vartan Gregorian. He was an inspiration for us all and a man whose intellectual and moral legacy will live on and influence generations of thinkers and scholars,“ Ignatius said, according to the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative. Ignatius then introduced Noubar Afeyan, co-founder of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative and CEO of Flagship Pioneering.”

„In the many years that I knew Vartan, I always felt that he was looking over the shoulder of me and everyone he knew,“ Afeyan said, as reported by the initiative. „What is even more impressive is that through his life’s work, Vartan has also looked over the shoulder of many thousands, if not millions of others, most of whom he did not know.“””

Global Tributes from Aurora Leaders

Lord Ara Darzi, chair of the Aurora Prize Selection Committee and director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London, reflected on Gregorian’s personal warmth and character. „He was authentic, he was selfless, he was generous to many, including me. He was poetic, he was a romantic, he was a legend,“ Lord Darzi stated during the broadcast.”

Dr. Tom Catena, chair of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, the 2017 Aurora Prize laureate, and medical director of the Mother of Mercy Hospital in the Nuba Mountains, emphasized Gregorian’s cross-cultural upbringing. According to Dr. Catena, Gregorian grew up among diverse cultures and religions, which shaped him into a man who „truly got along with everyone, and I think everyone felt he was their friend.“”

Marguerite Barankitse, founder of Maison Shalom and the 2016 Aurora Prize laureate, described Gregorian in spiritual terms during the event. „He was a symbol of hope, a symbol of love, of humility, and of compassion. He was a holy man. He is a saint. He achieved what is written in the Holy Bible. He transformed the world into a paradise,“ Barankitse said.”

Impact on Education and Diplomacy

Samantha Power, USAID Administrator, former United States Ambassador to the United Nations, and former member of the Aurora Prize Selection Committee, characterized Gregorian as her „hero-friend.“ Power noted the immense loss while emphasizing the vital energy Gregorian derived from his involvement with Aurora, highlighting his personal resilience and his embodiment of the American self-made ethos.”

The online event featured archived video footage of Gregorian discussing core issues that mattered to him throughout his career. Organizers noted that his lifelong dedication to education and humanitarian aid continues to guide the initiatives he helped establish.