Richard A. Vann M80
Richard A. Vann, Methuen, MA, died September 7, 2024, after living nearly a decade with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Though his personality was transformed by his illness, Richard’s sweet character and gentle demeanor persisted until the very end. This enabled his wife, Araxie, to care for him in their home in Methuen, MA, until the last days of his life.
Born in San Diego, CA, Richard, son of a naval officer and social worker, spent the earliest years of his life traversing the country’s naval bases thanks to his father’s sought-after expertise in missile guidance, establishing Richard’s lifelong penchant for travel. In 1962, his parents’ growing family settled in Wayland, MA.
Richard attended Wayland High School, where he excelled academically and discovered his love for the stage and extraordinary talent for languages. So advanced was his French, that he took part in a student exchange program in Caen, France. One local acquaintance from this time jokingly recalls of his language skills that “his French was better than mine… and I am French!”
After high school, Richard attended Colby College in Waterville, ME, where he majored in French language and education. After college, he received a master’s degree in teaching English as a second language (ESL) at Saint Michael’s.
During his time in Vermont, Richard met Araxie Kazandjian at a Russian language summer program hosted by Norwich University in Northfield, VT. Araxie was a young woman who had immigrated from Soviet Armenia just four years prior, and who was herself completing a master’s in Russian Language and Literature. He enrolled in Armenian language classes in Watertown, MA, to better understand her and communicate with her family. They married in 1982.
The next few years saw Richard take on many interesting roles teaching foreign students ESL at various academic institutions, including George Washington University, American University, and Catholic University in Washington. He was loved by his students wherever he went.
Soon after his marriage, Richard’s career brought him to the Washington, DC, metro area. Araxie was working for the Voice of America, an International Shortwave Radio Broadcasting Federal agency, providing news in 44 languages.
In 1989, Richard traded his teaching in academia for more cutting-edge work in corporate consulting at Booz Allen & Hamilton. These were happy and productive years, in the suburbs of Annandale, VA, where both their daughters were born.
In 1992, his company offered him the opportunity to make a move to Saudi Arabia to live and work there and they took the leap. In Saudi Arabia, Richard continued his skills as a teacher and linguist providing English language instruction to Royal Saudi naval personnel. The family’s travels in this time spanned the entire globe. Richard’s great joy in life was learning about other countries and cultures
In 1998, the family returned to the U.S., eventually settling in Fairfax, VA, where they resided until Richard retired from Booz Allen in 2012 following 23 years of service.
In retirement, Richard continued to teach and explore community theater. In 2019, he received a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, at which point Araxie and Richard bought a home in Massachusetts’ Merrimack Valley to be closer to family.
Richard was an enthusiastic and lifelong advocate for Armenian culture and history. He was active in Armenian churches where he lived. He also was involved with the century-old fraternal organization Knights of Vartan, and due to his deep interest and investment in Armenian affairs, was the first non-Armenian member to be initiated.
He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Araxie, two daughters, two sons, a brother and extended family.