Edward Avedisian, clarinetist who donated $100 million to BU’s medical school, dies at 85 - The Boston Globe

“I didn’t privation thing named aft me,” Mr. Avedisian told BU in September. “But helium said, ‘I’ll lone bash this if your sanction is attached.’ So we’re attached.”

Mr. Avedisian, a clarinetist who formerly performed for decades with the Boston Pops and the Boston Ballet Orchestra, died Dec. 7 of complications from a uncommon lung disease. He was 85 and lived successful Lexington.

“Ed Avedisian brightened our satellite with euphony and has improved the lives of countless individuals done his mindful philanthropy,” Robert A. Brown, BU’s president, said for the university’s tribute.

And helium did truthful with a smile, those closest to him said.

“Ed was a fun-loving feline with an bonzer consciousness of humor,” said his wife, Pamela Wood Avedisian, with whom helium contributed millions to schools and universities implicit the years. “He was ever smiling and laughing.”

Mr. Avedisian and Chobanian some had mislaid relatives to the Armenian genocide. Though some roseate acold from their working-class, Pawtucket, R.I., neighborhood, Mr. Avedisian initially thought it made much consciousness to sanction the aesculapian schoolhouse lone for the better-known Chobanian, a renowned cardiologist and a dean emeritus of the aesculapian school.

“Who knows me? Nobody,” Mr. Avedisian told the Globe successful late September, though adjacent helium indispensable person known that was a sizeable understatement.

He was revered successful his parents’ location state aft helium and Pamela announced plans, successful 1994, to motorboat a nationalist schoolhouse successful Armenia named for his parents, Koren and Shooshanig Avedisian School. It opened successful 1999, successful 1 the poorest neighborhoods of the superior metropolis of Yerevan, with 75 students and present educates 1,000 annually, from pre-kindergarten done 12th grade, according to his family.

“It lone precocious occurred to maine that helium was providing to these children the aforesaid way retired of poorness that helium followed successful America, but did truthful without requiring them to permission the country,” his nephew Craig Avedisian of New York City said via e-mail.

Mr. Avedisian, who besides funded a aesculapian halfway and different wellness attraction initiatives successful Armenia, donated $3 cardinal to Rhode Island College’s School of Nursing, which is present named for his sister, Zvart Avedisian Onanian.

“We wanted to springiness families that bash not person the means an accidental to get a bully education,” helium told the Globe successful January, adding: “That’s what we are expected to bash aft each — reaching retired and helping others.”

Mr. Avedisian amassed a luck by being arsenic attentive to the fiscal markets arsenic helium was to the notes connected scores helium played successful performances.

“Success is the intersection of accidental and preparation,” helium told the Globe in October, and added that “you had to bash your homework.”

His mentation including bringing fiscal publications and different probe on connected immoderate roadworthy trips with the Pops oregon to execute with galore different organizations, which implicit the years included the Atlanta and North Carolina symphonies, Boston Lyric Opera, the Harvard Chamber Orchestra, the Armenian State Philharmonic, and the National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia.

Although Mr. Avedisian utilized his philanthropy to enactment music, wellness care, and country Armenian organizations, helium said his migrant parents, Koren Avedisian and Shooshanig Ingilizian Avedisian, were the main inspiration down directing a large woody of his efforts and wealth to schools and universities.

“Our parents ever emphasized education. School and acquisition were the archetypal words I learned successful Armenian and successful English,” helium said successful the January interview. “They ne'er wanted america to enactment successful a mill similar them.”

The 3rd of 4 siblings, Edward Avedisian was calved successful Pawtucket connected June 23, 1937, and was president of his graduating people astatine what is present William E. Tolman High School successful Pawtucket.

He graduated from BU with a bachelor’s grade successful 1959 and a master’s successful 1961, some successful music.

Along with being a moving clarinetist, Mr. Avedisian formerly held positions that included serving arsenic creator head of the Harvard Chamber Orchestra, and helium worked connected securing national contracts for organizations specified arsenic the Boston Ballet Orchestra.

Mr. Avedisian, who retired astir 20 years ago, formerly was the unit manager for the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra arsenic it performed alongside galore artists, including Aerosmith, Tony Bennett, Whitney Houston, Luciano Pavarotti, and Big Bird from “Sesame Street.”

Among musicians, Mr. Avedisian ne'er wore his fiscal occurrence connected his sleeve, virtually oregon metaphorically.

“He was conscionable a regular guy,” recalled Dennis Alves, manager of creator readying for the Pops. “He wasn’t wearing costly apparel oregon fancy watches.”

Mr. Avedisian, who taught clarinet astatine BU and Endicott College, met Pamela Wood astatine Endicott successful 1973. She had decided against pursuing a vocation arsenic a performance pianist and heard helium was conducting the college’s all-women’s chorus.

“I walked into his schoolroom and asked him if helium needed an accompanist for the chorus,” she said.

They started dating 5 years aboriginal and joined successful 1994.

“He was afloat of specified contented and ever knew the close happening to say,” Pamela said. “That is what I volition miss.”

In summation to his wife, Mr. Avedisian leaves his sister, Zvart Onanian of East Greenwich R.I., and his brother, Paul of Cranston R.I.

A memorial gathering volition beryllium announced for Mr. Avedisian, who was often honored for his philanthropy, including with the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

Serzh Sargsyan, a erstwhile president of Armenia, doubly awarded him the Medal of Movses Khorenatsi, which recognizes outstanding achievements successful areas specified arsenic art, culture, literature, and education.

The University of Rhode Island and BU awarded honorary doctorates to Mr. Avedisian.

“Not lone has helium been a large friend,” Chobanian said for BU’s tribute, “his decease means to maine that the satellite has mislaid a large humanitarian who dedicated his beingness to helping those successful need.”

Mr. Avedisian ever insisted that the lessons offered by their Armenian migrant parents were the instauration of his and Chobanian’s successes successful life, which successful crook led to their names being joined for BU’s aesculapian school.

“Our parents told us, ‘Hey, get an education.’ So that was the call, and this was our response,” helium told the Globe successful September. “They’re the heroes, not us. That’s the mode I look astatine it.”

Bryan Marquard tin beryllium reached astatine bryan.marquard@globe.com.