A friendship that dates back to a childhood shared on the streets of Pawtucket, R.I., has found expression in a singular, altruistic gift that promises to open doors and expand frontiers in the world of medicine.
Edward Avedisian (CFA’59,’61), a celebrated clarinetist and astute investor, and Dr. Aram V. Chobanian (Hon.’06), president emeritus of Boston University and renowned cardiologist, will be connected forever—through a $100 Million gift from Avedisian—in the renaming of BU’s medical school: the Boston University Aram V. Chobanian & Edward Avedisian School of Medicine.
For nearly four decades, Avedisian played clarinet with the Boston Pops and Boston Ballet Orchestra. But it was the stunning success of his personal investments that afforded him the opportunity to give back. “I felt very fortunate, for BU and others that helped along the way,” he says. With his previous donations to colleges, hospitals, and schools, Avedisian never asked for anything to be named for him. And his feelings didn’t change with regard to this astonishing gift. Instead, he proposed the name of his dear friend who had served as dean of the medical school and provost of the Medical Campus before his appointment as University president. But Chobanian, showing the same humility, declined such recognition. Eventually, and perhaps fittingly, the pair were persuaded to share the honor.
“[Aram] can’t do enough for people and does it all with great ease and graciousness. His personality has never changed. That’s just the way he is.” — Edward Avedisian
The Aram V. Chobanian & Edward Avedisian School of Medicine Endowed Fund will allocate $50 million to support scholarships for medical students, $25 million to support endowed professorships, and $25 million to the Avedisian Fund for Excellence to keep the school at the forefront of research and teaching. The gift “will transform the medical school,” says Karen Antman, dean of the medical school and provost of the Medical Campus. President Robert A. Brown called it “one of the most remarkable grants in the history of higher education.”
Avedisian has made a number of donations to BU, including funds to support scholarships in Chobanian’s name. In addition to supporting the medical school, Avedisian’s gift enables the endowment of two fellowships at the College of Fine Arts—one named for his wife and the other for Chobanian’s.
“He’s done unbelievable amounts in his lifetime,” Chobanian says. “It’s amazing how he’s such a fine musician of the highest caliber but still is able to become a philanthropist.”
The admiration goes both ways.
“[Aram] can’t do enough for people and does it all with great ease and graciousness,” Avedisian says. “His personality has never changed. That’s just the way he is.”