Sahag-Mesrob Armenian Christian School

In 1976, Lebanese architect Mike Youssefian moved to Pasadena with his family to escape the Civil War. Inspired by the local Armenian community, he saw the need for an Armenian day school, which had been unsuccessfully attempted before. Despite limited funds, Youssefian used his $10,000 savings as seed money and sought additional support from Christian businessman Steve Lazarian, who contributed $5,000 to help establish the school.

    Mr. Youssefian reached out to key figures from various Christian organizations and churches to help form the new school's Board of Directors. They also appointed Mr. Peniamin Aroyan as the first principal and tasked him with hiring teachers for Kindergarten through 3rd grade.

The inaugural Board meeting was held on January 20, 1980, in Mr. Lazarian's office, where the following officers were elected: Chairman Mike Youssefian, Vice Chairmen John Jemelian and Andy Afsharian, Secretary Dr. Kegham Tashjian, Treasurer Abraham Haleblian, and Board Members Rev. Vahram Tourian, Miss Ruth Ajemian (Tourian), and Aram Garabedian.

The school aimed to offer a Christ-centered education within an Armenian heritage, so the Board and Principal consulted Armenian poet Jaques Hagopian, who recommended naming the school Sahag-Mesrob after Catholicos Sahag Bartev and Mesrob Mashdotz, founders of the Armenian alphabet.

In September 1980, Sahag-Mesrob Armenian Christian School opened with 80 students in the basement of Bressee Nazerence Church in Pasadena. In 1983, Mr. John Sheen donated $550,000 to purchase a 1.5-acre property in Altadena. The school's first banquet, featuring a message from Governor George Deukmejian, was held at the Pasadena Hilton. Further donations helped build a chapel and nine classrooms on the Maiden Lane site by 1987.