BY RITA HINTLIAN
IRVINE—The Henry Samueli School of Engineering at the University of California, Irvine held a ceremony to name a large classroom with a courtyard as the Harut Barsamian Colloquia on November 20.
Dean Gregory Washington of the UCI School of Engineering held the ceremony with many UCI colleagues, administrative staff, community members, friends and family members attending the ceremony in the courtyard.
Dean Washington welcomed the guests and introduced Adjunct Professor Harut Barsamian as teaching Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) Department graduate-level colloquia at UCI for free, then added “the operative word is free”. Then added to say that he is an internationally recognized engineer and information technologist with research interests in computer architecture and massive parallel computing, who has earned patents, publications, awards and honors. Dr. Barsamian was elected as Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Life Fellow, the highest honor of the organization, for his contributions in computer architecture, dynamic microprogramming and associative search algorithms.
Barsamian had moved to Southern California in 1967, worked on air traffic control systems at Raytheon, explored concepts of microprogramming at NCR, integrated mainframe computing with mini-microcomputer systems at Sperry Univac, then started teaching at UCI since 1985, while doing consulting. Dean Washington described Barsamian’s teaching as “a valuable combination of theory enriched with practical experience with intimate knowledge of the ever involving cutting-edge technology.”
Dr. Harut Barsamian in his modest approach as a benefactor, explained that gifts to universities are not new and they allow your past to be passed on to the next generations, so they know about your activities, involvement and dedication to that institution. Later, he explained how teaching at UCI is a very rewarding experience that provides intellectual satisfaction. He was also thankful to all those who shared the “sentimental moment” with enthusiasm.
Dr. Barsamian’s wife, Tamar, his sister Armine Bogharian, and other family members attended the ceremony. Archpriest Fr. Nareg Pehlivanian congratulated Dr. Barsamian on behalf of the Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian. Dr. Barsamian said that he had already received the Prelate’s congratulatory letter.
Once the doors were opened to the room, the reception continued, and attendees could peruse the many certificates and see the cover of Dr. Barsamian’s book, “Resurrection with Cane and Shoe”. The colloquia is not the first structure to bear the Barsamian name. In June 2008, the Orange County Armenian Center in Santa Ana was rededicated as the “Harut Barsamian Armenian Center.”
