In Memoriam: Marianna Davidian, MD

It is with great sadness and love that we share that Dr. Marianna Davidian, a beloved member of AAHPO, died peacefully on August 11 surrounded by her family. She lived a long and eventful life, filled with personal and professional accomplishments. She was 91.

She was born Marianna Mouradian on September 12, 1926 in Astrakhan, Russia, the first child of Kevork Mouradian and Shoushan (nee Kazarian). Unfortunately her mother passed away when she was only a few years old.

Due to changes in the Russian regime, she moved with her father, her new stepmother Rosa, her younger sisters Lucik and Zina, and her brother Karekin to Tabriz, Iran. The family was involved in the canning and wine businesses, and their fortunes ebbed and flowed with the boom and bust cycles prevalent in Iran between the World Wars.

Marianna excelled at school, and like in all endeavors in her life, she worked diligently. She was one of the first female medical school graduates at the University in Tabriz and indeed in the entire country. Her graduating class included three women and over 80 men. Even as a young woman, she was a trailblazer, a pioneer who demonstrated ongoing courage and determination.

Marianna Davidian MD

Marianna Davidian, MD

In 1956, she moved to the United States for her medical residency in Jamaica, Queens. Dr. Davidian, as she was known professionally, subsequently became a highly regarded pathologist. She rose to the rank of Director of Anatomical Pathology at Westchester Medical Center, where she served until her retirement in the 1990s. Throughout her career, she was noted for her skill and knowledge, for her unwavering dedication, and for her integrity.

Marianna married David Davidian in 1960, and they were happily married until his passing in 1990. They settled in Yonkers, New York, where she lived for the rest of her life. They had two daughters, Lily and Mary, both of whom also became health care professionals—Lily as a physical therapist and Mary as an ophthalmologist (and AAHPO member).
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