In Memory of Dr. George Petrossian

September 30, 1920 - February 24, 2009

Of Armenian birth, Dr. George Petriossian served in the U.S. Army (stationed in Italy) from 1945-1947. Following the war, he received his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, in 1950, 1952, and 1974, respectively. He joined Illinois State in 1963, and he taught at the University until his retirement in 1991. During his long career, he served in the College Council and the Academic Senate. He was also director of the Illinois State Summer Program in French at Grenoble, France, from 1970 until 1999. He also served as the host of the popular Cercle Français (now in its 45th year).

Even after "retirement" George hosted the French Coffee Hour every week, arriving early to prepare the coffee and cookies. Dr. Petrossian was inducted as Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Palmes Academiques in 1993. This award, founded by Napoleon in 1808, is conferred by the French Ministry of National Education upon those foreign citizens who have contributed to the diffusion of the French language and Culture.

A bench bearing the words "In Memory of Dr. George Petrossian" was dedicated in 2010. It's located on the Quad, just outside of Williams Hall. You can also make a gift to the Petrossian Tarrant Scholarship.

Read Dr. Petrossian's obituary in The Pantagraph.