Francis Starrett

Aspen Mortuaries - Lakewood

Alahverdian Family

Nicholas Alahverdian

Nicholas Alahverdian, age 32, author and child welfare reform advocate, died on February 29, 2020, losing his battle with non Hodgkin Lymphoma diagnosed last year following complications with pneumonia. He was surrounded by his loving family including his cherished wife and beloved children.
A great deal of books, a great passion of his throughout his life, accompanied him on his journey home, in his final days reading Henry David Thoreau, William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, and Ralph Waldo Emerson. They were his friends as a lonely boy growing up in care and they remained with him until the end.
Alahverdian lived a warrior’s life. A fighter in spirit but a peacemaker in practice, Alahverdian survived life in Rhode Island’s child welfare system the Department of Children, Youth and Families, a troubled juggernaut of bureucracy which he fought so hard to reform.
He overcame significant abuse, deprivation of education, and harmful living conditions. Amazingly he simultaneously worked for the Rhode Island General Assembly as a page and then as a legislative aide. Alahverdian was able to give lawmakers an eyewitness account of what it was like to grow up in such dangerous state-funded conditions in group homes and shelters.
His fight for DCYF reform was covered by the Providence news media for two decades — and only now are more stories coming to the surface in large part thanks to Alahverdian’s stalwart advocacy and efforts, often spending up to 18 hours at the Rhode Island State House.
As a result of his acumen for drawing legislative attention to important issues, Alahverdian suffered the ire of DCYF and Family Court leaders, where he was sent to Florida and Nebraska and tortured in ways that truly shock the human conscience. Both placements were later shuttered and Alahverdian sued his abusers and the state officials responsible for his abuse.
Bursting past further barriers, Alahverdian attended Harvard University. He loved life there — mingling with the intelligentsia, learning from the best professors in the world, and furthering his life’s work of being the best person he could be in what he saw as an insane yet fixable world. He spent two decades attempting to spark reform of the RI DCYF.
Just two weeks ago, in honor of Alahverdian, State Representative Ray Hull along with Rep. Lombardi, Rep. Bennett, and Rep. McLoughlin introduced a bill to create a House of Representatives Oversight Commission on DCYF. The bill is pending in the House, just as it has been every year for the past 15 years.
His strength and confidence preceded him, and he poured his spirit and energy into the democratic process in which he so strongly believed.
Alahverdian loved sailing, ornithology, painting, and was a voracious reader. He was a devout Roman Catholic. He doted on his children, always a loving father working relentlessly to give them the family and childhood he never had the opportunity to experience. He loved his wife more than life itself, always referring to her affectionately as "my daisy."
In accordance with his wishes, his remains will be cremated and his ashes will be scattered at sea.
The family express profound gratitude to the condolences offered by Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut civic, government and community leaders as well as members of the Harvard University community.
Alahverdian leaves a wife and two children.
In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to Leukemia & Lymphoma Society which can be made direct through their website at https://www.lls.org/ or directly to the Harvard College Alumni Fund where a scholarship fund is being established in his name.

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Nicholas Alahverdian Obituary | Keeper Memorials