https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/29039l/iam_john_ohanian_92_year_old_lawyer_parttime/
created by kn0thing on 24/06/2014 at 21:33 UTC*
2459 upvotes, 59 top-level comments (showing 25)
The families of my parents were orphaned when the Turkish government cleansed the Armenian population in central Turkey during the Armenian genocide. My mother was one of the refugees that marched out -- many died including her brother and sister -- through Turkey to Aleppo, Syria. My father's parents were murdered, in his presence, when the Turks stormed his town. A soldier on horseback was about to kill him with a sword when his friend told him to stop, because he was too young, and as only child, my father was then taken to an orphanage in Turkey and left there.
He first came to the US around 1920 and later he found that my mother was living in Aleppo -- they had been next-door neighbors and he brought her to the United States and they married soon thereafter. They had 4 children, 3 girls and a boy. I had one older sister and two younger sisters. I was the second child.
If I learned anything from my parents, it was to take care of yourself and your own needs and your family needs and that the family was the most important part of growing up.
I was born on Jan 12, 1922 in Binghamton NY.
I left when I was about 17 or 18 for one year at the College of William and Mary. WWII started, so a group of us volunteered -- about a dozen -- and joined the US Army. I spent 33 months in the Army after my first year of college and was discharged (came in as a private and left as an air cadet just months away from a second lieutenant as a flight engineer on a B-29). I was scheduled to go to Okinawa (I believe) when President Truman gave the order to bomb Hiroshima + Nagasaki. When that happened, I was told I'd be discharged and went back to W&M to finish my undergraduate and then took three years of law school there.
Around 1951 I got a job with the Federal Trade Commission in Washington DC as an attorney. When we were hired we were told only 1/3 would be kept after about the 9th or 10th month and would fire 2/3 of the 100 lawyers hired by the end. I spent 21 years with the FTC initially doing investigation and later trial work. I left in 1972, I believe, and came to LA to live and got a job with Social Security as an administrative law judge, whose function was primarily to hear cases for applications of disability benefits. I worked as a judge in West LA for a year and subsequently for 9 years in Long Beach. After a decade as a Social Security law judge I opened my own practice in downtown LA at where I represented people who claimed disability under social security.
I've now been working out of my home in private practice since 1982.
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I might mention that my older sister, Vera, was a school teacher for many years. Starting in the lower grades and moving to NYC where she was a professor at a college that trained people to be teachers. My second oldest sister, Elsa, was a dental hygienist for many years, and my youngest sister, Mary, was a psychologist who counseled drug addicts in NY -- she died early due to cancer. All family members try to help each other. My older sister loaned me money when I needed it to buy a house and get started in life and I paid her back.
Comment by [deleted] at 24/06/2014 at 21:36 UTC*
131 upvotes, 2 direct replies
[removed]
Comment by Software_Engineer at 24/06/2014 at 22:33 UTC
80 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I'm a 26 year old who moderates /r/personalfinance, a subreddit that has half a million subscribers. People often ask what Social Security benefits young people can expect in the future.
Should we expect to get nothing? Should we expect to get the same dollar amount as people today, just not adjusted for inflation?
Comment by Ganjasorus_Rex at 24/06/2014 at 22:14 UTC
37 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Is there any Armenian dish you recommend me trying? I'm not sure I've ever had Armenian food before.
Comment by ASovietSpy at 24/06/2014 at 21:38 UTC
29 upvotes, 1 direct replies
What amazes you the most about the internet?
Comment by nfthjn at 24/06/2014 at 21:42 UTC
25 upvotes, 1 direct replies
What is something you recommend everybody should do, once in their lifetime?
Comment by [deleted] at 24/06/2014 at 21:45 UTC
63 upvotes, 1 direct replies
After your parents witnessed such horrifying atrocities to the Armenian people first-hand, how important was your Aremnian heritage to you through your childhood and later in life? Do you speak Armenian and have you been Armenia?
Comment by ajmzn6 at 24/06/2014 at 21:40 UTC
72 upvotes, 1 direct replies
As an Armenian and aspiring lawyer I want to thank you for doing this AMA!
Did you face any discrimination in the armed forces or in your career? I've met some Armenian judges your age who's parents forbade Armenian in the house in fear of having accents and being ridiculed.
Comment by covercash at 24/06/2014 at 22:00 UTC
13 upvotes, 1 direct replies
If you close your eyes and think of your childhood, what food comes to mind?
Do you have a recipe for that food that you could share with us?
Is there any specific story or memory associated with that food?
Alexis - step up your beard game buddy!
Comment by fortrines at 24/06/2014 at 22:17 UTC
30 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Do you drive a lexus?
Comment by XeroInfinity at 24/06/2014 at 22:58 UTC*
20 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Thank you for the AMA!
I have Armenian friends. Many of them when younger and more zealous greatly disliked Turkish people as a whole, which I could understand why. However, as they matured and grew older, they lost that hatred, and instead focused that towards the government and other political powers, understanding that the people themselves are innocent.
How do you feel towards Turkish people? Do you think the Turkish government will eventually recognize the atrocities the same way the German government does today?
Comment by pnewell at 24/06/2014 at 21:49 UTC
9 upvotes, 1 direct replies
What's one of your favorite 'wacky' cases?
Comment by trollocity at 24/06/2014 at 22:42 UTC
7 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Thank you very much for doing this AMA! You've been through more than just a world of experiences and it's very inspiring to see you still working hard doing something you enjoy.
How did your experiences serving your country shape you as an individual? Do you think your decision to enlist was ultimately a good choice for yourself?
As well, asking this is obligatory: Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized horses or 1 horse-sized duck?
Comment by [deleted] at 24/06/2014 at 22:47 UTC
8 upvotes, 3 direct replies
Hello from Downey - Most legit Armenian restaurant in Los Angeles to experience the food?
Comment by usaftoast2013 at 25/06/2014 at 09:11 UTC
11 upvotes, 3 direct replies
My father has been denied twice for SSD (his disability is Menieres Disease, a spin off of Labyrinthitis). His denials are because "You have vocational ability", but he lost his plumbing license due to his disability. Will filing a 3rd time with a lawyer fare better? I believe he is with a lawyer now to do a legal appeal (2nd application was denied, so was an appeal after SSD psych eval was given, now he has some in person appeal that he hired a TV commercial lawyer for). Thanks for all you do for people like my father who have paid their entire lives into a system that will do anything it can to not pay out. Your kind are truly heroes in my eyes.
Comment by missfulls at 24/06/2014 at 21:41 UTC
5 upvotes, 1 direct replies
What advice would you give to an 18 year old? What advice would you give to an 18 year old who is thinking about going into law?
Comment by andyourmothertoo at 24/06/2014 at 21:55 UTC
5 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Hey John! Thanks for doing this AMA!
Just want to say that your grandson Alexis (Not Alex!) is a great motivation for myself and many others. He's inspired me to keep pushing forward and to never give up.
What advice do you have for a 26 year old trying to make something out of himself and just trying to figure out this game called life!?
Take care.
Comment by Frajer at 24/06/2014 at 21:55 UTC
5 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Do you wish more people know about the Armenian genocide?
Comment by [deleted] at 24/06/2014 at 22:56 UTC
6 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Do you prefer living on the East or West Coast? As someone who's experienced both over many years, what are the differences in people that you have perceived?
Comment by metarugia at 25/06/2014 at 04:03 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
As a fellow Armenian it's people like you (and your family) that make me proud of my culture.
Do you find it harder with each new generation to teach the culture and make the younger ones care?
Comment by Paytsar at 24/06/2014 at 23:09 UTC
11 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Hello Mr. Ohanian, was your family able to get any of your parents' stories about the Armenian Genocide documented (as interviews for future generations of your family to learn about their past)?
(Note to Alexis, thank you for your visit to UCLA, I hope you are still wearing the ASA shirt!)
Comment by goldguy81 at 24/06/2014 at 21:40 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Thanks for doing this AmA! My question is: What are your thoughts on the Chemical Warfare being used by the Syrian on its citizens currently? Do you believe it's a good idea or a bad idea to pursue stopping this?
Follow up question: How about the Russian Government invading Ukraine?
Seeing as you're father had experience first hand about similar accounts and your experience in the US Army, I'm interested what your thoughts are.
Comment by postExistence at 24/06/2014 at 21:51 UTC
6 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Hi John! It's great seeing you here! You sure have a long list of accomplishments, and I'd be honored if I could ask you a few questions!
1. Lots of attention goes towards the Holocaust, but little goes to points in history such as the Armenian genocide. Has this ever bothered you? Do you think there needs to be more disclosure on other genocides?
2. I have heard that today in California the only way to get disability benefits from the state is to dispute your rejections, that all claims are initially rejected and only claims taken to court are fulfilled or recognized. What has your experience been with the system? Has it changed over the years since you joined in 1972?
3. If you joined the FTC around 1951, that means you were around when Ralph Nader campaigned for seat belts in cars and when Prof. Clair Cameron Patterson campaigned to remove lead from gasoline! What were some of the most gratuitous abuses by companies you encountered during that time? Do you see any business-consumer related issues that need addressing today?
Thank you for sharing your story with us, and stay happy and healthy!
Edit: Hi Alexis!
Comment by CaptainMelon at 24/06/2014 at 21:42 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
What are your hopes for the future ?
Especially since you saw a lot, what do you think the next generation ( and our current generation ) should focus on?
Comment by [deleted] at 24/06/2014 at 22:33 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
How had the law most changed (for better or worse) since you started practicing?
Comment by 8bitremixguy at 24/06/2014 at 22:38 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Thank you so much for doing this AMA!
If you could go back in time and give advice to yourself at 18 years of age, what would that advice be?