Larry Zarian was the first Armenian-American

Armenian-American

Armenian Americans are citizens of the United States whose ancestry originates wholly or partly in Armenia. During the United States 2000 Census, 385,488 respondents indicated either full or partial Armenian ancestry...

 to serve on the city council in the City of Glendale, California

Glendale, California

Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...

. He also served as Glendale Mayor. He served on the California Transportation Commission, and had a show on an Armenian Channel called "Horizon." He succumbed to an aggressive cancer that prevents the body from making healthy blood cells on October 13, 2011.