Coconut Creek resident Shahen Guiragossian, 88, has released a deeply personal memoir titled The Hawk: My Memoir, a project he says took decades to complete and was inspired by an urgency to preserve the stories that shaped his life before they were lost forever.
Guiragossian’s story spans generational trauma tied to the Armenian genocide, immigration, cultural identity, and the resilience required to rebuild one’s life in a new country.
He tells Coconut Creek Talk that the book is meant to serve as a bridge between the past and the future, written with the hope that younger generations will understand the history that shaped their families.
“These stories have lived with me my entire life,” Guiragossian said. “They’ve stayed in my memory and in my heart for decades, and I always felt a pull to share them, even if I didn’t know exactly how to begin.”
Guiragossian shares that it was only after moving to Florida that he finally felt ready to begin writing. “When I moved to Florida, I reached a place where I felt ready to put everything on paper,” he said, crediting a friend, Melissa, for helping him organize his memories and shape them into the book.
Revisiting difficult moments from his past brought a wave of emotions back to the surface.
“Writing them down brought the emotions closer,” he explained. “These stories tug at my heart. Not just because of the hardships I lived through, but because they remind me of the people who were part of my journey.”
Guiragossian hopes his memoir inspires young people in Coconut Creek and beyond. “I want young people to know that every one of us is born with talent and potential,” he said. “No matter where you come from or what challenges you face, you can shape your own life and make an impact on the world. You can be anything you want to be.”
Since the release of his memoir, community response has been heartfelt and encouraging. One moment that surprised him was hearing directly from a former mayor who reached out to say how inspired she was by his story.
He has also reconnected with friends and family who told him how meaningful the book was to them. “I don’t try to persuade anyone to read the book,” he said. “I simply enjoy meeting people, sharing a conversation, and being myself. And often, after connecting, they want to read it on their own.”
Guiragossian has chosen to donate all proceeds from the book to causes that hold deep personal meaning. One of the beneficiaries is the Armenian Relief Society, an organization tied closely to the cultural roots that shaped him.
The other is the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, which he supports in honor of his nephew who was killed on September 11. “I’m not taking a single penny for myself,” he said. “Giving back felt like the right thing to do.”
Guiragossian says that, since arriving in Coconut Creek four years ago, the welcome he has received from the community has helped him gain the confidence to share his story.
“It’s been a wonderful place to call home,” he said. “The community is warm, the people are kind, and I’ve felt welcomed here from the beginning.”
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