John E. Lazar Vice President 38th National A.R.O.Y. President

John Eugene Lazar was born in Akron OH on April 10, 1977 (Pascha), to Very Reverend Father Laurence and Doamna Preoteasa Anita Lazar.  He is the grandson of the late +Reverend Father Eugen and Doamna Preoteasa Eleonora Lazar, and the late +John and +Dita Sandru.  John was a childhood member of The Presentation of Our Lord Church in Akron until 1991.

Since 1991, John has been a member of St. George Romanian Orthodox Cathedral of greater Detroit and has involved himself in the life of the Cathedral, holding such positions as Vice President of the Parish Council and Chairman of the Membership Committee.  He is one of the Cathedral's Cantors and the Assistant Director of the "Archbishop Valerian Choir."  At the A.R.O.Y. Conference in 1994, he was blessed by Bishop NATHANIEL to be a subdeacon.  He has represented his parish as a delegate to the Episcopate Congress, performed with "Ţarancuţa" Romanian Dance Ensemble, and is a life-long member of "Unirea Românilor" Society.  He has held several offices in the A.R.O.Y. chapters of the Cathedral.

Some of John's other interests include: Romanian culture, photography, architecture, traveling, art and design, cooking, movies, volunteer work, hotel/restaurant management, etc.  He speaks English and Romanian, and has a very limited knowledge of French, Spanish, Russian and Greek.

John is a graduate of Birmingham Brother Rice High School where he participated in soccer, baseball, theatre performances, and other extra-curriculars, receiving several scholastic and service awards.  In 1995, he received the A.R.O.Y.-Stanitz and Romanian American Heritage Center Scholarships.  While a student at The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, he was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity and on the staff of the Office of Greek Life, participated in the Orthodox Christian Fellowship (O.C.F.), Michigan Romanian League (MIROL) and the Campus Day Admissions Staff Program.  He was chosen to sing with the University of Michigan Men's Glee Club, a 100-voice male choir known over its 150 year history as one of the world’s finest collegiate choirs.  He toured with them across the United States, parts of Canada and 6 cities in Australia.  It was through his diligence that the choir performed their first piece in the Romanian language (G. Musicescu's "Doamne Buzele Mele").  John also was a founding member of the Compulsive Lyres contemporary a cappella ensemble, serving as the first president and as interim music director.  He held roles in the musical "West Side Story" and the opera "Amahl and the Night Visitors."

John has served on the National A.R.O.Y. Board since 1993, holding the offices of Historian, Member at Large, Auditor, Secretary, Vice President, and was the 38th National President of the A.R.O.Y. (2005-2007).  He, along with Tom Rosco, helped to revive and redevelop The A.R.O.Y. Newsletter, was designer from 1997-2001 and again designs the revived publication.  He has served as chairman and member of several committees including: Project Vatra, 50th Anniversary, Membership, Yearbook, Special Projects, and as A.R.O.Y. delegate to the Episcopate Congress.  He is the director of The A.R.O.Y. Choir and was instrumental in planning their first live recording of the Divine Liturgy (1999).

Since 1989, he has attended the Vatra summer camps as a student and staff member.  He is currently Assistant Director of Camp Vatra for Juniors, following in the footsteps of his parents and grandparents as part of the camp family.  He loves Vatra Românească and considers himself one of "The Vatra kids".  He hopes to continue to dedicate more time to the young people of our Episcopate, and be able to better instill in them the priceless experiences that the A.R.O.Y. offers, today and for the future success of our Romanian Orthodox Church in North America.