The grandson of genocide survivors, Tatarian was born and raised in Dinuba. A prominent attorney, his list of accomplishments include being elected the youngest President of the Fresno County Bar Association, serving on the Big Fresno Fair’s Board of Directors and its charitable foundation in some capacity since 1983, and serving as past Chairman of the Armenian Community School of Fresno. In 1996 the Fair named the horse racing grandstand in his honor and he continues to be a driving force behind the building of this museum.