AMERICAN-ARMENIAN BENEFACTOR JIRAYR HOVNANIAN HAS DIED
Noyan Tapan
Aug 17, 2007
YEREVAN, AUGUST 17, NOYAN TAPAN. American-Armenian benefactor Jirayr
Hovnanian died at the age of 80 in his Mountain Laurel house in the
United States of America on August 14.
According to the information provided to Noyan Tapan by the RA
President’s Press Office, Robert Kocharian, the RA President, sent
a letter of condolence to the Hovnanians.
The letter of condolence runs as follows:
"I learnt about the death of Jirayr Hovnanian with great sorrow.
Jirayr Hovnanian, being the representative of the benefactor
Hovnanians, was a deserving continuer of Armenian charitable
traditions, who promoted a productive activity both in his homeland
and in the Diaspora.
I present my condolences to the Hovnanians and their relatives."
Arkadi Ghukasian, the President of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh,
has also sent a letter of condolence to the family of famous benefactor
Jirayr Hovnanian on the occasion of the latter’s death. The letter
of condolence says:
"I learnt about the death of Jirayr Hovnanian, a devoted son of the
Armenian people and a great friend of Artsakh with great sorrow.
Being far from his historical homeland, he, nevertheless, managed to
completely donate his rich experience and patriotic vigour to the
provision of the economic progress of Armenia and Artsakh and the
welfare of the Armenian people.
The memory of this true patriot will always be bright in the
recollection of all the Armenian people.
Accept my sincere condolence and support at this hard moment of sorrow
for your family and for all of us.
I wish you patience and courage of soul."
Jirayr Hovnanian was born in an Armenian refugee family in the city
of Kirkuk in Iraq. He immigrated into the United States of America in
1948. In 1952 he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. He
founded J.S. Hovnanian & Sons construction company in 1968, which
has built over six thousand buildings mainly in Burlington, Camden,
and Gloucester during the past 40 years. Jirayr Hovnanian was granted
the Ellis Island medal of honor in 2006 for his services rendered
to America.