Kevork Hovnanian, builder and philanthropist, dies at 86
by Armenian Reporter staff

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Published: Friday September 25, 2009

New York – Kevork Hovnanian, the chairperson of the Fund for Armenian
Relief and founder of Hovnanian Enterprises, one of the largest home
builders in the United States, died on Thursday, September 24. The
cause was congestive heart failure, his niece Nina Hovnanian told the
Armenian Reporter.

"He was one of the great men of his generation; a giant not only in
Armenian affairs, but in the worlds of industry, international
commerce, and philanthropy," said Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate
of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern).

Mr. Hovnanian immigrated to the United States from Iraq in 1959 and
founded a fledgling home-building company with a $20,000 loan. His
company, Hovnanian Enterprises, now operates in 18 states. He served
as president of the firm until 1988 and as chief executive for another
nine years. His son Ara Hovnanian succeeded him and continues to serve
in the post.

A committed and prominent member of the Armenian community, Kevork
Hovnanian was the principal benefactor of the St. Stepanos Armenian
Church in Elberon, New Jersey, and of the Gevorkian Theological
Seminary in Holy Etchmiadzin.

Archbishop Barsamian praised "his bold, imaginative leadership,"
coupled with "great faith and piety." His niece Nina called him "a
great visionary." Under Mr. Hovnanian’s leadership, the Fund for
Armenian Relief has dispatched more than $260 million worth of
humanitarian and technical assistance for the recovery and development
of Armenia since the 1988 earthquake.

Mr. Hovnanian was awarded the St. Gregory the Illuminator Medal, the
highest honor bestowed by the Armenian Church, by Vasken I, the late
Catholicos of All Armenians.

Mr. Hovnanian donated a $1.5 million Manhattan townhouse to the
Permanent Mission of Armenia to the United Nations. In May 2001,
President Robert Kocharian of Armenia awarded him the St. Mesrob
Mashtots Medal in recognition of his services to Armenia.

He was also a board member of the Armenian Church Endowment Fund (of
the Eastern Diocese in the United States).

His philanthropy extended beyond Armenia and the Armenian-American
community. The K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital is the first
state-designated children’s hospital in New Jersey’s Monmouth and
Ocean counties. It offers a full spectrum of pediatric specialties to
the area, including a child-centered trauma unit. Mr. Hovnanian and
his wife, Sirvart Hovnanian, were honored at the hospital in
2006. Their gift was the largest the hospital had received in its
101-year history.

A private funeral is planned in New Jersey. A public memorial service
is planned for St. Vartan Cathedral in New York in the coming
week. The date had not been determined at press time.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress