PRESS OFFICE
Department of Communications
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 160; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
January 19, 2007
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STEWARD OF ARMENIAN CHURCH & COMMUNITY REMEMBERED FOR LIFE OF HUMBLE SERVICE
The Primate and Diocesan Council of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of
America (Eastern) deeply regret to announce the passing of Sarkis Acopian, a
true steward and friend of the Diocese, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin,
and other Armenian organizations.
The benefactor of the St. Sarkis Church in Charlotte, NC, Sarkis Acopian,
80, passed away on Thursday, January 18, 2007, at his home in Easton, PA,
surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife, Bobbye; two sons,
Greg and his wife Karen, and Jeff and his wife Helen; six grandchildren; two
great grandchildren; and a younger sister Miriam. He was predeceased in
death by his parents, Dr. Grigor and Dr. Arax Acopian, and by a sister,
Eleanora Ordjanian.
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese, will preside
over funeral services at noon on Friday, January 26, 2007, at the St. Vartan
Cathedral in New York City.
"The Armenian community, and indeed myself personally, have lost a great and
dear friend with the passing of Mr. Sarkis Acopian," Archbishop Barsamian
said. "He was a humble man with a generous soul, who touched the lives of
so many. He was also a powerful role model for our next generation. He
built a successful company through his hard work and ingenuity, and then,
choosing to be a good steward, gave back to the church and community to help
others."
LIFE OF DEVOTION
Acopian’s passion for the Armenian Church and community can be traced back
to his parents Arax and Grigor Acopian, dentists who met in Georgia before
moving to Iran, where they had three children: Eleanora, Sarkis, and Miriam.
Sarkis Acopian came to America in 1945 to study engineering at Lafayette
College in Easton, PA. While his education was interrupted when he was
drafted into the U.S. Army, he graduated in 1951 with a bachelor’s degree in
mechanical engineering.
In their new home of America, Sarkis Acopian found success thanks to his
intellect and passion. He started the Acopian Technical Company in 1957 in
Phillipsburg, NJ. The firm, headquartered in Easton, PA, manufactures power
supplies and equipment for manufacturing, machinery, process control,
factory automation, astrophysics, chemical processing, telecommunications,
and monitoring systems.
GIVING BACK
With the success brought by his business, Sarkis Acopian set about giving
back to the community, supporting various efforts in memory of his parents.
In recognition of the importance of education, he supported many academic
institutions, such as The Acopian Engineering Center at Lafayette College,
the Acopian Center for Conservation Learning at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, The
Acopian Center for Ornithology at Muhlenberg College, and environmental
education programs at the American University of Armenia and the Florida
Institute of Technology.
He also understood the importance of American liberty in his life’s journey,
and became the largest single donor to the national World War II memorial in
Washington, D.C., with a gift of $1 million.
To help the newly independent Republic of Armenia in 1995, he bought and
donated a building in Ottawa for use as the new country’s Canadian embassy.
He also worked to introduce environmentalism to the Republic of Armenia,
assembling a team of ornithologists to publish a field guide on the birds of
Armenia in 1997, which included the first accurate map of the newly
independent.
SUPPORT FOR THE CHURCH
Friends of the Eastern Diocese, Sarkis Acopian and his wife Bobbye were the
first to respond to the Diocese’s Centennial Endowment and Spiritual
Leadership Funds, giving generously to provide a solid foundation for our
community’s future. They have also been continual supporters of the
Christian education efforts undertaken by the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
and were generous benefactors of the building of the Sourp Hagop Church in
Gyumri in tribute to their granddaughter, Ani.
Most recently, the Acopian family gave an optimistic future to the Armenian
community in Charlotte, NC, by funding the construction of the St. Sarkis
Church, which was consecrated in March 2005. He had long wanted to build a
church in memory of his mother.
"During the consecration of the church, I could see great joy in his eyes,"
the Primate said. "His gift was truly one that came from his love for his
mother and his passion for the Armenian Church and the Armenian people. I
know all the Armenians in Charlotte will join all of us in the Diocese in
offering our heart-felt prayers for the soul of Sarkis as God welcomes him
to His heavenly kingdom. And may God comfort Bobbye and the Acopian family
at this time of loss."
For his works, Sarkis Acopian was presented with the Ellis Island Medal of
Honor, the St. Gregory the Illuminator Medal, and an honorary doctor of
science degree from Muhlenberg College.
— 1/19/06
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Diocesan supporter Sarkis Acopian, seen here with
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate, during the cornerstone blessing of the
St. Sarkis Church of Charlotte, NC, passed away on Thursday, January 18,
2007. His funeral will be at noon on Friday, January 26, 2007, at the St.
Vartan Cathedral in New York City.