| 2016-10-24 07:02:11 |
Harutun Vapurciyan
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — Harutun Vapurciyan passed away on Thursday, September 29, at the age of 87. Metro Detroit Armenians lost a friend, colleague and generous benefactor who donated to humanitarian projects locally and in Armenia. The funeral service took place on Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at St. John Armenian Church in Southfield, officiated by the Very Rev. Aren Jebejian with the participation of a long-time friend of the deceased, Rev. Diran Papazian.
Vapurciyan was eulogized, among others, by
his best friend and lifetime colleague, Osep
Sarafian. The following are excerpts from his
eulogy.
He said, in part, “Harutun, known as “Arto”
by his friends, was born in Istanbul Turkey on
March 25, 1929 to a modest Armenian family.
He received his primary education at the
Getronagan Armenian High School, and pursued
his higher education at the Istanbul
Technical University where he studied architecture.
Upon graduation he started his own business
and participated in many national architectural
design competitions and won many
awards.
“After fulfilling his mandatory military service
as an officer in Turkey, in 1958 Harutun
immigrated to the United States and enrolled at
the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where
he received a second advanced degree.
“Arto was a very successful architect, a good
designer and engineer. His landmark projects
won the envy of his professional peers, including
myself, who had the privilege of collaborating
with him on several projects.
“Harutun was a humble man who never
bragged about his accomplishments or philanthropies.
He always acted quietly and generously.
He was involved in the Detroit-Armenian
community and was one of the founders of the
Cultural Society of Armenians from Istanbul
and the Armenian Engineers and Scientists of
America. He also worked closely with the late
philanthropist Alex Manoogian on the project
of opening the AGBU Alex & Marie Manoogian
School that Metro Detroiter’s are so proud of
today.”
The Vapurciyans were among the first parents
to enroll their children in the new school.
Harutun was married to Nadya (Kitapcyan)
for 56 years and they had two sons, Dr. Garo
Vaporciyan (Pam), a chemical engineer who is
principal scientist and venture manager for
Royal Dutch Shell Company, and Dr. Ara
Vaporciyan (Philipa), a renowned thoracic surgeon,
who is chairman of the Thoracic Surgery
Department at MD Anderson Hospital in Texas.
Each couple has three children.
He was an ardent supporter of Armenia’s
Cosmic Ray Division’s (CRD). He believed in the
intellectual power of the Armenian scientists
and trusted the astrophysicists working at the
observation facility atop Mount Aragats.
He was also was an ardent supporter of ASIF
projects to construct and renovate schools,
community centers, roads, and irrigations systems
in villages and rural areas in Armenia.
Source:The Armenian Mirror-Spectator