YEREVAN, Armenia — On June 4, members of the American University of Armenia (AUA) community gathered in Manoogian Hall to commemorate the life and legacy of long-time University benefactor Gerald Turpanjian.
Born in 1934 in Aleppo, Syria to survivors of the Armenian Genocide, Turpanjian spent his childhood in Beirut, Lebanon. He pursued his higher education at the University of Southern California and eventually married Patricia Savoian, with whom he had four children. Turpanjian was the founder of Pacific Sales, which became the largest retailer of luxury kitchen and bath appliances in the United States before he sold it to Best Buy in 2006. Until his passing, he served as chairman and CEO of New Spark Holdings, Inc., as well as president of the Turpanjian Family Educational Foundation (TFEF).
Throughout his life, Turpanjian was an active and devoted philanthropist, seizing every opportunity to use his tremendous professional success to strengthen the Armenian homeland. After Armenia gained independence in 1991, he pursued a host of endeavors that demonstrated his commitment to promoting democracy, free enterprise, and entrepreneurship in the country.
AUA has benefited enormously from Turpanjian’s emphasis on education in all its forms and his philanthropic vision and activities. In 2021, the Turpanjian family funded AUA’s groundbreaking Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, the first in not only Armenia, but the entire former Soviet Union. In 2017, Turpanjian and his wife named the Gerald and Patricia Turpanjian College of Health Sciences through a major gift to the University. In 1995, the couple established the Turpanjian Center for Policy Analysis, which was restructured last year into the Turpanjian Institute of Social Sciences. He also supported the digitization of Armenian literature in order to make it more accessible and to preserve it for future generations, resulting in what is known today as the AUA Digital Library.
The event was attended by members of the AUA Board of Trustees, Turpanjian’s daughter, Lori, and her husband, Jack Muncherian, friends of the University, and AUA faculty, staff, students, and alumni. It opened with a video commemorating Turpanjian’s life and pioneering initiatives that have become defining elements of AUA’s programmatic offerings. In attendance were numerous beneficiaries of these initiatives, namely participants in the Turpanjian Rural Development and Entrepreneurs in Health programs, along with alumni from the Turpanjian College of Health Sciences, all of whom had traveled from various regions of Armenia for the occasion.
AUA President Dr. Bruce Boghosian then delivered remarks celebrating Turpanjian’s legacy: “Despite his tremendous professional success, Mr. Turpanjian maintained a modest, and sometimes self-effacing, demeanor. I recall telling him about our University’s new strategic plan and asking for his advice and comments. He replied that he wouldn’t be giving us the funds if he didn’t trust us to spend them wisely. I am immensely grateful to Mr. Turpanjian for his belief and trust in us over many years.”
Next, Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisian, director of the External Relations and Protocol Department of the Mother See, shared about Turpanjian’s impressive contributions to the Armenian Apostolic Church, characterizing Turpanjian’s legacy as a prime example of dedication: “Mr. Turpanjian belonged to a generation that, born from the ashes of historic tragedies, adopted a vision that saw the renaissance of the Armenian nation…His life prompts us to ask ourselves what we can do for our people. How can we harness our abilities and resources to serve the Armenian nation?”
Chair of the Board Dr. Lawrence H. Pitts then reflected on his nearly two decades of experience working with Turpanjian on AUA’s Board, emphasizing his penchant for visionary initiatives. “Jerry was a person who looked beyond himself to see how he could make the world a better place. The Turpanjian Rural Development Program, in particular, proved to be an exceptionally effective microfinancing scheme,” said Dr. Pitts.
Following Dr. Pitts’ remarks, Dr. Arevhat Yaralyan, founder of “Arevhat and Ani” LLC Family Medicine Clinic in Noyemberyan, took the podium. Dr. Yaralyan is a beneficiary of the Entrepreneurs in Health Program, which was launched by Turpanjian to increase access to quality health services in rural communities and regional small towns through the establishment and expansion of private medical practices. “Today, I can proudly say that our services meet the highest international medical standards and fulfill a vital need for our community,” said Dr. Yaralyan. “Mr. Turpanjian’s program not only allowed me to open my own clinic, but also served as a force for the development of our whole community.”
A moving musical performance by Hover Chamber Choir ensued, featuring a rich and beautiful selection of pieces by Komitas, Edgar Hovhannisyan, and others. Dr. Boghosian then presented Turpanjian’s daughter, Lori Muncherian, with a symbolic scarf bearing the AUA name and a small gift as a greeting to Turpanjian’s wife, Patricia. Muncherian, an AUA trustee and president of New Spark Holdings, Inc., the company her father once chaired and led as CEO, then delivered her own remarks, highlighting his unwavering belief in Christianity, the critical role of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Armenian and Christian history, lifelong education, human rights, and dignity. “He had an understanding of the human condition and could relate to individuals of various backgrounds and converse with them on a multitude of subjects,” recalled Muncherian. “It would be difficult to characterize my dad with a few short sentences, but it would be fair to say that he was a consummate problem solver, who used his skills to help his community. He used to say, ‘Talk is cheap. Let your actions speak for themselves.’ I believe his actions spoke loudly.”
The evening concluded with a reception, during which attendees had the opportunity to mingle and share their memories of Turpanjian.
Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.
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