Sarkis Acopian
Sarkis Acopian 
| |
|---|---|
| Birthplace | Tabriz |
| Birth date | 8 December 1926 |
| Lived in | Tabriz, Easton |
| Resides in | Easton |
| Death place | Easton |
| Death date | 2007/01/18 |
| Death year | 2007 |
| Languages | Armenian, English |
| Ethnicities | Armenian |
| Dialects | Persian Armenian |
| Spouses | Bobbye Seitze Mixon Acopian |
| Children | Gregory Acopian, Jeffrey Acopian |
Biography
A Lifetime of Quiet Philanthropy
Sarkis Acopian was born in Tabriz, Iran on Dec 8, 1926 to Armenian parents who emigrated from Russia and Turkey and finally settled in Iran. Sarkis was raised as a Christian Armenian in Iran and in 1945 immigrated to the United States where he studied engineering at Lafayette College in Easton, PA. During his time at Lafayette, he was called to serve in the U.S. Army. While stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in the Army Air Training Command in San Antonio, TX, he met his future wife, Bobbye. After being honorably discharged and returning to Lafayette, he graduated in 1951, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. After graduation, he was employed by Weller Electric Corp., where he designed a power sander and a soldering gun that became two of their most popular products.
Since his childhood, Sarkis dreamed of owning his own business. With just a small loan to start his own company and achieve his share of the American dream, he began by designing and manufacturing the first ever solar powered radio, a milestone of 1957 technology. This invention led Sarkis on the path to the power supply business which is still operating today as the Acopian Technical Company.
Sarkis Acopian was more than just an outstanding entrepreneur. He loved outdoor adventure and throughout his life he was an avid pilot who flew his corporate aircraft between his company's manufacturing facilities in Easton, PA and Melbourne, FL. He was also a scuba diver and a skydiving enthusiast who made more than 200 jumps during the pioneering days of the sport in the early 1960s. But where he really made his presence known was in his philanthropic work.
Sarkis was a self-effacing man who passionately believed in supporting the community quietly but with unmatched generosity. He made numerous donations to local, national and international causes that have included the Acopian Engineering Center at Lafayette College, the Acopian Center for Ornithology at Muhlenberg College, the Acopian Center for Conservation Learning at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, The Nature Conservancy’s Acopian Bog Turtle Preserve, the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Ottawa, Canada as well as endowing educational programs at the American University of Armenia, Lafayette College and the Florida Institute of Technology.
Mr. Acopian’s passion for his faith led him to donate funding for the building of three churches: St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, built in memory of his beloved mother, Dr. Arax Acopian; St. Hagop Armenian Apostolic Church in Gyumri, Armenia, built in honor of his granddaughter Ani; and St. Mesrop Armenian Apostolic Church in Yerevan, Armenia.
In the later years of his life, he assembled a team of ornithologists from around the world to work towards publishing a field guide on the birds of Armenia in hopes of introducing the newly independent former Soviet Republic to the idea of environmental conservation. A Field Guide to Birds of Armenia was published in 1997. The first accurate map of the newly independent Republic of Armenia was also published as a result of the Birds of Armenia Project.
Acopian was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations, the St.Gregory the Illuminator Medal by the Armenian Church, and he received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Muhlenberg College.
As an immigrant to this country, Mr. Acopian was eternally grateful for the opportunities offered to him here. He showed his great sense of gratitude to his adopted country by being the largest individual donor to the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC. This generous contribution was unknown to the public until after Sarkis passed away in 2007. Pennsylvania Congressman Charles Dent, in a speech before the Unites States House of Representatives commemorating Sarkis’ life, recounted the story behind the WWII Memorial where in return for his contribution, Sarkis only asked for a seat at the dedication ceremony. Due to extremely limited seating at the dedication ceremony, he decided not to attend, giving up his seat so that another veteran could attend.
Although he is no longer with us, Sarkis Acopian’s vision of promoting conservation awareness among the citizenry of Armenia and the Diaspora is being continued at the Acopian Center for the Environment.
Source: https://www.acopiancenter.am/page.asp?tid=68&name=Sarkis-Acopian
Obituary
Sarkis Acopian Obituary
Sarkis Acopian, 80, of Easton (Palmer Twp.), died peacefully Thursday, January 18, 2007, in his home. Born December 8, 1926, in Tabriz, Iran, he was a son of the late Dr. Grigor and Dr. Arax Djigardjian Acopian, who had left Russia and Turkey before settling in Iran. He grew up as a Christian Armenian in Iran and later left that country in 1945 to come to to the United States to study engineering at Lafayette College, Easton. His education was interrupted when her was drafted into the Army. While stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in the Army Air Training Command in San Antonio, Texas, he met his future wife, Bobbye Seitze Mixon. He returned to Lafayette College after being honorably discharged and graduated in 1951 with a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering. During and after college, he worked for Weller Electric Corp. and designed a power sander which became one of their main products. Since his early childhood, he dreamed of operating his own business. In 1957, he took out a loan from a local bank and began his journey. That same year he designed and manufactured the first ever solar radio. This eventually led into the power supply business, Acopian Technical Company, which is still operating today. From the early 1970s on, Sarkis would commute between the companys manufacturing facilities in Easton and Melbourne, Florida, by piloting his corporate-owned aircraft, a Piper Aztec, and later a Piper Navajo. By 1977, he was piloting the Cessna Citation jet. This was the only business jet approved for a single pilot, instead of the usual pilot and co-pilot. In 1981, Acopian Technical Company took delivery of the very last Rockwell Sabreliner jet manufactured. Sarkis Acopian was often ahead of his time. He made over 200 skydiving jumps during the pioneering days of the sport in the early 1960s. He was also a frequent scuba diver during that same era. 10 years before surfboard leashes became standard equipment in the sport of surfing, he asked why surfers didnt attach a cord between themselves and their surfboard so that when they fall off they dont need to swim to shore to get their board. Sarkis Acopian was a very modest and civic-minded man who believed in giving back to society. He made numerous donations to national and international causes which included the Acopian Engineering Center at Lafayette Center, the Acopian Center for Conservation Learning at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, and the Acopian Center for Ornithology at Muhlenberg College, as well as endowing the environmental education programs at the American University of Armenia and Florida Institute of Technology. Other major philanthropic endeavors have included the Nature Conservancy Acopian Bog Turtle Preserve and St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church, Charlotte, North Carolina, built in memory of his beloved mother, Dr. Arax Acopian. Other important donations have included gifts to the Armenian General Benevolent Union, the Embassy of Armenia, Ottawa, Canada, the Dioces of the Armenian Church of America, the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, the Armenian Assembly of America, Columbia University, State Theatre, Easton, the Easton National Canal Museum, the Childrens Home of Easton and two churches in Armenia, St. Hakop and St. Mesrob. His great sense of gratitude to his adopted country played a major part in his being the largest individual donor to the World War II Memorial, Washington, D.C. He received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the St. Gregory the Illuminator Medal and an honorary doctor of science degree from Muhlenberg College. In the later years of his life, he assembled a team of ornithologists in Armenia and the United States to work towards publishing a field guide on the birds of Armenia in hope of introducing the newly independent former Soviet republic to the idea of environmental conservation. A Field Guide of Birds of Armenia was published in 1997. The first accurate map of the newly independent Republic of Armenia was also published as a result of the Birds of Armenia Project. Survivors: Wife of 59 years, Bobbye Seitze Mixon Acopian; two sons, Gregory and his wife Karen, and Jeffrey and his wife Helen, all of Easton; sister, Miriam Bradley of Plainview, N.Y.; six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a sister, Eleanora Ordjanian. Services: Noon Friday, January 26, St. Vartan Armenia Cathedral, 630 Second Ave., New York City. Interment, 11:30 a.m. Saturday, January 27, Easton Cemetery. Arrangements, Ashton Funeral Home, Easton.