Sarkis Acopian

(1926-2007)

The benefactor of American University of Armenia Environmental Conservation and Research Center and Birds of Armenia Project

The biography of Sarkis Acopian presents us a personality for whom charity was a simple lifestyle, and who was greatly interested in social and national life of his people. Our society is unaware about the charitable activities of this US Armenian, since his Christian inner character made him act in secret without much publicity. Neither TV nor the newspapers spoke about this great man.

In January of this year Sarkis Acopian, the great benefactor and national devotee passed away at the age of 80, in Easton, Pennsylvania, USA. Being Iran Armenian he was born in the family of medical doctors. At young age he moved to the USA to get education on technical engineering and later founded his own company “Acopian Technical Company”. He invested his professional knowledge into power supply business with various innovative projects. His name is associated with power supply electronic equipment, solar radio, the ornithological center at Muhlenberg College. His civic mindedness served as a source for his charitable activities which are inseparable part of his nature and inner ideas. Both in the USA and in Armenia Sarkis Acopian made essential investment in environmental conservation, health care, science and also in church building. He has greatly contributed to the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, and has built the St. Sakis Apostolic church in Charlotte, North Carolina. By the initiation of the Catholicos Garegin the 1st and Bishop Paren Avetiqyan, Sarkis Acopian has built the St. Hakob church in Gyumri. By his donations another church is being built in Yerevan.
In Armenia his beneficial activities were directed to different spheres. Being one of the greatest and long term benefactors of the American University of Armenia in 1992 he established the Environmental Conservation and Research Center. After the earthquake he made the major investment in launching a plant for construction materials. He completely renovated and reequipped the surgical department of the central hospital of the National Army located in Yerevan. By gathering a group of ornithologists both in Armenia and the USA he started the birdlife research and documenting works in Armenia, and as a result of which in 1997, 1999, 2000 there were published A field Guide to the Birds of Armenia in Armenian and English, its Handbook and also the Reference Map. All these are valuable and notable publications.
Sarkis Acopian assisted also the Armenian Assembly of America. The building of the Armenian Embassy in Canada was also one of the donations to his nation. Though being very modest his philanthropic endeavors could not remain unnoticed: he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the St Gregory the Illuminator Medal, as well as honorary Doctor of Science degree from Muhlenberg College.

A Life Full of Public Responsibilities

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