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MAJOR DETROIT ARMENIAN BENEFACTOR KARL SOGOIAN PASSES AWAY
AZG Armenian Daily
04/04/2006
The Detroit Armenian community was saddened on Saturday, March 11,
by the loss of the prominent Armenian benefactor Karl (Kaloust)
Sogoian, who died after a long illness at Beaumont Hospital in a
Detroit suburb at the age of 80.
Karl Sogoian was an ingenious individual and very original in his
thinking. Thanks to his precocious intelligence he was able to excel
in his studies and he received his Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical
Engineering from the Detroit Institute of Technology.
He was the son of immigrants from Kharpert, in Armenia and he was
born in Detroit. For over 50 years he had been an active leader and
innovator in the engineering and manufacturing field and he developed
a number of successful industrial projects, in addition to operating
a precision manufacturing company, which he founded in the high tech
machining industry, serving such major customers as General Motors,
Detroit Diesel Corporation and the U.S. military complex. One of the
examples of many successful patents is the hydraulic door closer in
common use for over 40 years in buildings around the world. He also
held many patents of mechanical innovations and he was always hopeful
that he would implement them to be able to better serve his community.
Karl Sogoian was a respected businessman in the Detroit manufacturing
world and many challenging mechanical problems were directed to him
and he was able to solve them, thanks to his ingenuity in mechanical
engineering.
Karl Sogoian's interests were many and varied. Besides his work as an
innovative engineer and industrialist, he was a pillar of the Armenian
Church and the Armenian community. He was respected throughout the
Detroit Armenian community, and his munificence extended to many
Diaspora communities, as well as Armenia. His philanthropic deeds
are well known worldwide as they relate to humanitarian causes and
alleviating human suffering.
Similar to his unique talent in his own profession, Sogoian was a
very original thinker in community life, and he had developed his
own philosophy of serving the Armenian community. He would be ranked
as the most ecumenical benefactor throughout the Armenian community
because he never directed his philanthropic endeavors to one single
organization or group.
Regardless of their affiliation all religious and cultural
organizations benefited from his charitable activities. That is why
he became a patriarch, in a way, on the path of Alex Manoogian, who
was his close friend and associate in many relief projects. One of
his major concerns was the Church unity. As a respected benefactor
he pleaded, reasoned, and sometimes chided church leaders in his
relentless pursuit of unifying the Church. In his mind the Armenian
Church was one and indivisible, and that is why he treated with equal
respect all church entities and all clergy.
Karl Sogoian also developed many scenarios in helping to resolve
problems facing independent Armenia, which is surrounded by hostile
nations. He had an obsession to develop certain strategies and to
appeal to world leaders to attract attention on Armenia's plight. One
of his significant feats was to meet Soviet President Gorbachev's
wife in Washington, D.C. and present a Slavonic Bible to generate
awareness of Armenia's needs among the Soviet hierarchy. His contacts
with the world leaders were featured in the news media at the time.
Probably his most passionate interest outside of his work was the
pursuit of world peace. He had written "Thunderbolt to National
and International Forced Behavior NOW!" and "Thunderbolt AGA", a
paper detailing plans for the Caucasus region to become an economic
unit. He presented his plan to the top officials at the United Nations
in New York City in 1997. He had also sent copies to political and
church leaders in all the major countries represented in the United
Nations. He traveled extensively, identifying humanitarian projects and
financing them to completion. Some of the projects he had undertaken
are as follows:
He rebuilt a school for 400 students in Karabagh. He was very proud
in financing generously the building of an impressive church in
the region of Vayk in Armenia, inhabited by 75,000 parishioners. He
also funded projects at the headquarters of the Armenian Church at
Etchmiadzin and Cilicia.
As an art lover, Karl Sogoian was an avid collector of ancient
Armenian manuscripts and artifacts and he prided himself for having
acquired major paintings by Aivazovsky and many other prominent
Armenian painters whose works he treasured dearly, and at times he
generously donated to major Armenian organizations and museums as
gifts. Although he admitted that his proficiency in reading Armenian,
let alone ancient Armenian texts was limited, he had a knack of
selecting choice manuscripts for acquisition. That is how he became
the proud owner of one of Sargis Pitzak's masterpieces.
Many artists and intellectuals who would visit from Armenia benefited
from Mr. Sogoian's generosity, extending his reputation also among
the intellectual circles of Armenia.
Karl Sogoian was also a collector of Americana. He was known for
his glass and historic gun collection and he was very knowledgeable
in those areas. He knew how to delicately preserve his guns and
glasses apart.
The Detroit Armenian churches especially were the major beneficiaries
of his generosity. Both St. John's Armenian Church and St. Sarkis
Armenian Church were able to acquire new organs, thanks to Mr. and Mrs.
Sogoian's generosity.
Karl Sogoian's respect and admiration went far beyond the awards he
was accorded. The honors bestowed upon him were as follows:
Mr. and Mrs. Karl and Emma Sogoian were honored with the titles of
Prince and Princess of Cilicia by the Holy See of Cilicia in Antelias
in 1996. He was also awarded the medal of St. Gregory the Illuminator
in 1999 by the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all Armenians at
the Holy See of Etchmiadzin. In 1996 he was also awarded the Sarafian
Medal by the Armenian Student's Association. On many, many occasions
Karl Sogoian was honored by the Armenian Relief Society, by the Tekeyan
Cultural Association, by Hamazkayan Cultural Society, Cultural Society
of Armenians from Istanbul, Detroit Institute of Arts, Pierpont Morgan
Library in New York, Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore, the State of
Michigan and the United Nations in New York. He was among the list
of distinguished Armenians who received the prestigious Ellis Island
Medal of Honor in May of 2001.
Karl Sogoian leaves an entire community in bereavement. He will
be missed because of his straightforward ideas, his innovative
leadership, his wisdom and above all, his kindness. Many, many
artists and intellectuals who would visit from Armenia benefited
from Mr. Sogoian's generosity, extending his reputation also among
the intellectual circles of Armenia.
Karl Sogoian always said that he could not have accomplished what
he had, without the help and support of his caring and loving wife
and close business associate for over 45 years, Emma Sogoian (nee
Tabibian), who is the President and major stockholder of the Royal Oak,
Michigan based K.P. Sogoian Manufacturing, Inc.
Karl Sogoian will be missed by many, many people who are devastated
by his loss.
AZG Armenian Daily
04/04/2006
The Detroit Armenian community was saddened on Saturday, March 11,
by the loss of the prominent Armenian benefactor Karl (Kaloust)
Sogoian, who died after a long illness at Beaumont Hospital in a
Detroit suburb at the age of 80.
Karl Sogoian was an ingenious individual and very original in his
thinking. Thanks to his precocious intelligence he was able to excel
in his studies and he received his Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical
Engineering from the Detroit Institute of Technology.
He was the son of immigrants from Kharpert, in Armenia and he was
born in Detroit. For over 50 years he had been an active leader and
innovator in the engineering and manufacturing field and he developed
a number of successful industrial projects, in addition to operating
a precision manufacturing company, which he founded in the high tech
machining industry, serving such major customers as General Motors,
Detroit Diesel Corporation and the U.S. military complex. One of the
examples of many successful patents is the hydraulic door closer in
common use for over 40 years in buildings around the world. He also
held many patents of mechanical innovations and he was always hopeful
that he would implement them to be able to better serve his community.
Karl Sogoian was a respected businessman in the Detroit manufacturing
world and many challenging mechanical problems were directed to him
and he was able to solve them, thanks to his ingenuity in mechanical
engineering.
Karl Sogoian's interests were many and varied. Besides his work as an
innovative engineer and industrialist, he was a pillar of the Armenian
Church and the Armenian community. He was respected throughout the
Detroit Armenian community, and his munificence extended to many
Diaspora communities, as well as Armenia. His philanthropic deeds
are well known worldwide as they relate to humanitarian causes and
alleviating human suffering.
Similar to his unique talent in his own profession, Sogoian was a
very original thinker in community life, and he had developed his
own philosophy of serving the Armenian community. He would be ranked
as the most ecumenical benefactor throughout the Armenian community
because he never directed his philanthropic endeavors to one single
organization or group.
Regardless of their affiliation all religious and cultural
organizations benefited from his charitable activities. That is why
he became a patriarch, in a way, on the path of Alex Manoogian, who
was his close friend and associate in many relief projects. One of
his major concerns was the Church unity. As a respected benefactor
he pleaded, reasoned, and sometimes chided church leaders in his
relentless pursuit of unifying the Church. In his mind the Armenian
Church was one and indivisible, and that is why he treated with equal
respect all church entities and all clergy.
Karl Sogoian also developed many scenarios in helping to resolve
problems facing independent Armenia, which is surrounded by hostile
nations. He had an obsession to develop certain strategies and to
appeal to world leaders to attract attention on Armenia's plight. One
of his significant feats was to meet Soviet President Gorbachev's
wife in Washington, D.C. and present a Slavonic Bible to generate
awareness of Armenia's needs among the Soviet hierarchy. His contacts
with the world leaders were featured in the news media at the time.
Probably his most passionate interest outside of his work was the
pursuit of world peace. He had written "Thunderbolt to National
and International Forced Behavior NOW!" and "Thunderbolt AGA", a
paper detailing plans for the Caucasus region to become an economic
unit. He presented his plan to the top officials at the United Nations
in New York City in 1997. He had also sent copies to political and
church leaders in all the major countries represented in the United
Nations. He traveled extensively, identifying humanitarian projects and
financing them to completion. Some of the projects he had undertaken
are as follows:
He rebuilt a school for 400 students in Karabagh. He was very proud
in financing generously the building of an impressive church in
the region of Vayk in Armenia, inhabited by 75,000 parishioners. He
also funded projects at the headquarters of the Armenian Church at
Etchmiadzin and Cilicia.
As an art lover, Karl Sogoian was an avid collector of ancient
Armenian manuscripts and artifacts and he prided himself for having
acquired major paintings by Aivazovsky and many other prominent
Armenian painters whose works he treasured dearly, and at times he
generously donated to major Armenian organizations and museums as
gifts. Although he admitted that his proficiency in reading Armenian,
let alone ancient Armenian texts was limited, he had a knack of
selecting choice manuscripts for acquisition. That is how he became
the proud owner of one of Sargis Pitzak's masterpieces.
Many artists and intellectuals who would visit from Armenia benefited
from Mr. Sogoian's generosity, extending his reputation also among
the intellectual circles of Armenia.
Karl Sogoian was also a collector of Americana. He was known for
his glass and historic gun collection and he was very knowledgeable
in those areas. He knew how to delicately preserve his guns and
glasses apart.
The Detroit Armenian churches especially were the major beneficiaries
of his generosity. Both St. John's Armenian Church and St. Sarkis
Armenian Church were able to acquire new organs, thanks to Mr. and Mrs.
Sogoian's generosity.
Karl Sogoian's respect and admiration went far beyond the awards he
was accorded. The honors bestowed upon him were as follows:
Mr. and Mrs. Karl and Emma Sogoian were honored with the titles of
Prince and Princess of Cilicia by the Holy See of Cilicia in Antelias
in 1996. He was also awarded the medal of St. Gregory the Illuminator
in 1999 by the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all Armenians at
the Holy See of Etchmiadzin. In 1996 he was also awarded the Sarafian
Medal by the Armenian Student's Association. On many, many occasions
Karl Sogoian was honored by the Armenian Relief Society, by the Tekeyan
Cultural Association, by Hamazkayan Cultural Society, Cultural Society
of Armenians from Istanbul, Detroit Institute of Arts, Pierpont Morgan
Library in New York, Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore, the State of
Michigan and the United Nations in New York. He was among the list
of distinguished Armenians who received the prestigious Ellis Island
Medal of Honor in May of 2001.
Karl Sogoian leaves an entire community in bereavement. He will
be missed because of his straightforward ideas, his innovative
leadership, his wisdom and above all, his kindness. Many, many
artists and intellectuals who would visit from Armenia benefited
from Mr. Sogoian's generosity, extending his reputation also among
the intellectual circles of Armenia.
Karl Sogoian always said that he could not have accomplished what
he had, without the help and support of his caring and loving wife
and close business associate for over 45 years, Emma Sogoian (nee
Tabibian), who is the President and major stockholder of the Royal Oak,
Michigan based K.P. Sogoian Manufacturing, Inc.
Karl Sogoian will be missed by many, many people who are devastated
by his loss.