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The Fresno Bee (California)
October 5, 2007 Friday
The $11 million farmer
by Vanessa Colon and Anne Dudley El, The Fresno Bee, Calif.
Oct. 5--A reserved Kingsburg grape grower who lived simply, never
married and worked his farm until he was 90 has donated about $11
million to three Armenian-American nonprofit groups and the
University of California at San Francisco.
Leo Diran died last December at age 98. Trustees of his estate
delivered checks for $2.7 million to each of the recipients last
month.
Among the beneficiaries is the California Armenian Home on East Kings
Canyon Road in southeast Fresno, where Diran spent his last years.
Officials at the home said they were unaware of Diran's wealth --
acquired mostly through investments -- until after his death. The
gift is the largest single donation the home has ever received, they
said.
"Sometimes we learn of the accomplishments of a person too late to
acknowledge his contributions during his lifetime. We have all heard
of stories of people who have chosen to leave generous donations to
be distributed through their estate. The California Armenian Home is
fortunate to be the recipient of the generosity of one such person,"
said Bob Garabedian, an Armenian Home board member.
The other recipients are the American Armenian Missionary Association
in New Jersey, the Armenian General Benevolent Union in New York, and
the University of California at San Francisco.
This is the second time in less than a month that a Valley resident
emerged unexpectedly as a major donor. Last month, Fresno's Barbara
Dodd Anderson donated $128.5 million to a Pennsylvania boarding
school she attended as a girl.
Ron Bergman, Diran's friend and neighbor for 40 years, said Diran
would be "rolling over in his grave" at the attention focused on his
benevolence.
"He was a rather shy and reserved man, but he was very kind, very
knowledgeable about his farming practices. He was a very well-liked
man," Bergman said.
Larry Jorge of Selma, who is a trustee of Diran's estate, described
Diran as quiet.
"He didn't like any flair. He kept to himself," Jorge said.
Few people knew of his wealth, Bergman said, as Diran lived simply in
his family's home, built in the 1930s. He did not travel or spend
much money on himself, Bergman said.
Diran, born in Boston, settled with his parents and siblings on a
40-acre farm in Kingsburg in 1912.
He attended Clay Elementary School through eighth grade and graduated
from Kingsburg High School in 1926.
Diran was drafted into the U.S. Army at age 34, serving in Europe
during World War II. Bergman said that he once asked Diran why he had
not sought a "farm deferment" from the military.
"He said, 'No. I wanted to serve my country. I wanted the chance to
see other parts of the world.' "
Diran came home to farm wine grapes and raisins until he was 90,
Bergman said.
"You'd see him out pruning with the crew," Bergman said. "He did all
his own tractor work."
Diran studied the latest farming techniques and was an "inventive
man," Bergman said. He made his own pruning sheers and other tools.
He was a meticulous farmer.
"The ranch was always in fine shape. You had to hunt for a weed on
it," Bergman said.
He was not one to gather with other farmers for morning coffee in
town, Bergman said.
"He didn't see a need to do that," Bergman said. "That was a bit
foolish to spend time in a coffee shop."
Although Diran did not attend college, he valued education, which may
explain his donation to University of California at San Francisco,
Bergman said.
Bergman, on the Clay Elementary School board for nearly 30 years,
often discussed education with Diran. When Diran heard about plans to
build a bus garage at Clay, he contributed $50,000 toward the $60,000
project, Bergman said. Before the facility was built, the school's
buses were parked outside.
While Diran was living, he wanted no recognition for his contribution
to the garage, although the school is now planning to honor Diran
with a plaque and picture, to be hung in the school office.
Bergman said he told Diran after the garage was completed in 2002:
"Leo, I want to take you by and see it.' And he said, 'No, I don't
want to see it. I know it's there.'
"He did not want to brag about it."
Diran accrued much of his fortune through investments in stocks,
Bergman said. He subscribed to the Wall Street Journal and studied
the market daily.
In Diran's later years, Bergman said, he came to realize his friend's
immense wealth as they discussed the stock market.
"I certainly didn't question him on that," Bergman said.
With his eyesight failing and his health faltering, Diran moved from
the family ranch to the California Armenian Home. Diran didn't have
any children.
Garabedian said Diran donated the money to the California Armenian
Home because he was happy with the service his sister Mary Diran
received.
The California Armenian Home, once a small residential-care facility,
has 120 beds in the nursing-care unit and 37 residential-care beds.
The home plans to use the $2.7 million to build either an Alzheimer's
facility for patients suffering from the brain disorder, a
rehabilitation center or an independent living facility.
Dikran Youmshakian, field director of The American Armenian
Missionary Association in New Jersey, said Diran was a member of the
association. Several years before his death, Diran sold his farm and
donated roughly $500,000 to establish an endowment.
The association will use the latest donation for religious,
educational and social service projects in 22 countries, Youmshakian
said. The group is affiliated with churches around the world,
including Fresno's Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church and First
Armenian Presbyterian Church.
Youmshakian visited Diran at the California Armenian Home when Diran
was 90.
"He loved this organization. ... He said he was following in the
footsteps of his father by remembering this organization in his
will," Youmshakian said.
The donation to the Armenian General Benevolent Union is meant for an
endowment for the American University of Armenia in Yerevan, Armenia,
said Hrag Vartanian, a union spokesman. The group supports schools
and provides scholarships for students of Armenian descent around the
globe.
By Vanessa Colon and Anne Dudley Ellis
October 5, 2007 Friday
The $11 million farmer
by Vanessa Colon and Anne Dudley El, The Fresno Bee, Calif.
Oct. 5--A reserved Kingsburg grape grower who lived simply, never
married and worked his farm until he was 90 has donated about $11
million to three Armenian-American nonprofit groups and the
University of California at San Francisco.
Leo Diran died last December at age 98. Trustees of his estate
delivered checks for $2.7 million to each of the recipients last
month.
Among the beneficiaries is the California Armenian Home on East Kings
Canyon Road in southeast Fresno, where Diran spent his last years.
Officials at the home said they were unaware of Diran's wealth --
acquired mostly through investments -- until after his death. The
gift is the largest single donation the home has ever received, they
said.
"Sometimes we learn of the accomplishments of a person too late to
acknowledge his contributions during his lifetime. We have all heard
of stories of people who have chosen to leave generous donations to
be distributed through their estate. The California Armenian Home is
fortunate to be the recipient of the generosity of one such person,"
said Bob Garabedian, an Armenian Home board member.
The other recipients are the American Armenian Missionary Association
in New Jersey, the Armenian General Benevolent Union in New York, and
the University of California at San Francisco.
This is the second time in less than a month that a Valley resident
emerged unexpectedly as a major donor. Last month, Fresno's Barbara
Dodd Anderson donated $128.5 million to a Pennsylvania boarding
school she attended as a girl.
Ron Bergman, Diran's friend and neighbor for 40 years, said Diran
would be "rolling over in his grave" at the attention focused on his
benevolence.
"He was a rather shy and reserved man, but he was very kind, very
knowledgeable about his farming practices. He was a very well-liked
man," Bergman said.
Larry Jorge of Selma, who is a trustee of Diran's estate, described
Diran as quiet.
"He didn't like any flair. He kept to himself," Jorge said.
Few people knew of his wealth, Bergman said, as Diran lived simply in
his family's home, built in the 1930s. He did not travel or spend
much money on himself, Bergman said.
Diran, born in Boston, settled with his parents and siblings on a
40-acre farm in Kingsburg in 1912.
He attended Clay Elementary School through eighth grade and graduated
from Kingsburg High School in 1926.
Diran was drafted into the U.S. Army at age 34, serving in Europe
during World War II. Bergman said that he once asked Diran why he had
not sought a "farm deferment" from the military.
"He said, 'No. I wanted to serve my country. I wanted the chance to
see other parts of the world.' "
Diran came home to farm wine grapes and raisins until he was 90,
Bergman said.
"You'd see him out pruning with the crew," Bergman said. "He did all
his own tractor work."
Diran studied the latest farming techniques and was an "inventive
man," Bergman said. He made his own pruning sheers and other tools.
He was a meticulous farmer.
"The ranch was always in fine shape. You had to hunt for a weed on
it," Bergman said.
He was not one to gather with other farmers for morning coffee in
town, Bergman said.
"He didn't see a need to do that," Bergman said. "That was a bit
foolish to spend time in a coffee shop."
Although Diran did not attend college, he valued education, which may
explain his donation to University of California at San Francisco,
Bergman said.
Bergman, on the Clay Elementary School board for nearly 30 years,
often discussed education with Diran. When Diran heard about plans to
build a bus garage at Clay, he contributed $50,000 toward the $60,000
project, Bergman said. Before the facility was built, the school's
buses were parked outside.
While Diran was living, he wanted no recognition for his contribution
to the garage, although the school is now planning to honor Diran
with a plaque and picture, to be hung in the school office.
Bergman said he told Diran after the garage was completed in 2002:
"Leo, I want to take you by and see it.' And he said, 'No, I don't
want to see it. I know it's there.'
"He did not want to brag about it."
Diran accrued much of his fortune through investments in stocks,
Bergman said. He subscribed to the Wall Street Journal and studied
the market daily.
In Diran's later years, Bergman said, he came to realize his friend's
immense wealth as they discussed the stock market.
"I certainly didn't question him on that," Bergman said.
With his eyesight failing and his health faltering, Diran moved from
the family ranch to the California Armenian Home. Diran didn't have
any children.
Garabedian said Diran donated the money to the California Armenian
Home because he was happy with the service his sister Mary Diran
received.
The California Armenian Home, once a small residential-care facility,
has 120 beds in the nursing-care unit and 37 residential-care beds.
The home plans to use the $2.7 million to build either an Alzheimer's
facility for patients suffering from the brain disorder, a
rehabilitation center or an independent living facility.
Dikran Youmshakian, field director of The American Armenian
Missionary Association in New Jersey, said Diran was a member of the
association. Several years before his death, Diran sold his farm and
donated roughly $500,000 to establish an endowment.
The association will use the latest donation for religious,
educational and social service projects in 22 countries, Youmshakian
said. The group is affiliated with churches around the world,
including Fresno's Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church and First
Armenian Presbyterian Church.
Youmshakian visited Diran at the California Armenian Home when Diran
was 90.
"He loved this organization. ... He said he was following in the
footsteps of his father by remembering this organization in his
will," Youmshakian said.
The donation to the Armenian General Benevolent Union is meant for an
endowment for the American University of Armenia in Yerevan, Armenia,
said Hrag Vartanian, a union spokesman. The group supports schools
and provides scholarships for students of Armenian descent around the
globe.
By Vanessa Colon and Anne Dudley Ellis