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Major Detroit Armenian Benefactor Karl Sogoian Passes Away

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  • Major Detroit Armenian Benefactor Karl Sogoian Passes Away

    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.
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