Louise Manoogian Simone

Louise Manoogian Simone (May 19, 1933 – February 18, 2019)[1] was an Armenian American philanthropist. She was president of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) from 1989 to 2002.[2]

Life

Louise Manoogian was born in Detroit, Michigan. Her father Alex Manoogian, an immigrant from Smyrna, founded Masco in 1929 and became wealthy after developing the one-handed faucet in the 1950s.[3] Alex Manoogian was fifth president of the AGBU and a philanthropist for Detroit civic causes and Armenian political and cultural causes.[3]

She was on the AGBU's central council for eight years before succeeding her father as its president.[3][4] She organized AGBU disaster relief after the 1988 Armenian earthquake.[5] In 1962, her parents established the Louise Manoogian Simone Foundation, which was later renamed the Manoogian Simone Foundation.[6] In 2007 it donated $1.2m to the University of Michigan's Armenian Studies program.[7] In 1979 Simone served a term on the Council of the Eastern U.S. Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the first woman in such a senior position.[8] Simone and her brother Richard Manoogian contributed $2m in 2000 towards the construction of Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, Yerevan.[9]

Personal life

Louise Manoogian married Arman Simone[10] and lived in Manhattan.[3] Simone had a daughter, Christine, and two sons, David and Mark.[11]

References
  1. Manoogian Simone Fonndation announces the passing of Louise Manoogian Simone
  2. "History Of The Armenian General Benevolent Union". Armenian General Benevolent Union. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  3. Van Gelder, Lawrence (13 July 1996). "Alex Manoogian, 95; Perfected Design of Single-Handled Faucet". The New York Times. p. 19. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  4. "Berge Setrakian Elected Seventh President of AGBU" (Press release). Armenian General Benevolent Union. 22 February 2002. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  5. Associated Press (11 December 1988). "U.S. help flies to Armenia". The Prescott Courier. p. 3A. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  6. Wyszomierski, Sara (May 2006). Guide to Funding for International & Foreign Programs. Foundation Center. p. 162. ISBN 978-1-59542-088-6.
  7. Demas, Kristy (19 November 2007). "Manoogian Simone Foundation gives $1.2 million for Armenian studies". The University Record Online. University of Michigan. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  8. Merguerian, Barbara J. (2006). "Oriental Orthodox traditions and the Armenian Apostolic Church". In Keller, Rosemary Skinner; Ruether, Rosemary Radford; Cantlon, Marie (eds.). Encyclopedia of women and religion in North America. Indiana University Press. p. 519. ISBN 978-0-253-34687-2. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  9. "Louise Simone and Richard Manougian Donate $2 Million to Yerevan Cathedral Project". Asbarez Armenian News. 30 June 2000. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  10. "Masco". Lotta Comunista (in Italian) (154): 5. 1983. Arman Simone, genero di Alex Manoogian
  11. Levin, Sander M. (30 September 1996). "Tribute to Alexander Manoogian". U.S. Congressional Record. 142 (138): E1822–3. The pallbearers were Mr. Manoogian's grandsons and nephews: James Manoogian, Richard Manoogian, Jr., David Simone, Mark Simone, Brian Manoogian, Douglas Manoogian, Chris Christo, and Paul Christo.
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