Obituary: Anna Hovnanian, Philanthropist, Artist

Anna graduated from high school and then received her bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the Fashion Institute of Technology. Thereafter, she worked in Manhattan, first at Chase Manhattan Bank, and later for many years at Proctor and Gamble. On one occasion during a morning subway commute, dressed chicly as usual, the subway attendant commented on her youthful elegance and said, “Miss, you are not meant to ride the subway.” This, too, would be her destiny.

In addition to friends she had met through school and work, she spent time with a small group of Armenian friends, whom she met after she had joined the Armenia Dance Group of the AGBU. It was these friends who had invited her one weekend to join them in Asbury Park for a dance, where the Vosbikian band was playing. It was there she met Hirair Hovnanian, whose father had also escaped the Genocide, first settling in Kirkuk, Iraq, then in Baghdad, Iraq, and later immigrating to the United States. Hirair arrived in the United States in 1951, and stayed initially with his second cousins, the Vosbikian family. He later got an apartment and attended Villanova University, working four jobs to put himself through school. Hirair has always expressed his gratitude to the Vosbikian family for the welcome they gave him when he first arrived in US.

Hirair and Anna were married February 11, 1956. Their marriage started with humble beginnings. They got a small apartment in Wayne, Pennsylvania, and as Hirair was completing his education at Villanova University to graduate in the spring, Anna got a part-time job at a leather factory making saddles. Anna was especially grateful for the kindness and love of Lily Vosbikian Hovnanian, who had married Hirair’s brother Jirair, and she became the sister Anna never had. After graduation, with his engineering degree in hand, the couple settled in Bridgeport, Conn., where Hirair was employed by the Connecticut Turnpike Authority. Early homes in Connecticut were small walk up apartments with no kitchens, so the cooking had to be done in the bathroom.

Memorial Day 1958, was a life-changing day for the young couple, as that was the day that Hirair decided, with Anna’s full encouragement, that he would start his own enterprise in large-scale real estate development. They moved to Toms River, NJ, to another modest apartment behind a supermarket, and in 1958 their first child Siran was born. Within the next six years they would have four more children. Anna had promised Hirair a son, and after three more girls, Edele, Tanya and Leela, Armen was born in 1964. During this time Hirair was working during the day, and on evenings and weekends would oversee his growing real estate business. The young couple worked hard, with Anna home raising five young children and Hirair working almost 24 hours a day.

Throughout his life Hirair has consistently credited Anna’s unwavering fortitude and determination, her total confidence and loyalty, as the inspiration for his grand endeavors, tremendous risks, and monumental success. At home, she took full responsibility for their children and was the ideal mother, loving yet firm. Even with the full responsibilities as wife and mother, Anna never let go of her artistic talents, drawing and painting when she could, the life around her; her family, the field behind their house, or a bowl of fruit on the kitchen table.

In 1972, with Hirair’s financial success well on its way, the family moved to an oceanfront mansion in Deal, where the children continued their education and went on to top universities. Hirair and Anna enjoyed the fruits of their hard work and success, with world travels and entertaining at their beautiful home.