CHICAGO — Businessman and philanthropist Armand Orie Norehad, age 85, passed away on Saturday, April 11, 2020. He was born on June 16, 1934 to Christine (née Kashian) and Onnig Norehad (Norhadian), who fled Turkey during the Armenian Genocide. His parents’ immigrant roots and faith in God shaped him into the wonderful man he was.
Armand is survived by his wife of 59 years, Marilyn (née Calderini), and three sons, David, Michael (wife, Michelle), and Steven. He also leaves his grandchildren, Julie, Jennifer, Jessica, John, Peter, and Margot, as well as his sister, Anna Marie, and brother, Ernest.
Armand, a lifelong Chicagoan, attended Kilmer Grammar School, Sullivan High School, Purdue University, and graduated from Northwestern University Business School with a master’s degree in Business Administration.
Following graduate school, he worked for Union Cord Products, an industrial gasket manufacturer founded by his parents during WWII. Armand worked closely with his father for years until he felt the pull of Wall Street. In 1969, he left the family business and moved to New York to pursue a career with Paine, Webber, Jackson & Curtis.
Armand returned to Chicago in 1973 to pursue a position as an institutional salesman with Bear Stearns & Co. He quickly rose in the ranks due to his competitive nature, persistent drive, and thoughtful manner, leading Armand to become a partner at the firm. Over the next twelve years, he successfully managed and built the Chicago office into the highest grossing location outside of the New York Headquarters.
After retiring from Bear Stearns, he and Marilyn traveled the world and retreated to the Boulders in Scottsdale, Ariz. in the winters. This peaceful desert oasis was the gathering place for his entire family, for whom he had unconditional love. Armand was a gifted artist and developed a passion for sculpting after his retirement. He continued to sculpt at the North Shore Senior Center almost to the end of his life.