“One hundred years from now, when looking at the city of Yerevan from a hilltop, will the view below be a city in its ruins or a city in its glory? What a person on the hill will see in one hundred years is taking shape today. ”
It is with sadness that we share the news of Dr. Mihran Agbabian’s passing yesterday, February 12, 2019, in Los Angeles. We remain grateful to his support of the University and the rich legacy he leaves behind.
Alongside his dedicated wife, Elizabeth, Dr. Agbabian served AUA in many significant capacities. In addition to being one of the founders of the University, he also assumed the role of President and was one of AUA’s Pillars. The Agbabian family’s service to the institution is carried on through their philanthropic children, Paul, Bryan, and Michael.
Dr. Agbabian succeeded in both the engineering industry and academia, establishing Agbabian Associates while also accepting appointments as Professor of Engineering at the University of Southern California and then later as Chair of the Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering departments.
Born in Cyprus, Dr. Agbabian was raised in Aleppo, Syria, and studied at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon, where he received his Bachelor’s degrees in physics and engineering. He continued his education at California Institute of Technology where he received his Master’s degree and then his Ph.D. in civil engineering from the University of California at Berkeley.
Perhaps his most symbolic achievement was co-founding AUA, which opened its doors on the day of Armenia’s independence on September 23, 1991, marking a new chapter for the country. Although he retired in 1997, he remained closely connected to AUA and was an important part of the University’s advancement as it flourished as an academic institution.
We will always remember Dr. Agbabian fondly for his love for Armenia and its people as well as for his generous spirit.