Obituaries-Charlie Keyan and Matthew Maroot

BARLOW DER MUGRDECHIAN
Advisor

Charlie Keyan

Armenian Studies Program and Fresno State benefactor Mr. Charlie Keyan passed away in Rancho Mirage, California on July 23, 2007. He was born on June 22, 1926, to Armenian immigrants Ohan and Jouhar Keyahian.

Mr. Keyan, a Fresno State alumnus and retired businessman and farmer, living in Indio, California had donated $100,000 to establish the Charlie Keyan Endowed Scholarship in Armenian Studies in 2004. Income from the endowment is used to provide scholarships for students at Fresno State who enroll in Armenian Studies courses, with preference for freshmen.

Mr. Keyan recently made other generous donations to California university Armenian Studies programs and Armenian high schools, and locally he supported the Armenian Community School of Fresno.

Mr. Keyan began attending Fresno State in 1944, graduating with a major in history and physical education in 1948. After graduation he moved to Los Angeles and began purchasing property in the San Fernando Valley, building duplexes and triplexes, and he later built and managed a 50-unit and a 75-unit apartment complex. He moved to the Coachella Valley, near Palm Springs, and bought, either by himself or with his brother-in-law, some 140 acres of land. He grew grapes on 75 of those acres, shipping and selling his own produce in his own facilities. The vineyard became quite successful.

Later Mr. Keyan began investing in the stock market where he was also very successful. In 1988 he retired and began traveling extensively, visiting every continent. He went on many cruises, and visited China, Japan, Egypt, India, the European coasts, the Panama Canal, the North Sea, and the coast of Gibraltar.

Perhaps his most memorable journey was taken in 1995 when he visited historic Armenia. There were 10 people in the group, with each person having the opportunity to visit the village or city where their families had once lived. The group traveled more than 2,000 miles in 2 weeks, visiting Aintab, Istanbul, and saw much of historic Armenia. In particular the historic ruins of Ani were a memorable stop.

Mr. Keyan’s family includes two sisters, Rose Kasimian (also his former business partner) and Agnes Margosian of Dinuba, a long-time elementary school teacher who recently retired.

BARLOW DER MUGRDECHIAN
Advisor

Matthew Maroot

Former Hye Sharzhoom editor and Fresno State graduate Matthew Maroot passed away in Fresno on July 13. Maroot was born in 1978 and lived all his life in Fresno.

Maroot served as editor of Hye Sharzhoom during the 1999-2000 academic year and was an active member of the Armenian Students Organization. As editor, Maroot was actively involved in the chronicling of student life on campus. He was also interested in his Armenian heritage and successfully completed a minor in Armenian Studies. He was an outstanding student with a wonderful personality. He graduated with honors from Fresno State in 2000.

Maroot operated Jon Jon’s Grand Central Station in downtown Fresno and was devoted to improving the downtown area. He was a member of Heritage Fresno, an organization involved in the preservation of Fresno’s history and historic buildings.

Maroot’s family has deep roots in Fresno. Grandfather Charlie Maroot used to deliver newspapers with Fresno author William Saroyan. His maternal grandparents, Grace and Yervant Ganimian owned the Hye Quality Bakery in downtown Fresno.

Maroot is survived by his wife Kristen and daughter Sydney, extended family, as well as many friends.