Aso Tavitian
| Aso Tavitian | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1940 Bulgaria |
| 🏳️ Nationality | Armenian |
| 💼 Occupation | Philanthropist |
| Known for | Art collector and former Syncsort CEO |
Aso Tavitian is a philanthropist, art collector, and former CEO. Through the Tavitian Foundation, he supports academic programs, scholarships, museums, the arts, and other programs. Tavitian also holds positions with Carnegie Mellon University, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and the Frick Collection museum, among others.
Tavitian was born in Bulgaria. He moved to the United States in 1961 and attended Columbia University. Instead of completing his doctoral thesis in nuclear engineering, he cofounded a technology startup called Syncsort with several college classmates. Tavitian served as CEO for 32 years. Tavitian sold his interests in the company in order to focus on philanthropy.
Early life and education[edit]
Tavitian was born in Bulgaria.[1] His parents were survivors of the 1915 Armenian Genocide in Turkey.[2] They escaped to Bulgaria, which later confiscated all of the Tavitian family's property under a new communist government.[2] When he was 19 years old, Tavitian moved to Beirut, Lebanon.[3] During the two years he lived in Beirut,[1] he attended Haigazian University[3] and learned English.[2]
In 1961, Tavitian moved to New York City as a Cold War refugee.[1] That September he was accepted into Columbia University with a full scholarship.[1][2] He later learned that his living expenses under the scholarship were funded anonymously by his English teacher.[2] Tavitian earned a Bachelor's degree in nuclear engineering in 1964 and a Master's degree in the same subject in 1966.[2]
Career[edit]
Initially, Tavitian wanted to be an academic or a scientist.[2] While working on his thesis for a Doctorate in nuclear engineering, Tavitian abandoned the academic program.[2] Instead, he joined a technology startup called Syncsort with several of his college classmates.[1] Tavitian was appointed CEO in 1975.[2] Within five years, the company unseated IBM as the majority market-share holder for Syncsort's product category.[2] The business continued to grow steadily for 32 years.[2] As of early 2008, Tavitian owned 85% of Syncsort.[2] That year, he sold 70 percent of the company to investors.[2] Tavitian sold his remaining 15 percent interest in the company in 2013.[2] Afterwards, he focused on using his wealth for philanthropy.[2]
Philanthropy[edit]
Tavitian operates and finances the Tavitian Foundation, which donates to academic, cultural, and religious institutions in Armenia, Artsakh, and the United States.[2] Its largest activity is funding educational programs for young Armenians.[2] It funds about 300 scholarships per year.[2] The Foundation also sponsors a six-month program at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy that introduces American students to scholars and government officials from Armenia.[2][3]
Tavitian helped create the Tavitian Library located in the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[3] The library is focused on international diplomacy and history.[3] He serves as a trustee for the Endowment for International Peace at Carnegie Mellon University.[2][3] Tavitian also serves as Vice Chairman of the Frick Collection museum.[2][3] His own collection of 120 Old Master paintings are lent to museums and art shows for public viewing.[2] Tavitian also serves on several other boards for academic, cultural, and diplomacy-based institutions.[3] In October 2017, the President of Armenia awarded Tavitian a Medal of Honor for his philanthropy.[2]
Personal[edit]
Tavitian met his future wife, Arlene, in the 2000s in a New York City subway.[2] At the time, Arlene was an English teacher.[2] They were married for about 30 years before she died in 2002.[2]
Further reading[edit]
- Johnson, Luanne (June 6, 1998), Oral History of Aso O. Tavitian (PDF), Computer History Museum
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Great Immigrants, Great Stories: Three Tales of Becoming an American". HuffPost. July 19, 2013. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 Avakian, Florence (November 2, 2017). "Aso Tavitian: A Life Full of Grace and Giving". The Armenian Mirror-Spectator. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 "Aso Tavitian". Tufts Now. Tufts University. October 16, 2013. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
Ethnic Armenian philanthropists
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