Younes Nazarian, philanthropist, businessman, and community leader passed on March 18, 2022 at his home in Los Angeles, surrounded by his wife of 61 years, Soraya Sarah Nazarian, and family. He was 91 years old.
Younes Nazarian was born in Tehran, Iran on January 26, 1931, to Davoud and Golbahar Nazarian. He had one older sibling; Parviz Nazarian.
Raised in humble beginnings by a single mother in the ghettos of South Tehran, Younes emerged with important tools for survival which profoundly impacted his identity and deepened his drive to succeed and overcome life’s challenges. He was trained as a tool and dye technician at the Railway Technical School in Iran, but he realized early on that as a Jew, his homeland Iran was not where he could achieve his dreams.
With the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, Younes left for Israel in pursuit of the Zionist dream around age 17. By 1953, the Middle East oil boom provided Iran’s economy new prospects for economic success. Younes returned to his place of birth. Within a short number of years, Younes co-founded and owned companies with his brother in the infrastructure, manufacturing, and import-export of heavy European construction equipment in Iran.
In the months prior to the Islamic Revolution of 1979, Younes understood life in Iran would no longer be safe for Jews. He fled for Israel with his family. Once he realized he couldn’t return to his country of birth ever again, Younes felt it was best to move his family to the United States, where he and Soraya could start to rebuild.
Upon arriving in the United States, his entrepreneurial acumen led him to become co-owner of Stadco, a tool and dye manufacturing company in the aerospace industry. He was also an early investor and served on the Board of Directors of San Diego-based Qualcomm Inc., a leader in wireless telecommunications, R&D, and the largest fabless chip supplier in the world. He was the Chairman of Nazarian Enterprises which focuses on the diversification of assets across a variety of interests in the private, public, and real estate markets. Key industries include aerospace, manufacturing and logistics, technology, hospitality, and alternative energy, among others.
In 2000, Younes and his wife established The Younes & Soraya Nazarian Family Foundation in the US and The Ima Foundation in Israel, named after his mother. The primary mission of both foundations is to promote education as the most important catalyst to bridge socio-economic gaps. He was instrumental in building bridges between the Iranian community and the greater American community.
Younes was a key supporter of numerous charitable organizations in the U.S. and Israel. He served on the National Board of Directors for Friends of the Israel Defense Forces and was Chairman Emeritus of their West Coast office in Los Angeles. He was a Member of the Board of Directors for the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles, Iranian-American Jewish Federation, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association. He served as Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Governors for the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance and previously as Chairman of the Haifa Foundation. He also served as Chairman of the Habib Levy Cultural and Educational Foundation and as a Member of the Board of Governors of the University of Haifa, to name just a few of his many endeavors.
The Younes & Soraya Nazarian Center for Israel Studies at UCLA teaches students about Israel’s history, culture, and society. In Los Angeles, Younes established the Younes & Soraya Nazarian Center for Performing Arts at CSUN, the Nazarian Pavilion in the historic Doheny Library at USC, Beit Midrash at the Milken Community High School, and supported The Hammer Museum. In Israel, the Younes & Soraya Nazarian Library at Sapir College and the University of Haifa, the Haifa University Memorial Scholarship program, Bezalel Academy of the Arts, Israel’s National Library, and The Hebrew University are all examples of support towards education.
Younes obtained honorary doctorate degrees from the University of Haifa and California State University, Northridge.
Younes received Israel’s highest honor of the Torch Lighting Ceremony on Mount Hertzl, generally only given to Israeli-born citizens, and was also the recipient of the 2011 Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
Younes is survived by his wife, Soraya; four children David Nazarian, Shula Nazarian, Sharon Nazarian, and Sam Nazarian; daughters-in-law Angella and Emina; sons-in-law Fernando and Matt; eleven grandchildren Ariel, Aaron, Phillip, Elan, Sarah, Eli, Layla, Adam, Ella, Mia, Sha; and great-grandson Lev.
His burial service is scheduled for March 20th, 2022 at Eden Memorial Park Cemetery at 2pm. The memorial service will be held on March 24th, 2022 at Sinai Temple, Main Sanctuary at 6:30pm. Proof of vaccination is needed upon entrance. The shivah will take place on March 21-23rd at Sinai Temple, Kohn Chapel at 5:45pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests making a donation to the UCLA Younes & Soraya Nazarian Center for Israel Studies in support of scholarships for grants for student travel to Israel or to WIZO Los Angeles, in support of Israel’s Ukrainian Children’s Refugee Relief Efforts.
