3384) Arman Manukyan, Bosphorus University Legend, Closed His Eyes

Arman Manukyan(21 Mar 1931-28 Dec 2012)

was a Turkish professor, writer, and economist.

Of Armenian descent, Arman Manukyan was born in the Tahta Minare neighborhood of Istanbul. His father Artin fought in the Çanakkale War and was decorated with Ottoman medal. Artin was a shoe store owner and 30 years old when he married Eliz in 1930 and the couple had Arman, their first son in 1931. Manukyan started his early education in 1938 at the Armenian Mhitaryan elementary school in the Sisli district of Istanbul. He graduated from his elementary studies and in 1945 he attended the prestigious Robert College.

Photo Credit: Engin ASAL

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At Robert College he became good friends with future famed people such as . . .
Talat Halman, Rahmi Koc, Oktay Yenal, and others. He graduated Robert College with an Economy and Commerce Degree in 1951. Due to his father's need of new technologies to upgrade his business, Manukyan traveled abroad many times, which includes him visiting Japan six times. After his conscription to the Turkish Army in 1953, he met his future wife Alis during his summer vacationing in Kinaliada. Soon thereafter he began his career as a professor on September 13, 1956, a day which he has never forgotten. However, he took the opportunity to continue his studies one last time at Miami University. His wife also became a student at Miami University in the music department. Arman Manukyan wrote his first book, The History and Evolution of Accounting in 1960 with the help of the publishing facilities in Miami University. Arman and Alis Manukyan had their first son, Roy, right after the publication of the book. The couple decided to move back to Turkey and Arman Manukyan continued his teaching career at Robert College. In 1971, he began teaching at Bogazici University and retired in 1982.

Among his students have been well known figures in Turkish society such as Güler Sabanci, Tansu Çiller, Ömer Dinçkök, Jak Kamhi, and others.

Though retired, he still continued to give lessons in accounting once a week. He has been a participant of many educational seminars and conferences.

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Born March 21, 1931, Istanbul, Turkey
Died December 28, 2012 (aged 81), Istanbul, Turkey
Nationality Turkish
Ethnicity Armenian
Education Robert College
Occupation Writer, lecturer, and economist.
Religion Christian

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4th Jan 2013 Update

Comment by Sukru Server Aya

Thank you for your short introduction of Arman Manukyan, an exceptional personality of human compassion, relief and wellness for almost everybody and of everything, in this life time.

Today, I was one of the about 1500 persons who attended his funeral at Three-Horan Gregorian Cathedral in Istanbul. The cathedral (and even the entrance yard) was packed like a “matchbox” with people standing, during the whole ceremony. The Patriarch too was among the clergy. Chorus and familiar rituals, were top grade. The sermon was delivered in both Armenian and Turkish language, given the fact that about one third of those inside the church were Turks, Moslems. The Patriarch described Arman best as a BEAM OF LIGHT in the lifetime.

Arman was an intimate and fully dependable person for about the 70 years that we have known each other individually and later as families. I know that he kept the records of some 16.000 graduates, some of which would phone him from far away countries, to consult him on a technical (accounting) question or simply communicate their affection and gratitude.

There are more than ten pages on Manukyan’ in “google” some about his youth as a good soccer and basketball player, presidency of the Sisli Sports Club, who honored him as honorary president for the lifetime, etc.. Professor Manukyan was indeed and excellent teacher, a great friend, a decent businessman, a “charged battery of positive” thinking and action in life time.

His wife Alice (State Recognized Artist – Opera Soprano) certainly was the charm and comfort which enabled to share their finest feelings and sentiments, with other people that would mentally and sensually share and enrich their life.

I was in the same class with Arman; we were side by side in the varsity football team… Years later he was in business of hardware with his brothers and at the same time he started teaching at Robert College, (later Bogazici University). In the past 30 years we saw each other more frequently, since our business places were quite near to each other. Arman Manukyan was a friend – father – brother – advisor whatever you name him, for “decent persons” only of all ethnicities.

We exchanged some books and I shared some of my writings with him, because he knew that we were both trying to expand the logic, understanding and compassion, we need to be happy in this life.

Arman Manukyan died physically, but his humanistic behaviors and teachings which must have inspired at least some of the thousands of students, will continue to live for some generations to follow. Arman’s son Roy Manukyan, is also a teacher a Professor in a university. Robert College was home to many teachers of Armenian ethnicity and many of them are still remembered. But Arman Manukyan passed them all, not only with his 56 years of teaching and tens of thousands of graduates, but with his friendship with all “decent and logical persons on this planet”. Let us all hope that Roy in future years may even exceed his own father… I will not see it, but with will a damn hard and noble self-competition for him… Fathers are happy when sons surpasses them!

Farewell Arman!… Many of your 70 years or younger friends were with you. May be your body was buried today, but your love, dedication to all groups of humankind, will continue to live at least for quite a number of decades as an example for those “unable to understand or feel what humanism means”.

I consider myself fortunate for having known you quite well, and having shared your ethics and ideals.

Faithfully,

Sukru Server Aya Istanbul, Jan.3, 2013

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Comment by Sadi Dinlenc

A Few Words After Arman Manukyan Who Recently Passed Away

I am a Turkish – American living in this country for the last four decades and am actively interested in the past and current relations between the Turks and the Armenians in general and the creation and dissemination of lies by the Armenian fanatics to mislead their own people, the US people and the US Congress, in particular.

I do not know Mr. Manukyan. But, having just read the short but impressive biography of this scholar and become aware of also his father’s individual contributions at the Canakkale War in 1915 while and when the Diaspora Armenians claimed their deaths during the forced deportation so called Armenians Genocide, I decided to prepare this brief note of appreciation for his services, loyalty and remarkable feeling of citizenship to his country.

He has been, throughout his life, an exemplary Turkish – Armenian citizen with whom all the Turks should and would embrace with love and should and would be proud to call him ‘one of themselves’. He was educated in the schools of his country, performed the compulsory military service like everyone else, and worked as a teacher to raise valuable students in the science of economics and accounting. While we deplore the terrorist and fanatical Armenians for what they are trying to do, we owe it to this noble man to declare our appreciation and indebtedness for the good he has done for his people when he was alive.

May God bless him and as we say in Turkish, “ may Allah place him in His Heaven “.

Sadi Dinlenc 4.1.2013

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Photo Credit: Engin ASAL

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