Louise Manoogian Simone
{{Short description|Armenian American philanthropist (1933–2019)}}
Louise Manoogian Simone (May 19, 1933 – February 18, 2019)[https://haydzayn.com/en/page/manoogian-simone-fonndation-announces-the-passing-of-louise-manoogian-simone Manoogian Simone Fonndation announces the passing of Louise Manoogian Simone] was an Armenian American philanthropist. She was president of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) from 1989 to 2002.{{cite web|url=http://www.agbu.am/index.php?p=about|title=History Of The Armenian General Benevolent Union|publisher=Armenian General Benevolent Union|access-date=6 April 2011}}
Life
Louise Manoogian was born in Detroit, Michigan. Her father Alex Manoogian, an immigrant from Smyrna, founded Masco in 1929 and became wealthy after developing the one-handed faucet in the 1950s.{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9803E0DF1E39F930A25754C0A960958260|title=Alex Manoogian, 95; Perfected Design of Single-Handled Faucet|last=Van Gelder|first=Lawrence|date=13 July 1996|work=The New York Times|page=19|access-date=6 April 2011}} Alex Manoogian was fifth president of the AGBU and a philanthropist for Detroit civic causes and Armenian political and cultural causes.
She was on the AGBU's central council for eight years before succeeding her father as its president.{{cite press release|title=Berge Setrakian Elected Seventh President of AGBU|publisher=Armenian General Benevolent Union|date=22 February 2002|url=http://www.agbu.org/pressoffice/article.asp?ID=60|access-date=6 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927140709/http://www.agbu.org/pressoffice/article.asp?ID=60|archive-date=27 September 2011|url-status=dead}} She organized AGBU disaster relief after the 1988 Armenian earthquake.{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wwZTAAAAIBAJ&dq=louise-simone&pg=5084%2C2401810|title=U.S. help flies to Armenia|last=Associated Press|date=11 December 1988|work=The Prescott Courier|page=3A|access-date=6 April 2011}} In 1962, her parents established the Louise Manoogian Simone Foundation, which was later renamed the Manoogian Simone Foundation.{{cite book|last=Wyszomierski|first=Sara|title=Guide to Funding for International & Foreign Programs|date=May 2006|publisher=Foundation Center|isbn=978-1-59542-088-6|page=162}} In 2007 it donated $1.2m to the University of Michigan's Armenian Studies program.{{cite news |url=http://www.ur.umich.edu/0708/Nov19_07/24.shtml |first=Kristy |last=Demas |title=Manoogian Simone Foundation gives $1.2 million for Armenian studies |work=The University Record Online |publisher=University of Michigan |date=19 November 2007 |access-date=25 March 2011}} In 1979 Simone served a term on the Council of the Eastern U.S. Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the first woman in such a senior position.{{cite book|editor1-last=Keller|editor1-first=Rosemary Skinner|editor2-last=Ruether|editor2-first=Rosemary Radford|editor3-last=Cantlon|editor3-first=Marie|first=Barbara J. |last=Merguerian|title=Encyclopedia of women and religion in North America|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WPILfbtT5tQC&pg=PA519|access-date=6 April 2011|year=2006|publisher=Indiana University Press|isbn=978-0-253-34687-2|page=519|chapter=Oriental Orthodox traditions and the Armenian Apostolic Church }} Simone and her brother Richard Manoogian contributed $2m in 2000 towards the construction of Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, Yerevan.{{cite news|url=http://asbarez.com/42657/louise-simone-and-richard-manougian-donate-2-million-to-yerevan-cathedral-project/|title=Louise Simone and Richard Manougian Donate $2 Million to Yerevan Cathedral Project|date=30 June 2000|work=Asbarez Armenian News|access-date=6 April 2011}}
Personal life
Louise Manoogian married Arman Simone{{cite journal|year=1983|title=Masco|journal=Lotta Comunista|issue=154|page=5|quote=Arman Simone, genero di Alex Manoogian|language=Italian}} and lived in Manhattan. Simone had a daughter, Christine, and two sons, David and Marc.{{cite journal |first=Sander M. |last= Levin |title=Tribute to Alexander Manoogian |url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CREC-1996-09-30/html/CREC-1996-09-30-pt1-PgE1822-3.htm |journal =U.S. Congressional Record |volume=142 |number=138 |pages=E1822–3 |date=30 September 1996 |quote=The pallbearers were Mr. Manoogian's grandsons and nephews: James Manoogian, Richard Manoogian, Jr., David Simone, Marc Simone, Brian Manoogian, Douglas Manoogian, Chris Christo, and Paul Christo.}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Armenian General Benevolent Union}}
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Category:American people of Armenian descent
Category:Philanthropists from Michigan
Category:Philanthropists from New York (state)
Category:Armenian Apostolic Christians
Category:Philanthropists from Manhattan
Category:Presidents of the Armenian General Benevolent Union