Younes Nazarian

1931 - 2022

January 26, 1931 - March 18, 2022 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, 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, Younes returned to Iran and 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 moved his family to the safety of Israel. But once he realized he couldn't return to Iran ever again, Younes moved his family to the United States.

Upon arriving in the United States, he became 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.. He was the Chairman of Nazarian Enterprises with diversified assets across key industries including aerospace, manufacturing and logistics, technology, hospitality, real estate and alternative energy.

In 2000, Younes and his wife established The Younes & Soraya Nazarian Family Foundation in the U.S. 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 and named The Younes & Soraya Nazarian Center for Israel Studies at UCLA, the Younes & Soraya Nazarian Center for Performing Arts at CSUN, the Nazarian Pavilion in the historic Doheny Library at USC, and the library at University of Haifa among many others.

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; his children David, Shulamit, Sharon and Sam Nazarian; 11 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.

His burial service will be held on 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 from March 21-23rd at Sinai Temple, Kohn Chapel at 5:45pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the UCLA Younes & Soraya Nazarian Center for Israel Studies in support of grants for student travel to Israel or to WIZO Los Angeles, in support of Israel's Ukrainian Refugee Relief Efforts.