GYUMRI — A statue of successful Armenian-American businessman, investor and philanthropist Kirk Kerkorian (1917–2015) was inaugurated Sunday on Abovyan Street in Armenia’s second-largest city, Gyumri.
Gyumri city officials are also considering renaming the street to Kirk Kerkorian Street.
The statue was unveiled by Mayor Samvel Balasanyan and US-based businessman Grigor Bediryan, the Gyumri native who is behind the initiative.
In his remarks, the mayor honored Kerkorian for his charitable contributions in Gyumri, which were carried out through the Lincy Foundation.
“The Lincy Foundation built 2800 apartments,” Balasanyan said.
The mayor thanked Bediryan for the initiative to erect the statue in their town. In turn, Bediryan thanked everyone who supported the initiative.
Kerkorian donated millions of dollars to Armenia through his Lincy Foundation, which was established in 1989 after the devastating 1988 Spitak earthquake.
I wish the mayor of Gyumri had read The Gambler by William C. Rempel before this hasty decision. I don’t think this would have made Mr. Kerkorian happy. He was adamant in not having his named attached to anything or anywhere. He made that point abundantly clear during his couple of visits to Armenia. In fact, he was a very private person who gave little to no interviews even to financial publications. Mr. Kerkorian was never in it for the money or fame. It was a simple way of satisfying his gambling instincts. He past away with very little legacy left behind. His gravestone is as simple as he live his life.
An excellent initiative to remember such great man.
Well done. He helped Armenia a lot. Bless him.
I have to agree with State of Emergency, Kirk would not have like this, therefore, respecting his interested should be at most highest priority.
I align with Gill/StateOfEmergency…