Melcon Melconian, 78, of Hopewell Township died Nov. 23 at home.
Born in Baghdad, Iraq, he was the eldest of the three children of Garabed and Aznive Melconian, members of the Armenian community in Iraq.
He attended high school at the American Jesuit College in Baghdad, and graduated from the University of Birmingham in England with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering. He later earned a master’s degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Mr. Melconian dedicated 45 years to the oil industry. As a chemical engineer, he worked at Phillips Petroleum and Foster Wheeler. In 1962, he joined Mobil Oil, where he worked for 32 years. He played a role in the development of major refinery projects throughout the world, including the U.S., Europe, New Zealand and the Middle East. He focused on process engineering. He was awarded several U.S. patents on behalf of Mobil Oil. Later, he established an oil consulting firm and developed a lecture series delivered to chemical engineers around the world.
He served the Armenian community by participating in and supporting many organizations, such as the Armenian General Benevolent Union (President’s Club), the Armenian Assembly of America (board member), Armenian Missionary Association of America, and the Armenia Fund USA. He also served as a member and president of the Princeton Middle East Society.
Reared in the Armenian Apostolic Church, he attended services at the Armenian Evangelical Church of New York, where he also served as moderator and, most recently, as chairman of the Ministerial Search Committee.
In 2004, he managed the translation (from Armenian to English) and sponsored the publication of the memoirs of his great uncle Zaven Der Yeghiayan, the Patriarch of Constantinople from 1913 to 1922. He distributed “My Patriarchal Memoirs” to Armenian churches here, with the assistance of the Diocese of the Armenian Church.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Hilda; two sons, Gregory and Philip, both of New York City; daughter-in-law Nyire; grandson Henry; brother Vahe of Downingtown, Pa.; and sister Marlene Setrakian of Beirut, Lebanon; as well as many cousins, nephews and nieces.
Funeral services were held at St. Vartan Cathedral in New York City and at the Lawrenceville Cemetery, Lawrenceville.
Arrangements were under the direction of The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home.
Memorial donations may be made to the Armenian Missionary Association of America, 31 West Century Road, Paramus, 07652; or St. Vartan Cathedral, 630 Second Avenue, New York, 10016.
