Dr. Zaven Stephen Ariyan

Dr. Zaven Stephen Ariyan, Ph.D., M.R.S.C., was born in Heliopolis, Egypt on October 10, 1933 to Joseph and Araksi Ariyan. He is survived by his loving wife, Janet (nee Telfeyan) of 56 years, children Wendy Verano (husband, Juhn), Lynda and Gregory (wife, Joanna) as well as two beautiful Granddaughters, Grace Anne and Olivia Rose Ariyan. He is also predeceased by his beloved younger brother Levon Mardiros. He and Janet were life-long, dedicated, members of St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church in Livingston, NJ in which they raised their family and contributed to the community.

After early education, Zaven attended high school in Canterbury, Kent, England. Entering the University of London, he studied chemistry and biology and obtained Bachelor Degrees in both subjects in 1958. He then obtained his Doctorate in Organic Chemistry and attended the Royal Military College of Science at Shrivenham in Wiltshire as a Demonstrator in Organic Chemistry where he completed his Ph.D. dissertation for the University of London. In 1964, he emigrated to the United States and attended the University of Southern California in Los Angeles as a Post Doctoral Research Fellow. Zaven then led a storied career over four decades as a professional chemist, working for Uniroyal, Diamond Shamrock and, ultimately, retiring as Vice President of Fairmount Chemical Company in Newark, NJ in 2000. He then spent the next ten (10) years as an Adjunct Professor of Chemistry at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, retiring for a second time in 2011.

Zaven Ariyan was the recipient of twenty-two (22) United States patents in Organic and Medicinal Chemistry and several foreign patents abroad. He was the author or co-author of thirty (30) scientific publications in British and American scientific journals. In 2014, Zaven received an Award from the North Jersey Section of the American Chemical Society for his life-long contributions to the world of chemistry. Zaven enjoyed classical music immensely and oil painting was his hobby.

Zaven Ariyan was a good man who, with Janet, raised his family. He contributed to the world of science and, thus, the global community. He will be dearly missed.

Visitation and funeral service will be held on Wednesday, June 21 from 11AM-12PM. The service will begin at 12PM at St. Mary Armenian Church of Livingston, 200 W Mt Pleasant Ave, Livingston, New Jersey 07039, with interment to follow at Somerset Hills Memorial Park, Basking Ridge, New Jersey.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Zavens' name may be made to St. Mary Armenian Church Endowment Fund.