Hovnanian Brothers – Founders of the Largest Construction Company in New Jersey

In 1959, Gevorg (Kevork) and his brothers Hirair, Jirair, and Vahak founded Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., New Jersey’s largest construction company.

Already by 1989, the company had built more than 30,000 homes. In 1989-2009, over 200,000 apartments have been sold by Hovnanian Enterprises. Today, the company of the Hovnanian brothers is one of the largest and most reputable construction companies in the United States.

In 1959, Kevork Hovnanian allocated money for the construction of the largest Armenian church in New Jersey. After the devastating Spitak earthquake of 1988, Kevork and his brothers allocated significant funds to deliver humanitarian aid to Armenia for the earthquake victims.

In 1991, Kevork Hovnanian presented Armenia with a building in New York, which today houses Armenia’s official mission to the UN.

In 2006, Kevork Hovnanian invested $2 million in the Armenian Relief Fund. In the same year, he was awarded the Armenian state medals of St. Gregory the Illuminator and St. Mesrop Mashtots, as well as the commemorative medal of Catholicos of All Armenians Vazgen I.

Kevork Hovnanian died in 2009.