American-Armenian businessman and benefactor Gerard Cafesjian died at the age of 88.

The Cafesjian Museum Foundation confirmed this information to Armenian News-NEWS.am, and added that the details are being verified. 

Gerard Cafesjian was born April 26, 1925 in Brooklyn, New York. 

After amphibious training, he served in the United States Navy in WWII in the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. 

When he returned after the war, he earned a degree in economics from Hunter College, and a doctorate of jurisprudence from St. Johns University Law School.

He began his career in 1952 with West Publishing as a legal editor in New York City. He was the first employee in the history of the 100-year-old company to be transferred from any subsidiary company into the home office in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1960.

At West Publishing he rose through the ranks to the position of executive vice president; overseeing sales, marketing, customer service, public relations, all Westlaw office training and development. At West, he also conceived of and started the West Legal Directory and a well-known program, “Art and the Law”, which earned he and West numerous awards.

In 1996, Cafesjian established the Cafesjian Family Foundation to reach out to Armenia. The Foundation has been especially active in civic and community projects, health and human services for children and the elderly, education, and arts and culture. 

Gerard Cafesjian was married to Cleo Thomas, a nurse he had met in WWII, and together they had two children. Cleo Cafesjian had passed away on March 7, 2013.