Hovsep Melkonian

Hovsep was born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1943. He grew up surrounded by the love of his family, including his sisters Elizabeth, Berjouhi, and his brother Mardiros. In his youth, he worked as a mechanic, a baker, at his father’s cobbler shop, and in many more odd jobs in and around Beirut. Eventually, he served as a principal of a day school in Beirut. Each of these jobs gave him a wealth of wonderful stories with which to regale his family and friends.

After school, Hovsep took the risk of moving from Beirut to India to study at St. Xavier’s College—part of what was then called the University of Bombay—starting a career that led him to 25 years of working at the World Bank in Washington D.C. At the World Bank, he spent much of his time supervising crucial humanitarian missions in West Africa, ranging from new roads to water treatment plants. Outside of work and his family, Hovsep’s devotion to Armenian culture and language led him to serve as the principal of the Hamasdegh Armenian School in suburban Washington D.C. for many years. He was never happier than when he was mentoring young people, even when they didn’t want to be mentored.

Hovsep spent his last decade of retirement in Houston, Texas, enjoying his family, writing countless articles in newspapers around the world in French, Arabic, Armenian, and English, and working for hours a day on his great hobby, a comprehensive dictionary of idioms from every corner of the Anglosphere. The latest entry? “Touch grass,” courtesy of his Gen Z grandson. His family will be sure to bring his final project to publication as soon as possible.

Hovsep will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 47 years, Marie Melkonian, his daughter, Stephanie Melkonian of Albuquerque (and her husband Jeff Linkus), New Mexico, his son, Raffi Melkonian (and his wife Patricia Zahregian), grandson Adrien Melkonian, and his siblings.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday December 12, 2025 at St. Kevork Armenian Church, 3211 Synott Road, Houston Texas 77082. Interment will follow at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery. If desired, flowers can be sent to Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home, 12800 Westheimer Road, Houston Texas 77077. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Kevork Armenian Church.