Ara "Corky" Frank Normart Jr.

Born in Fresno on September 2, 1930, Corky lived a rich and purposeful life defined by creativity, family, friends, and faith.

He attended Fresno public schools and graduated from Fresno High in 1948 before continuing his studies at Fresno City College and Fresno State, where he earned a degree in Fine Arts.

Corky began his professional career as a staff artist with The Fresno Bee and KMJ-TV, later servicing as Art Director at KFRE-TV in Fresno, and at KBTV in Denver.

He returned to Fresno and established his own firm, Normart Advertising, Inc. in 1960.

As Creative Director, he led countless memorable campaigns for a wide variety of clients, including political candidates, retail establishments, car dealerships, agricultural and food brands—any venture that called for vision and imagination.

Throughout his career, Corky found success in the Fine Arts, especially as a watercolor painter. His work reflected his travels across the globe but most often celebrated the landscapes and cityscapes of his beloved California. Guided by an unrelenting creative spirit and a love of hands-on artistry, he eventually turned his talents toward sacred spaces, designing and constructing Dal de Vere stained glass windows—an intricate technique using thick, faceted slabs of colored glass. Corky’s craftsmanship enriched numerous places of worship, homes, and public buildings. In the mid-1990s, he received international acclaim for his design of the interior dome of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the site of Christ’s entombment. With his hallmark passion and precision, Corky supervised the project’s construction, leading a skilled team of engineers and artisans to its completion in 1997.

Corky’s life was beautifully intertwined with that of his beloved wife, Janice George Normart, with whom he shared 55 wonderful years of marriage.

Corky is survived by his daughter, Jennifer Smith, and her husband, Walter Smith; his son, Gregory Normart; his granddaughter, Kendall Middleton, and her husband, Derek Middleton; his grandson, Alex Corgiat; and his great-granddaughter, Margot Middleton. He is also survived by his sister, Joyce Kerkorian, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father Ara Frank Normart, his mother Belle Elmassian Normart, his wife Janice George Normart, and his brother-in-law Gary Kerkorian.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to honor Corky’s memory with a donation to your favorite charity.

Funeral Service will be held at St. Paul Armenian Church, 3767 North First Street, Fresno, California, at 11:00 a.m