Arthur Richard Mardoian, of New Canaan, Conn. and South Bristol, died peacefully on May 22 at his home in New Canaan with his family by his side.
He was born in Boston, Mass. on April 28, 1927 to Harry and Marion Mardoian and grew up in New Haven, Conn. After graduating from high school, he served in the U.S. Army overseas in Japan. He then attended and graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y., in 1952 with a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering. He returned to the Army to serve in the Korean War as a 1st Lieutenant. He retired from the Army Reserves in April 1987 as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Mr. Mardoian, a former executive at Mobil Corporation (now Exxon Mobil Corporation), joined Mobil (formerly Socony Vacuum Oil Company) in 1954. He held various managerial positions in the marketing and refining, technology sales and licensing, and chemical divisions. He retired in 1987.
At the manufacturing level, he headed Mobil’s task force which designed, erected and successfully operated the world’s first commercial zeolitic catalyst plant. Today, the worldwide petroleum industry is dependent on the use of zeolitic catalysts to produce vastly increased gasoline yields and other valuable products. The catalyst saved significant investment capital and years of construction time. In addition, Mr. Mardoian authored Mobil’s company-wide transportation emergency response system to react, within minutes, to company hydrocarbon spills within the U.S.
Mr. Mardoian was a member of the Reserve Officers Association of the U.S., the American Legion, and also served as Eastern Region Chairman of Rensselaer Alumni Fund. Other prominent memberships included the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, American Petroleum Institute, American Chemical Society, and API Hazardous Material Spill Committee.
He was a member of the Congregational Church of New Canaan and served as a Deacon, the Silvermine Golf Club in Norwalk, Christmas Cove Improvement Association in South Bristol, and Wawenock Country Club in Walpole. His further interests included playing cards, landscaping and gardening, golfing, gourmet cooking, classic cars, fast walking, traveling, his home in Maine, and his beloved family.
Arthur was predeceased by brother, George H. Mardoian of Woodbridge, Conn.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Penelope Anne Mardoian; son, Richard Arthur and wife Christine Victoria Mardoian of West Chester, Penn.; grandchildren, Michael Arthur, Richard Thomas, and Madison Clairanna, also of West Chester, Penn.; sister, Lucille F. Kuljian of Narberth, Penn.; and nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Sat., Aug. 2 at the Union Church, Rt. 129, South Bristol.
Contributions may be made to the Union Church.