Mugar family
Encyclopedia
The Mugar family of Greater Boston
, Massachusetts
, is a prominent Armenian-American
family in New England
business and in philanthropy, both in the United States
and in Armenia
. The best known member of the family is Stephen P. Mugar
, (1901-1982), who founded the Star Market
chain of super markets on which the family fortune was based. In its May, 2004, issue, Boston Magazine
ranked the Mugar family sixth in its list of the 50 most influential Boston families.
, in 1904. They were joined in 1906 by their brothers, Arthur, Gregory and Sarkis Mugar, along with Sarkis Mugar's wife and three children, one of whom was Stephen P. Mugar.
Greater Boston
Greater Boston is the area of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts surrounding the city of Boston. Due to ambiguity in usage, the size of the area referred to can be anywhere between that of the metropolitan statistical area of Boston and that of the city's combined statistical area which includes...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, is a prominent Armenian-American
Armenian-American
Armenian Americans are citizens of the United States whose ancestry originates wholly or partly in Armenia. During the United States 2000 Census, 385,488 respondents indicated either full or partial Armenian ancestry...
family in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
business and in philanthropy, both in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and in Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
. The best known member of the family is Stephen P. Mugar
Stephen P. Mugar
Stephen P. Mugar, 1901-1982, founder of the Star Market chain of supermarkets in New England, philanthropist and most prominent member of the Mugar family of Greater Boston, was born March 5, 1901, in Kharpert in the former Ottoman Empire now Turkey, of Armenian parents and died October 16, 1982,...
, (1901-1982), who founded the Star Market
Star Market
Star Market was a New England chain of supermarkets owned by the Mugar family and based in Greater Boston. The company was sold to The Jewel Companies, Inc. in 1964, and was later sold to Investcorp, which sold the chain to Shaw's Supermarkets...
chain of super markets on which the family fortune was based. In its May, 2004, issue, Boston Magazine
Boston magazine
Boston is a monthly magazine concerning life in the Greater Boston area and has been in publication for more than 40 years.-About the magazine:The magazine is self-described as:...
ranked the Mugar family sixth in its list of the 50 most influential Boston families.
Family origin
The first family members to arrive in Boston were brothers, Charles and Martin Mugar (shortened from Mugardichian), who came from Kharpert, TurkeyTurkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, in 1904. They were joined in 1906 by their brothers, Arthur, Gregory and Sarkis Mugar, along with Sarkis Mugar's wife and three children, one of whom was Stephen P. Mugar.
Prominent family members
- Stephen P. MugarStephen P. MugarStephen P. Mugar, 1901-1982, founder of the Star Market chain of supermarkets in New England, philanthropist and most prominent member of the Mugar family of Greater Boston, was born March 5, 1901, in Kharpert in the former Ottoman Empire now Turkey, of Armenian parents and died October 16, 1982,...
, (1901-1982) founder of the Star MarketStar MarketStar Market was a New England chain of supermarkets owned by the Mugar family and based in Greater Boston. The company was sold to The Jewel Companies, Inc. in 1964, and was later sold to Investcorp, which sold the chain to Shaw's Supermarkets...
chain - John M. MugarJohn M. MugarJohn M. Mugar president and chairman of the Star Market chain of supermarkets in New England and prominent member of the Mugar family of Greater Boston, was born April 5, 1914, in Boston, son of Armenian immigrant, Martin Mugar and his wife. He died March 23, 2007, in Gloucester.-Education:John...
, (1914-2007), son of Martin, President and Chairman of the Star Market chain. - David G. MugarDavid G. MugarDavid G. Mugar is an Armenian-American businessman and philanthropist from Belmont, Massachusetts. He is CEO and chairman of Mugar Enterprises. His father, Stephen P. Mugar was the founder of the Star Market supermarket chain, and was also a major Boston-area philanthropist...
, Stephen's son, also became a Star Market executive and is now a prominent businessman and philanthropist in his own right. - Carolyn Mugar Stephen's daughter, activist, started a reforestation project in Armenia and is the executive director of Farm AidFarm AidFarm Aid started as a benefit concert on September 22, 1985, in Champaign, Illinois, held to raise money for family farmers in the United States...
and is the president of the Armenian Assembly of AmericaArmenian Assembly of AmericaThe Armenian Assembly of America aims to "strengthen U.S./Armenia and U.S. relations, promotes Armenia's democratic development and economic prosperity and seeks universal affirmation of the Armenian Genocide" via "research, education and advocacy."...
.
Philanthropies
The major objects of Mugar family philanthropic giving have been:- Greater Boston educational institutions, especially the so-called "subway" or "commuter" colleges and universities, because they were the first to welcome young Armenian-Americans and others with limited resources and social standing and because they lacked the vast endowments of schools such as Harvard.
- Hospitals, in particular Cape Cod HospitalCape Cod HospitalCape Cod Hospital is a not-for-profit regional medical center located in Hyannis, Massachusetts. Founded in 1920, as of 2011 it is the largest hospital on Cape Cod. The current administration is headed by CEO Michael K. Lauf....
, and - Armenian causes in the United States and overseas in Armenia and Lebanon.