Arthur Gulbenk

Arthur Gulbenk, of Fairfield, CT, passed away peacefully on Thursday August 29th, 2024, at Norwalk Hospital. Arthur was born in Beirut, Lebanon, on August 7, 1938 to the late Souren & Armaveni (Taghtabourounian) Gulbenk. A beloved husband, father, brother and friend, he was a man of rich experiences and broad intellect with a deep appreciation for life.

Arthur spent the first half of his life in Beirut, graduating from College des Frere Mariste boarding school in Jounieh, Lebanon. From school teachings and interpersonal studies, Arthur became a polyglot - fluent in French, Arabic, Armenian, English, Turkish and Italian. His Armenian heritage and familial history were a source of immense pride, and his Christian faith was a cornerstone of his life.

Throughout his early adulthood, Arthur played pivotal roles in his family’s photography business, Photo Gulbenk and Gulbenk Trading Company. His grandfather, Gulbenk Gulbenk, survived the Armenian Genocide in Gesaria by way of his expertise in photography, and escaped to Beirut to establish his well-known photography studio where he was the chief photographer for a Lebanese prime minister. Along with his grandfather, father, brother and extended family, they developed the photography industry in Lebanon and the surrounding areas throughout the 20th century with their photography studio and equipment distribution.

Arthur had an engaging personality, and if you knew him, you may have heard some of his countless stories, socializing with statesmen, dignitaries and diplomats in Beirut. Or traveling through Europe & the Middle East, representing Nikon & Minolta, all the while taking countless photos of the region that would later become postcards. To find a picture of Arthur is an exceptional feat, as he was often the man behind the camera.

A lifelong learner, Arthur had a voracious appetite for knowledge, particularly in medicine, psychology, philosophy, and religion. His generosity, empathy and kindness were legendary, and he was always there for those he cared about.

Emigrating his young family to the United States in the mid-80s during the Lebanese civil war, Arthur pursued his passion for culinary arts, graduating from the French Culinary Institute in New York City. Along with his wife, Sonia, they established a gourmet bakery and catering company, L'Epicure Gourmet Foods, in Wilton, CT, from which he retired.

Arthur is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Sonia Gulbenk; daughter Ani, son Raffi and his wife Emiliya; his sister, Sonia Derhagopian and brother, Gulbenk S Gulbenk in Lebanon; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews throughout Lebanon, Armenia, France, Canada, and the US.

Funeral services will be held at Holy Ascension Armenian Church, 1460 Huntington Turnpike, Trumbull, CT on Friday, September 6th, at 11AM. Visiting hours will be at the church beginning from 10AM. Interment will follow at Assumption-Greens Farms Cemetery in Westport, CT.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in Arthur’s memory to Holy Ascension Armenian Church in Trumbull, CT.

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