Papken Suny Der Torossian, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and cherished friend, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loved ones on Sept. 6, 2024, at age 85.
Known affectionately as “Pop” to those who knew him, Papken was a man of extraordinary kindness, generosity, and brilliance.
Papken was born Dec. 16, 1938 in Antioch, Turkey, and immigrated to Boston, Massachusetts at age 17 to pursue his studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering.
His intelligence and ambition led him to a lifelong career in technology, where he made significant contributions as a pillar of the industry. As president of manufacturer Silicon Valley Group in San Jose, he invented a next-generation machine that was used for years to layer all of the critical layers of Intel’s chips for computers. Once Intel announced it would buy his machine, Der Torossian recalled in a 2018 Stanford University interview, his stock price more than doubled.
Japanese rivals wanted to buy his technology; but he was reluctant, opting for a joint venture instead.
“I want to engineer things,” he told the Stanford University interviewer. “I want to make things in America.”
While at MIT, Papken met and captured the heart of his beloved Claire. The two eloped to California, where they built a life together filled with love, passion, and a deep commitment to family and friends. Their 53 years together were marked by a shared love for art, music, and community.
While raising his family, Papken graduated with a master’s in mechanical engineering from Stanford University.
Papken had a remarkable career at Hewlett-Packard, Plantronics, and Silicon Valley Group, which is a testament to his ingenuity and visionary leadership. His work, notably in advancing step and scan lithography technology, has had a profound impact on modern technology, making today’s microchips possible.
In recognition of his exceptional contributions, he was honored with the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 1995. He was a on many corporate and community boards including several years at Atmel Corp.
With his wife Claire, he created the nonprofit Bay Shore Lyric Opera Co., which presented shows and brought rave reviews for their daughter Jennifer, a lyric soprano. They bought the Capitola Theatre and staged 29 major operas, attracting 65,000 attendees. They enjoyed their townhouse in seaside Capitola.
After Claire’s passing in 2013, Papken continued to honor their shared legacy with the same enthusiasm and dedication. He was a longtime member of the St. Joseph Commandry of the Knights of St. John.
Papken’s family was the center of his world. He is survived by his four children: A. Greg Der Torossian (Ashley), Tina Der Torossian, Jill Fries (Alex), and Jennifer Der Torossian.