Legal Legacy/Activist
This is a brief story of his life and the great legacy he has left to consumers and food processors with legal changes that he fought tirelessly for in: 1) Public domain Federal and state FDA regulations (that were formerly government secrets not in the public domain) and 2) New court precedents for wrongful acts by individuals in any organization - no more hiding behind "organizational policy" - both organizations and individuals bear separate legal liability for wrongful actions. All fought for and won by George Noroian single-handedly.

Scientific Research
George was educated in a one-room schoolhouse making straight As. He later attended and graduated from Dinuba High School and joined the Class of 1936 at Stanford University to study chemical engineering. One of George's first research projects involved working with German scientists developing the first instrumental testing techniques for testing for heavy metals by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry still used today (a great technical advance over wet chemistry techniques previously used).

Stanford University Student Liaison
While attending Stanford University, George became well-connected with several other prominent San Francisco Bay Area residents such as: Henry Kaiser, builder of the SF-Oakland Bay Bridge; his son Ed, George's roommate while he was in the class of 1936 studying chemical engineering at Stanford University; and with Mrs. Lucy Stern, benefactress of Stanford University for whom he was student liaison at the University. Mrs. Stern so admired George that she offered him the Presidency of the then privately owned Levi Strauss Company in his senior year at Stanford.

Rancher and Food Processor
Very flattered by Mrs. Stern's kind offer as well as very fond of her, George had been inspired at Stanford by a journal article on canning, felt he had found his calling, and he decided to return home to build his own cannery. George married Gwennyth Hicks in 1943. Together they had four children.

George was inventive and creative, developing many unique and ingenious ways to improve farming and food processing methods. He had his own experimental orchards and developed improved varieties of peaches and other fruits. He predicted the next season's crop from his home summer garden. 

He knew every orchard, every field, every tree, every vineyard, & every vine, (his own & other ranchers'): When, where, and how they would produce. He planted his best peach orchards of his own variety of "Noroian Fancy White Nectar Freestone peaches" in a low flood area. Every 10-20 years or so this area flooded and the silt that settled after the flood especially enriched the top soil (wasn't such a crazy idea and the flood waters never did get into the house or keep him from using the car!) 

George grew and canned Elberta and nectar peaches, nectarines, apricots, figs, plums, grapes, boysenberries and oranges. In later years he was devoted to organic farming and canning. When the organic craze hit George had the largest organic peach orchards in the country. His label, Fruitful Valley, had a national reputation for extremely high quality. He operated the cannery from 1938 until 2000. At its height the business employed 200 people on the ranches and 500 in the cannery. What we call "Boutique Farming" today. A lot of knowledge about growing and processing fruit died with him. 

George's label was very popular among prominent persons of selective palettes! Dwight D. Eisenhower would fly Air Force One to Baltimore to obtain cases of his Noroian Fancy White Nectar Freestones for state dinners. Alfred Hitchcock also ordered numerous caseloads of Fruitful Valley peaches. There were many others. You may read about the Fruitful Valley line at http://www.fruitfulvalley.com/. 

Sociable/Egalitarian/Good Samaritan
George was always remembered by everyone and treated everyone equally. While calling on a customer at a high-rise in Manhattan, N.Y., he stopped at a peanut vendor and bought some peanuts. While they transacted their business, George asked, "How's business?" One year later, George again called on the same customer in the same building in Manhattan. Again he stopped for peanuts and asked, "How's business?" The vendor replied: "Same as it is was when you asked me a year ago!"

In another story, driving home through the Mojave Desert, George stopped at a lone oasis; the only place--desolate for miles around. He walked in and there were three people, the owner and two patrons and George knew two of the three people. George rescued stranded strangers on the roadside and made lasting life-long friends. This was his natural, sociable nature that drew people to him. He was a Good Samaritan and helped many people through his lifetime; he stood up for the little guy and the underdog. 

Hobbyist
Hobbies were trapshooting and hunting; he loved to play cards (especially gin and blackjack) as well as backgammon; his excellent memory and ability to count cards made him a powerful adversary at card games. George was a larger than life personality. He loved people and big parties and was famous for throwing big barbeques at the ranch. He loved to tell jokes, especially puns. He had lots of sayings, among his favorites: "One by one" and "So I took the 50 million and bought chairs for the standing army!"

George loved languages, especially Armenian and German. He loved to talk on the phone; often he would carry on two phone conversations at once. He multi-tasked - watched one sporting event on TV, listened to others on the radio. He loved to watch TV and had one of the earliest TV sets in the area. He loved to travel and took the family on long car trips up and down California and cross-country. He loved babies and his grandchildren, especially. 

George was an optimist and always knew the next season would be better. He loved to visit people and always came loaded down with produce, nuts and dried fruits. He was a regular customer at a number of farmer's markets. He liked big cars, especially Chryslers and Lincolns, which he used for everything, including farming, because pickups hurt his back - so they got really, really dirty! 

George always had food and whenever someone came to visit an appetizer tray would be immediately be set out. He loved to cook and eat, was famous for his broiled tri-tip and barbequed sirloin steaks, shish kebab and his salads; he loved all kinds of fruit. His favorite foods: Keyma, Shish-kebab, Pilaf, Roasted peppers, Eggplant, Cheese, Sandwiches, Salads, Tri-tip, Ham, Chicken legs and thighs, Barley soup, Red onions, Mushrooms, Melons of all kinds. 

George was a big believer in education. He fought tirelessly for transparency and fair treatment in the legal system and by the California and Federal FDA. He had an incredible memory for numbers and mathematical/statistical problems and puzzles. He never lost this ability to his last day. He had an innate sense of direction and impressive knowledge of many parts of California; he could find places all over the state without a map.

George loved auctions; he bought most of his equipment at auction and built nearly his entire cannery that way. He loved talking with anyone. He was an exceedingly charming person who made friends with complete strangers. He traveled to Cuba, Mexico and all over the continental US and into Canada. He was comfortable in any situation - would be happy to have a floor at the Fairmont or live in a tent in the field, as long as he had a phone, fax, TV, refrigerator, comfortable chair, and something to cook with/on. 

George's life was a series of interesting and sometimes amazing experiences. 

George was never intimidated by anybody.

George is survived by his sister Mary N. Bedig of Rancho Mirage, daughters Gwennyth Susannah Noroian Trice of Napa, Dianne Noroian Appeldorn of Oakland, L. Jean Noroian of Alameda and son George Noroian of Vancouver, BC. He had eight grandchildren. 

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Monday, January 10, 2005, at Yost & Webb Funeral Home, 1002 T Street in Fresno. CA. Viewing begins at 9:00 am. Memorial contributions can be made to the California Armenian Home in Fresno, CA.

"The soul within me no man can degrade." - Frederick Douglass
"If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded." - Maya Angelou

"Legacy" was submitted by George's youngest daughter, L. Jean Noroian, of Alameda, California, in tribute to the great gifts he has given to us all.

During my father's illness, our last horticultural project together was intended for our joint entertainment during his convalescence.  I learned at his knee his agricultural methods and over the years he has been amused by my own experiments.  We were going to force Jasminum Polyanthum (that I had obtained from "Magic Gardens" in Berkeley, CA), also known as Pink Jasmine, to bloom a month earlier and also to extend the bloom season.  February through June is a cycle typical for this variety of Jasmine.

"Legacy" was submitted by George's youngest daughter, L. Jean Noroian, of Alameda, California, in tribute to the great gifts he has given to us all. 

During my father's illness, our last horticultural project together was intended for our joint entertainment during his convalescence.  I learned at his knee his agricultural methods and over the years he has been amused by my own experiments.  We were going to force Jasminum Polyanthum (that I had obtained from "Magic Gardens" in Berkeley, CA), also known as Pink Jasmine, to bloom a month earlier and also to extend the bloom season.  February through June is a cycle typical for this variety of Jasmine. 

As I was compiling "Legacy" for release by The Food Institute's three Publications:  "Food Institute Update" (circ. 7,500) http://www.foodinstitute.com/dailyupdate/update0107.htm, "Specialty Food News" (circ. 40,000) http://www.foodinstitute.com/nasft/nasftupdate0107.htm, and "NFPA's Update" (circ. 2,500) http://www.foodinstitute.com/nfpa/nfpaupdate0107.htm on January 7th, the first bloom opened on my father's jasmine vines on January 6th, one month earlier than the norm. 

My father's legacy continues on.

Submitted January 7, 2005, In Loving Memory, By L. (Lila) Jean Noroian, George Noroian's Third Daughter, named for his eldest sister and his wife.