In Memorium of Gevork "Kevin" Minissian

It is with immense sadness that we share the sudden and unexpected passing of Gevork "Kevin" Minissian. On November 23, 2021, he was fatally shot by a gunman during a neighborhood crime spree in Pasadena, CA. Norchem Corporation, the company Kevin founded, wishes to honor the significant contributions he made as an industry pioneer, respected leader, dear friend, and loving husband and father.

For over four decades, Kevin dedicated himself to developing innovative chemistry solutions and advanced water systems for the textile services industry. Kevin’s commitment to excellence paired with his passion to serve his customers enabled him to acquire tremendous respect and positive influence amongst his customers and colleagues, many of whom have become dear friends. As founder and CEO of Norchem Corporation, Kevin’s inventive genius helped shape the industry by offering state-of-the-art solutions for the betterment of the environment, including wastewater reclamation, green chemistry, automated dosing systems, and other process technologies focused on sustainability. As an industry thought leader, he was an active member of ALM, CSC, ITRA, TCATA, TRSA, and WTSA, and he served on the Los Angeles Sanitation Districts’ Advisory Council. 

Kevin’s expertise in electrical engineering and biochemistry paired with his innovative nature enabled him to explore “what’s possible” when troubleshooting operational challenges and pragmatically applying advanced solutions to achieve sustainable and scalable outcomes. When he was not serving customers, Kevin could be found enthusiastically and tirelessly working in the lab to simplify the laundry cleaning process for greater efficiency. 

He will be incredibly missed and never forgotten, as he left an indelible impact with all those he knew and encountered. He is survived by his beloved wife, four children, siblings, and nieces and nephews. His legacy will be carried out by his family and steadfast team of dedicated, loyal members of Norchem. 

One of Kevin’s passion projects included an active partnership with the California Institute of Technology (CalTech) in Pasadena, CA, where he was participating on an advanced electrochemical project working closely with the Hoffmann Lab. In honor of his ongoing passion for innovation, Norchem Corporation and the families have established the Kevin Minissian Memorial Fund at CalTech. This tribute of gratitude and respect honors his legacy and will support students and their research within the Hoffmann group in the area of water treatment and recycling technologies. 

As a personal tribute to Kevin, the family wishes to collect memories, photos, videos, and stories as a keepsake (written, visual, and/or verbal audio recording). Please take a moment to send us a tribute by uploading your memory to this dedicated folder. The family hopes to compile these testaments into a tribute video and collection book in his honor. Thank you for sharing your memories and stories of our beloved Kevin. 

Funeral services will be held on December 23, 2021, at 9:30 AM PST at Forest Lawn in Hollywood Hills. A live webcast will be available (password: Minissian) for those who are unable to attend in person. 

Updates regarding his services, the Kevin Minissian Memorial Fund at CalTech, and his tribute can be found on Norchem’s website, Remembering Kevin.