Obituaries : Ira Kirkorian, 77; Santa Clara Valley Land Developer
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Ira Kirkorian, a Fresno farmer who parlayed his earnings into a land development empire based in the so-called Silicon Valley,died Saturday of cancer. He was 77.
Kirkorian, who began his development career by subdividing a few lots he owned near his Fresno-area farm, moved to the Santa Clara Valley in the 1950s to escape the hot weather.
At that time, orchards and small farms dominated the region today known for its high-technology companies. Kirkorian built scores of custom housing tracts, seven large shopping malls and two automotive centers.
He retired in 1981, and his company was taken over by his only son.
Kirkorian is survived by his wife, Marguerite; his son, Kent; two grandsons and a granddaughter; a brother, Ralph Kirkorian, and a sister, Lillian Cardinal.
Services were scheduled for Tuesday in Los Gatos.
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