Harry Apkarian, a lifelong resident of the Capital Region, died suddenly while on vacation in Florida on Tuesday, March 3. Sources say he suffered from a stroke, his second one in two weeks.
The first stroke occurred on Tuesday, Feb. 17 when Apkarian was playing with his granddaughter. They were racing to an elevator when he suffered a stroke, fell and cracked his head open.
He was thought to be recovering well and was preparing to be transported to Albany Medical Center this week when he suffered a second stroke at a hospital in Florida and died on Tuesday, March 3 at 5:15 P.M.
Apkarian most recently served as chairman and CEO of Transtech Systems, Inc. in Schenectady.
Graduating in 1946 with a degree in mechanical engineering from RPI, he worked for General Electric’s Research and Development Center for a number of years before branching out and co-founding Mechanical Technology Inc. Apkarian was also instrumental in the development of RPI’s incubator and Tech Park in the 1980s. Years later, in 1994, after a number of entrepreneurial achievements and volunteer work, Mr. Apkarian started Transtech Systems, Inc., which manufactures high-tech equipment for the road-construction industry.
He has also been credited for helping to save and rehabilitate Proctor’s Theater in Schenectady and helping to start Union College’s business incubator, U-Start, amongst other accomplishments.
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