John was born and raised in Los Angeles, California in 1923. His parents, Krikor Mgrdichian and Aruvsyak Hovanessian, fled from Gyumri, Armenian to escape the genocide enacted by the Turkish people. They established residency in the United Staters. John’s father had then started his own trash disposal service in Los Angeles with himself and a single truck. John dropped out of high school after his second year and focusing his efforts into develop his business acumen as a means of achieving his American Dream. He immersed himself in readings and biographies of successful businessmen, philosophers, and great leaders.

Hasmik was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1923 and was raised in both San Francisco and Los Angeles. Her parents Krikor Mandorian and A’ghavni Jebian fled from the Turkish massacres in Kharpert, West Armenian. They travelled on foot, train, and donkey through Russia, Mongolia, and Japan before settling in Seattle, Washington. Hasmik was an outgoing and eccentric woman whom excelled in academia and had a clear path to college on her horizon.

After establishing permanent residency in Boyle Heights, California, Hasmik and her family all attend the “Community House of God” church. By pure coincidence, John and his family also attended the same church. Eventually the two met and their love story and legacy began. The two married in 1945. John built his first business by buying his father’s trash route. Hasmik decided to forgo her college career and instead worked side-by-side with John to build Murcole, Inc. in 1956. The creation and success of their first company financed further business pursuits and investments. In 1974 they built and operated the hi Desert Casino in Adelanto, California.

Both John and Hasmik were passionate about building a family that embraced their Armenian, American, and Christian values.  They were grateful for the opportunities their parents imparted on them by way of fleeing from the mass ethnic cleansing if their motherland in order to preserve their lives and rebuild their lives in a new country. The two never forgot the struggle of survival their parents endure and were perpetually grateful for being born in the United States, the country that enabled them to achieve their dreams through handwork and intellect.

The creation of the JHM Foundation is a result of John and Hasmik’s unwavering love for their homeland and their passion to preserve culture through projects of which strengthen and enable individuals in achieving their dreams.