A quiet figure who played a key role in Fresno development died Thursday, June 25, leaving a legacy of hard work and a passion for youth.

Mehmet Noyan died after an extended illness, his wife, Cathy Noyan told GV Wire. He is survived by Cathy, children Johnny and Angela, and two grandchildren.

A funeral mass will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Tuesday, Aug. 4.

Even though Mr. Noyan didn’t like to take credit, preferring to be behind the scenes, Cathy Noyan said. He was integral to major projects throughout the city, not only Fresno’s northward expansion into Palm Bluffs, but also inner city development, bringing grocery stores and housing to central and south Fresno.

And while Mr. Noyan never had a chance to play sports himself, working since the age of 12, he committed himself to coaching youth baseball, helping mentor players as they progressed through all stages of life.

“He didn’t take credit — that’s just not him. He was a very happy individual, he loved life, he loved his family, he did not mind stepping back,” Cathy Noyan said. “He was very content and he loved his work.”

Said Bobby Kahn, former executive director of the Madera County Economic Development Commission: “Met him through baseball when I was an umpire and he was coaching his son’s Babe Ruth team. We then continued the relationship professionally. He was always such a gracious man.”

A Hard Worker Since He Was 12 Years Old

Born in Columbus, Ohio, Mr. Noyan came to California when he was a child. The son of a Turkish immigrant, he was a “self-reliant” person, his wife said.

At the age of 12, he was already working for his father, cleaning out kennels at the veterinarian practice. He worked throughout college at Fresno State and was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity.

It was at Fresno State where he met Cathy in 1971. Two years later, they married.

After a couple of sales jobs following college, he found his true passion — real estate.

Starting out making cold calls for leases, he quickly expanded, gaining the trust of major brands.

“He was always very honest and loyal, maybe sometimes too loyal,” Cathy Noyan said.

He worked with retailers such as Walmart and Vallarta, bringing those retailers to areas up and down California.

Noyan Had a Passion for Infill Development

While Mr. Noyan became known for northward expansion — a major name in Palm Bluffs development — he was always passionate about the city’s interior.

“Mehmet was a major developer that never lost sight of his responsibility as a developer to also support core development, downtown development,” Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer told GV Wire.

Later in life, Mr. Noyan developed the shopping center at Clinton and Weber avenues, bringing the Vallarta grocery store to the area. He told GV Wire in 2021 that he liked to bring properties to existing neighborhoods.

Mr. Noyan’s son, Johnny has taken up the mantle to bring housing to downtown Fresno alongside business partner Jeff Isenstadt. For nearly two decades, Mr. Noyan dedicated work to an affordable housing complex directly adjacent to Chukchansi Park called The Park at South Stadium.

In May, Mr. Noyan secured financing for the 174-unit apartment complex.

Dyer said it was recently that he had seen how excited Mr. Noyan was about getting final approvals for the project.

“My condolences to Mehmet’s family. I know he had a great family that loved him and cared for him and supported him over the years, especially through his time being treated for cancer,” Dyer said. “We’re going to miss him and we’ll make sure that somehow, some way down the road, we recognize him in some form or fashion on this project.”

Noyan Loved Hearing from His Little League Players

Mr. Noyan found passions outside of work as well, Cathy Noyan said. One of those was for youth development.

Despite not being a player himself, Mr. Noyan for years coached Little League baseball, Cathy Noyan said.

He loved working with the kids and after games would take them and their parents out for pizza or bring them to their home for celebrations, she said.

Through the years, she and Mr. Noyan would run into players as they got older and get excited to hear them still call him “coach.”

“He loved that. They would still come to him. They would call and say, ‘can I come and talk you?’ ” Cathy Noyan said. “As of six months ago, they would come and they’re maybe working at something else and asking advice, and he was always so happy.”

Through baseball, Mr. Noyan met fellow developer Terance Frazier, who originally partnered with him on the South Stadium project. Frazier said Mr. Noyan believed in him before a lot of people did, helping Frazier start the Central Cal Baseball Academy.

Despite disputes over the South Stadium project that strained their relationship, Frazier said he will always remember the projects and memories they built together.

“One thing will never change, I love Mehmet, and I’m glad God put him in my life,” Frazier said. “My prayers are with his family, and I hope they’ll always know how much he meant to me.”