The Robert College community mourns the loss of our esteemed alumnus, Gökçe Bayındır, who passed away in July 2025.
Known affectionately among his friends as “Usta,” Gökçe was a man of exceptional character and remarkable mechanical aptitude. After completing his middle and high school education at Robert College, he graduated in 1965 and went on to build a distinguished professional career. He spent 29 years within the Koç Group, retiring in 2000 after serving as the President of the Tofaş Group. During the 1980s, he played a defining role in shaping the identity of the Tofaş “Kuş Serisi” (Şahin, Doğan, Kartal), leaving a lasting mark on Turkish automotive history.
Gökçe’s legacy extends far beyond his professional accomplishments. In an extraordinary act of lifelong loyalty and compassion, he devoted himself to the care of his Robert College classmate Zafer, who was paralyzed following a traffic accident at the age of 25, overseeing and organizing his care for 57 years.
A man of refined sensibilities, Gökçe also restored several historic mansions on Büyükada and, in a final gesture of public-minded generosity, donated his entire collection of antique works to state museums.
He is survived by his wife, Tiraje, and his children, Berna and Bars. He passed away in Büyükada, a place he deeply cherished.
“Usta,” may you rest in light.
With deepest condolences,
His Robert College classmates
