Erdoğan was a gentleman at heart; He radiated friendship, enjoyed life to the fullest and was always happy to assist any friend in need. One could usually see him dancing with a glass in his hand, at the bar of Ziya Restaurant, where he was a part owner. His friends used to gather around him to enjoy his company. He will be greatly missed. May he rest in peace. I would also like to express our gratitude to Tülin, his life long friend.
Contributed by Şeyma Bilimer Arsel ACG 60
Berna was the symbol of true friendship — a loving, caring soul who was always there when someone needed her. A bundle of sensations, a music lover, and an avid piano player, she carried a sensitivity that made her a thoughtful and genuine person. There was hardly anyone untouched by her warm and friendly presence; her kindness left lasting marks on all our hearts.
To those of us who truly knew her, she was more than a friend — she was an angel who brought warmth into our lives. Her memory and the love she so freely gave will forever live on in our hearts. Rest in peace, dear Berna. You will be remembered and cherished, always.
Contributed by Nesrin Gülsoy RC’74 & Nilgün Helvacıoğlu RC’74
Edib Emin Cemil Kırdar of Tempe, Arizona, passed away peacefully on October 3, 2025, at the age of 94, surrounded by family and close friends. A devoted son, brother, husband, father, godfather, friend, and community leader, Edib leaves behind a legacy of love, perseverance, and dedication to family, friends, and community, enriching all of us to be the best we can be.
Born on December 25, in Izmir, Turkey, Edib was the son of Emin and Nüzhet Kırdar. Though he was born in Turkey, his family’s hometown was Kirkuk, Iraq, where the Kirdar family history stretches back more than 300 years. The family’s deep ties to the region include the Haj Mustafa Kirdar Mosque, built in 1885 by his grandfather, a lasting spiritual and cultural landmark. Edib’s education included Istanbul’s Robert College, where he earned his civil engineering degree in 1955. He later pursued postgraduate studies at Arizona State University.
Edib arrived in Arizona in 1959 and embarked on a distinguished 32-year career at the Salt River Project (SRP). Rising to become Manager of the Office of International Affairs at SRP, he worked on water management projects across the globe. He was very proud of his work that took him to Turkey, Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iran, Yemen, Pakistan, China, and Indonesia under the auspices of USAID, where he shared expertise in irrigation and water operations. After retiring from SRP in December 1990, Edib spent a decade as Associate Faculty at Arizona State University, teaching “Cultural Understandings.” He also founded EK Associates, a consulting firm focused on international water training programs.
Edib’s professional life was matched by his civic engagement. He served on the Phoenix Committee of Foreign Relations beginning in 1978, serving three terms on the board and later as an Emeritus Board Member. He was also a proud and active member of the Turkish-American Association of Arizona, Lions Club, and Toastmasters. A dedicated Mason, he participated in Chandler Thunderbird Lodge No. 15, F. & A.M. of AZ. A naturalized U.S. citizen since 1977, Edib cherished the opportunities this country gave him while staying deeply connected to his heritage.
In 1962, Edib married the love of his life, Lale Zeynep Keymen “Zeyna,” and together they built their life in Arizona. Their marriage of 62 years was filled with devotion, compassion, and resilience. They raised two children, Leyla (married to James Haupert) and Murad (partner Matthew Simpson), and cherished their extended family of “fur-babies,” including six grand-dogs and one grand-bird.
After retirement, Edib and Zeyna spent summers at their home in Istanbul, where he loved walking along the Bosphorus. As a Christmas baby, he delighted in celebrating holidays with his children, family, and friends in places including California, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.
Edib valued faith, family, friends, and his country above all else. He took joy in community gatherings, travel, storytelling, and playing backgammon. His family and friends remember him as one of the kindest, most honorable, and generous people they had ever known. One of his longtime backgammon friends described him as “the epitome of a great American, someone who found their way here, worked hard, played by the rules, had a beautiful wife and family, and flourished.”
He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, his parents, and four of his five brothers. He is survived by his children and their partners, his brother Jamil, and the many relatives and friends who will forever remember his warmth, wisdom, and kindness. Edib told his children recently that he lived the best life imaginable and said, “Murad and Matt, along with Leyla and Jim, are my heroes, the pride and joy of my life. You all have made me the happiest father ever.”
Edib believed in and supported his son Murad with his nonprofit charitable work helping animals and families and spent this past summer with him and Matt in Santa Fe, making lasting memories. Donations can be made in Edib’s honor to Española Humane at https://www.espanolahumane.org/donate/ or mailed to:
Española Humane
Donation in Memory of Edib Kirdar
108 Hamm Parkway
Española, New Mexico 87532
Leyla Haupert
Güler Bozkurt, 74, passed away peacefully on July 16, 2025.
Born and raised in Istanbul, she was a dedicated graduate of the American College for Girls, Senior Class of 1971.
Starting her career in the early 70s in the publishing world in Istanbul, she’d worked as an editor and a translator specializing in tax legislation.
In the 90s, she’d moved to Boston. Her prior experience was indeed valuable as she started working as a legal research assistant at a renown Boston Investment Bank & Law Firm, and later on for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
After retirement, she settled down in a tranquil little village in Bodrum, where she acquired an olive grove and focused on sustainable farming.
Apart from gardening and producing her very own cold press early harvest extra virgin olive oil, she spent much of her time traveling with her daughter throughout Anatolia’s breathtaking national parks and archaeological sites.
Güler was preceded in death by her husband, Haluk Bayrakdaroğlu (RC YÜK ’71), and her elder daughter Gülen Bayrakdaroğlu. She is survived by her younger daughter, Zeynep Bayrakdaroğlu.
Güler will be remembered for her profound compassion, unwavering integrity, and remarkable generosity. She was an exceptionally devoted mother and a truly compatible travel companion. She will be terribly missed, a sentiment that hardly captures the depth of our grief.
September of 1953. Beginning of Robert College’s Preparatory Year. Our first meeting
with Dear Urcun. Our classrooms, our dormitories… We are both boarding students
spending all our days in the same building. Lessons, recesses, after-class sports
activities. We are together all the time. Urcun goes home for the weekends, returning
each Sunday evening with new and interesting stories.
His special talent in languages was even exceeded by his perfect abilities in all fields of
sports. Our memories start with football and basketball games.
These, whenever the opportunity arose, were followed by Kadıköy Community Center Gym,
training sessions of Fenerbahçe Star Basketball Team. He must have received his first sportsmen’s’ license in1957. He later on continued his successful achievements at the Fenerbahçe Junior Team following an intelligent, agile and talented line of continuously improving success.
He attended the Political Science Faculty for two years after high school. After leaving, he spent
nearly a year in Paris learning French. When he returned to Istanbul in 1966, he passed the
Counseling and Guidance Exams, a different field in which he was engaged for a few years.
Meanwhile, he continued his ambitious search for the meaning of life! India, Kathmandu,
the Gurus… a different philosophy. Marriage and divorce. Peace and close friends
and acquaintances sought and found in Bodrum and Gümüşlük…We used to spend
hours of chats to catch up with each other before going to Bodrum in summers. When I
called him this year I was told that he was at the hospital. Later on, I had the chance to visit him
at his home. A short visit… recalling some memories and enjoying old photographs…
When I wanted to visit him again three days later on 10 August, I was confronted with
the inconsolable news.
An extraordinary personality…. A very special person… He is now undoubtedly Resting
in Peace ……
Contributed by Kemal Noyan RA61/RC65
Having graduated from the ‘Orta’ school of the Talas American College in 1964, Cem joined Robert Academy the same year, and rapidly transformed into a leading member of our RA ’67 class. He was a superb entertainer, a prolific singer, a kind, sharing and caring friend in the three years we were together on the Bebek campus. He had a tremendous energy for joy and fun, and was a gentle legend, assuming lots of nicknames which he so positively tolerated.
He then enrolled at Istanbul University graduating in Economics in 1971, leaving for France for a lifetime career, settling down near Bordeaux, where he lived with his lovely wife Mireille, who survives him together with their two children Vincent and Helene. He was a frequent participant to our class reunions in Istanbul never feeling apart and distant.
Cem was an outstanding man as an exceptional character and a true friend. He was kind, loving and sincere to everyone around him and in fact for everything existing in nature. He was also an inborn gifted actor with incredible sense of humor making him stand out as a source of joy and happiness where ever he is. He is unforgettable, and will be missed a lot by everyone who who had the privilege to know him…
Cem passed away in June 2025 but will always live in our hearts and minds. We will cherish the most wonderful memories of his time with us. May he Rest in Peace.
Robert Academy,
Class of 1967