Öner Akgerman RA 61, Trustee Emeritus of Robert College

Öner Akgerman RA 61, TE was a valued member of the Robert College community and a dedicated supporter of the school over many years. He completed his middle school, high school, and college education at Robert College, graduating from the department of Business Administration and Economics in 1965. Throughout his professional life, he played an important role in the development of Türkiye’s industrial sector, holding senior leadership positions and contributing to a range of initiatives across industry and business.

 

He served on the RC Board of Trustees beginning in 1987 and became Trustee Emeritus in 2012. During his years of service, Mr. Akgerman remained closely connected to Robert College and offered thoughtful guidance and steadfast support to the school.
Mr. Akgerman’s ties with Robert College also extended through his family, particularly through his son Bülent Akgerman RC 88.

 

On behalf of his classmates, Aydın Bilgin RC 61 contributed the following tribute to a life well-lived.

 

“The passing of our beloved classmate for 73 years, Öner, has deeply shaken us all. Known for his gentlemanly demeanor, reliability, and constant support, both materially and spiritually, Öner left us due to an illness. To briefly summarize his life, after graduating from RC Faculty of Administrative Sciences in 1965, he began his career at Çimentaş in İzmir, taking on senior roles and leading the establishment of companies in ready-mixed concrete, cement, construction, insurance, and tourism. Later, together with his sons Bülent Akgerman RC 88 and Levent Akgerman, he founded the AKG Insulation Company, producing ready-mixed and aerated concrete, natural stone, as well as operating fish farms and the food sector. Öner served as a member of the Aegean Region Chamber of Industry Assembly, held the positions of Vice President and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Turkish Cement Manufacturers Association, and was involved in the management of the Çimentaş Education and Health Foundation. In addition to his industrial activities, he made significant contributions to education and served on the RC Board of Trustees for 25 years.

 

In the second year of middle school, when our literature teacher Ahmet Aksoy asked the class what “reliance on God” meant, Öner was the only one who knew the answer: “After doing everything you can, leaving the things you can’t do to God.” Years later, Öner, who always strived to do his best, became not only a prominent figure in Izmir’s industry but also a respected name in Turkey’s business world.

Zeki Bağran RC 98

Zeki passed away suddenly on December 21, 2025, nine years after having survived a life-threatening cardiac incident.
He joined Robert College immediately after his family returned to Turkey from an expatriate assignment in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which earned him the nickname “Arap Zeki” among boarding students. A pioneer in RC with his signature hip-hop and rap dance moves, he was also active in team sports.

His social skills opened many doors in life. Not long after graduating from the University of British Columbia, he was elected President of the Turkish Canadian Society of Vancouver. Later he returned to Turkey to become a sales leader and then a chief executive officer across Turkey and the Middle East.

He built strong, heartfelt connections and left a legacy that goes far beyond business achievements. He will be remembered as a leader who united people, inspired teams, and led with integrity and humanity.

He was a devoted father to Demir, loving brother to Özgür and cherished son to Burhan and İnci Bağran.

Contributed by Hakan Ener RC 98 and Özgür Bağran

Keriman Dağdevirenoğlu

It is with deep sorrow that we share the news of the passing of Keriman Dağdevirenoğlu, who devoted 43 years of dedicated service to RC between 1959 and 2002. During her long and distinguished career, she served as Administrative Assistant in the Business Office and later as Director of Personnel and Purchasing.

She was a true lady—elegant, composed, and always impeccably professional. Whenever she addressed someone as “Bey” or “Hanım” at the end of their name, we all understood that the matter at hand was a serious one. Yet behind her dignified and stylish demeanor was a warm heart and a delightful, spontaneous sense of humor that we all came to cherish.

She is survived by her loving daughter, RC Class of ’85 graduate Fatoş Dağdevirenoğlu, and her granddaughter, Ekin.

May she rest in peace.

Ethem Ünal Akşit RC 88

by RC 88

Our dear friend Ethem Ünal Akşit passed away peacefully after a two-month illness. Ünal was not only a cherished friend, but also a diligent photographer who captured the spirit of our class in the yearbook photos – many of which he personally developed and printed. More importantly, he was a beloved son and a devoted father to his children. Ünal’s talent as a fun DJ brought joy to our class balls. His energy enlivened our spirited conversations, whether at school, during our daily commutes or at gatherings with friends. 

The basketball and soccer games that we played together, Musical Activities Club musicals where we acted, danced and even sang a bit (much to everyone’s, including Mr. Kent’s horror), the occasional phone calls and WhatsApp calls we had over the decades to keep in touch while he traveled the world will never be forgotten. Above all, Ünal was a kind, loving, and caring person to everyone around him. His warmth and generosity touched us deeply, and he will forever be in our hearts.

Ünal leaves behind his mother, Güner; his father, Yüksel; son, Noah; daughter, Mia; and their mother, Olivia, who love and miss him dearly.

Hanzade Özerten Urul RC 98

Our dear friend Hanzade Özerten Urul RC 98 passed away. We are devastated to lose someone so radiant and full of life. During our RC years, Hanzade was the spark at the center of everything — choreographing our “Orta” Maze Day dance, lifting our spirits on the volleyball court, and greeting us each morning with her bright smile, strong voice, and unmistakably rosy cheeks. She carried that same warmth into adulthood as a communicator, writer, painter, and a devoted advocate for nature and animals. Her energy, empathy, and generosity touched everyone around her. As we face this painful goodbye, we will honor her each year on February 27th, her birthday — a fitting tribute to someone who never forgot to celebrate ours.  

Hanzade Özerten Urul Memorial Forest, set up in the Bursa Eyerce village by her family, will stand as her living legacy.

Zeynep Dirikcan RC 98

Neylan Bağcıoğlu İzgi RC 98

Ayşe Baykut Dallal RC 98

Deniz İlkbaşaran RC 98

Mary Partheniadou Yuvanidis ACG 63

Mary passed away on October 23, 2025 in Athens,  after a year of struggle with illness.  As a very  beloved member of ACG 63, Mary was a trustworthy, kind, and affectionate person valuing everyone around her. She was always ready to help her friends with their problems and share their  sorrows. After graduating from ACG, she completed Bosphorus University (Public Administration) and started to work  firstly with Singer, and a year later with Fako, a pharmaceutical company, as the executive secretary of the chairman. In 1983 she retired and three years later she left İstanbul and moved to Athens where she longed for her homeland Turkey until her death.  From 2000 to 2008, she read the news broadcasted by the radio Voice of Greece in Turkish. Her classmates of ACG 63 saw her for the last time in June 2017 when she came to İstanbul to attend the  50 th Reunion of her university class 67. At that last meeting, she was so cheerful and full of life  inspiring her classmates to be happy and at peace with life. As her daughter says, “she was the best mother and the best grandmother of all”. 

Mary is survived by his husband Koço Yuvanidis (former turkish national table tennis player), her daughter  Evdoxia and her grandchildren Anastasia and Stamatis. 

Contributed by Lale Arat Sirmen

Nüket Alevli Ersoy ACG 50

Nüket Alevli Ersoy, a member of the ACG Class of 1950, passed away in November 2025.

Born as the daughter of one of Gaziantep’s distinguished and prominent industrialists, Nüket Alevli Ersoy completed her primary education in her hometown. At the age of eleven, she came to ACG as a boarding student. After nine years of boarding education, she graduated in 1950 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and returned to her birthplace. She united her life with Celalettin Ersoy, himself an RC graduate who had completed his education in the United States. In her early years, she assumed senior roles in civil society organizations such as the Yardımseverler Derneği and the Lions Club, achieving notable successes.

As the daughter of a successful entrepreneur and industrialist who had received his education in Europe in the first quarter of the 20th century and was deeply devoted to the principles of Atatürk and the Republic, and with the support of a spouse raised with universal values—together with the momentum provided by the education she received at ACG—she herself embraced “education” as a philosophy of life and put it into practice.

At the Gaziantep Kolej Vakfı, which was established as an association in 1963 and gained foundation status in 1973, she served actively as Chair of the Board of Trustees from 1976 until her passing. This private school, which has long surpassed its 50th anniversary, has played a significant role in the economy of the city, the region, and the country through its hundreds of graduates. Today, the school continues to shine as a source of pride for the Gazi city. She herself will continue to live on in hearts as a venerable figure who left a lasting mark on the educational, social, and cultural history of the city where she was born and raised.

While at ACG, Nüket Alevli Ersoy was a calm, disciplined, and diligent student, as well as a loving and devoted friend. On national holidays, she stood out with her enthusiasm and deep love for Atatürk. During the 1980s, her classmates would gather once a month for tea at the Hilton Hotel in Istanbul, and Nüket would often join them, flying in from Gaziantep. With her determined, perfectionist, and results-oriented character, and her lifelong dedication to education, she led an exemplary life and became a model—difficult to emulate—within Turkish education. 

May she rest in eternal light.

Dilek Özmen Gündoğ ACG 71 

with contributions from Belma Uluman Baskett ACG 50

Yıldız Geyer Belger ACG 63

Yıldız Geyer Belger passed away in October 2025.

Some names highly befit the person carrying that name and the person integrates with the name. Just like my dear friend Yıldız.  She was one of the most diligent students of not only our class, but also of our school. She kept this diligency in life as well. In addition to being a good wife, mother and an individual, her diligence, honest and trustworthy personality made her the apple of the eye of the the NGOs. Who knows how many woman and children she has touched with her projects, of which Mevlana Houses was one? Our friendship continued in Izmir after school. Taking our driver’s licences when we were very young, our bazaar trips, the funny incidents we experienced at her own boutique “Ödül”, and our class trips. They all stayed in our memory and we will keep you alive among us with these memories. We wish that the light you have radiated into our milieu while you were with us, will also illuminate you at the place you are now, dear Yııldız.  Fatoş Berkay Oktav

Our dear Yıldız, when you went away and left us behind, it was as if it became all empty around here. You were very beautiful, very diligent, very intelligent. You had the disposition of a leader. How can we ever forget? You are in our hearts. Sevin Okyay

I first met Yıldız in Special 1, at Miss Bixler’s section. She was the one who always drew the Christmas pictures that stayed for one year in Miss Becky’s class. She was clever. The world was a much nicer place with her. Her absence is unbelievable. Nur Bilimer

Our dear Yıldız, with your brooches on all our chests, exhilirated arm-in-arm photographs from our trips, all those shared moments, our fashion show on the Van train, the gifts you have prepared for us on our 40th, 50th years… they’re all with us and you are always with us. Seres Başak Ener

Her husband Uğur Belger (RC ENG 61) passed away just 2 months after. They are survived by their loving children Sumru Belger Krody and Seymen Belger and grandchildren Alara Belger and Papatya Belger Krody

Güner Görgün Çilesiz ACG 50

Güner (Görgün) Çilesiz ACG 50 passed away peacefully at home on January 17, 2026.  Following ACG, Güner studied English philology at Istanbul University and eventually taught English to international relations majors there for many years.  After raising two daughters with her husband Ayhan and retiring, traveling all over the world with him and socializing with her friends, including her ACG classmates, became her main hobbies. 

Güner was a determined, talented woman who excelled at whatever she put her mind to.  Observant, resourceful, and fiercely loyal to her friends and family, she rushed to their aid whenever needed.  She treated everyone with respect and had little tolerance for arrogance.  Even as she was robbed of her memory in recent years, she remained adept at logical thinking, considerate of those around her, and appreciative of their support.  She was true to her core until the end.

Rest in peace, Mom.  You will live in my heart forever.

Yeşim Çilesiz Richardson RC 84

Engin Övet Çağlan RA 61

Our dearest classmate Engin Övet (the unforgettable Yeşilçam Celebrity Film Star Engin Çağlar) was sadly separated from his beloved wife Filiz (former F. Vural, Turkish Beauty Queen of 1970 and Miss Europe of 1971) and two sons Çağlan Övet Jr. and Eser Övet, after a tragic road accident.

He was a very good sportsman, a good swimmer and a good footballer. He played football in the RA Varsity Team and later in the Galatasaray Junior Team. After he left RA he finished his high school education at Şişli Terakki, then studied Interior Architecture in Germany.

During his military service in the Navy, he had plenty of time to wish his dreams to be an actor and enter the movie world, to become true. He participated in the “SES” magazine’s film star competition and became second. Thus, the Turkish cinema gained a new very handsome star.

Çağlan’s father Sadık Bey had a printing press, in which they published school books and maps. After his father’s death, Çağlan took over the business and ran it for long years.

We will miss him very much and he will always live in our memories.

Contributed by Classmates Demir Toros and Faruk Dölay