Suna Kıraç
Suna Koç Kıraç | |
|---|---|
| Born | 3 June 1941 Turkey |
| Died | 15 September 2020 (aged 79) |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, businesswoman |
| Known for | Vice chairperson of Koç Holding, founder of Pera Museum |
Suna Koç Kıraç (née Suna Koç; June 3, 1941 – September 15, 2020) was a prominent Turkish entrepreneur and billionaire.
Early years
Daughter of Vehbi Koç (1901–1996), recognized as Turkey's richest businessman, and Sadberk Koç (1908–1973), Suna Koç rose to become vice chairperson of Koç Holding. She was married to İnan Kıraç, a senior executive within the same conglomerate. After fifteen years of marriage, the couple welcomed their adopted daughter, İpek Kıraç.
Museum
Together, Suna and İnan Kıraç founded a cultural and educational foundation that launched the Pera Museum in 2005. This institution displays three notable art collections belonging to the Kıraç family.
Awards
In recognition of her efforts in education, healthcare, and social welfare, Kıraç was honored with the State Medal of Distinguished Service in 1997. Boğaziçi University conferred upon her an honorary doctorate in 2008 for her commitment to education. Her accolades also include the Directorate General of Foundations Honor Award, an Honorary Fellowship from London Business School, and the Galatasaray Education Foundation Honor Medal.
Her leadership roles encompassed membership on the board of the Vehbi Koç Foundation, chairmanship of the Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation, and trusteeships at Koç University, the Turkish Education Foundation (TEV), the Turkish Family Health and Planning Foundation, and Robert College. Additionally, she was a founding member and chaired the Educational Volunteers Foundation of Turkey.
Autobiography
In 1998, she authored an autobiography recounting her personal journey, including her marriage, adoption of daughter İpek, professional endeavors, battle with illness, and future hopes.
- Ömrümden Uzun İdeallerim Var!, 1998 ("I Have Ideals Longer Than My Life!")
Illness and death
Soon after joining the family business following her father's passing, she began exhibiting early signs of illness. In 1996, she experienced loss of voice; by 1997, numbness affected her hands; and in 1998, she developed a speech impediment. Diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at Houston Methodist Hospital—a progressive neurodegenerative condition impacting voluntary muscle control—she became completely paralyzed by 2000. Unable to speak or move, she communicated through eye movements using a Turkish alphabet chart.
Kıraç passed away on September 15, 2020, at Istanbul's American Hospital at age 79. Her funeral included a memorial service at Koç Holding's headquarters followed by a religious ceremony at Marmara University's Divinity mosque before burial at Zincirlikuyu Cemetery.