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THE LATE ESIN BUYUKATAMAN
Country: United States of America
Profession: Architect
Esin Buyukataman graduated from ITU in 1964 as an architect, at the top of her class. After marrying
Kaya Buyukataman they moved to USA during April of 1968.
Esin's services to her first community in USA were remarkable. She is among the founding members of TACAM
(Turkish American Cultural Association of Michigan) and served in TACAM board at various capacities until
1980.
During 1980 Buyukataman family moved to Massachusetts. After the death of their dear friend Sehit Orhan
Gunduz, she served the Turkish Community in the TACS-NE (Turkish American Cultural society of New England)
from 1984 to 1989 on the TACS BOARD and at various committees. She has been instrumental, with her friends,
in pulling the society together while she was fighting brain tumor first manifested in 1981 and also
working as architect-engineer and designing industrial complexes as Lead Architect and project owner.
From 1989 to 1991 Buyukataman family lived in Cincinnati. Esin was amongst the first to organize a
much-needed Turkish American Association in Cincinnati and help prepare its bylaws.
Buyukataman family was again on the move, this time to Hartford, Connecticut. Even though Esin's brain
tumor was partially under control, she was no longer able to drive. Her love to the Turkish community was
strong and she kept going. She was the founding member and the first board member of SNE-TACA (Southern
New England Turkish American Cultural Association), which received the most active association award in
1994 from ATAA. Esin also help to organize our young generation by becoming among founders of Young Turks
of America Cultural Association of Connecticut, and Young Turks of America Cultural Association of
Massachusetts (Y-TACA).
Esin devoted her excess energy to support formation of ITU alumni Association International, known as
ITUMUK. As one of its founders and its first General Secretary, ITUMUK received again best Association
award from ATAA in 1997, four years after its formation. Esin's support and services to pull together an
International association was unbelievable. Today ITUMUK spans 5 continents and with 6 major divisions
and 36 associations in 20 countries.
During late 1997 her brain tumor activities were out of control, but that did not stop Esin from
supporting the community, and actively participating in "Bizim Koro". She was also among the founders of
this "Classical Turkish Music Chorus". She participated in concerts in Toronto, Boston and New York.
In spite of her illness, she did not hesitate to support "Turkish Forum" activities from day one. She was
the number one believer of the project and came up with many ideas and materials to move the project
forward.
In December 1998 and March 1999 she had two major operations. Two tumors were removed but 5 new ones
began to grow. Situation was beyond the reach of medical technology. Her fight for survival ended on
July 10 at 22:45, one week after her 33rd wedding anniversary, "Ruhu sad olsun".
On June 29 1999, ITUMUK established "Esin Buyukataman Basari Odulu" award so that Esin's name among her
friends and the University she so willingly served would continue. Its first recipients were top three
students of ITU Architectural & Engineering Faculty.
Esin was a creator and problem solver. Of her many accomplishments, she will likely be best remembered
for her outstanding efforts to the Turkish American community and to the ITU Alumni.
Esin's passing is a tremendous loss to our community and s he will be missed by everyone who knew her.
Please join us in extending our heartfelt sympathy to her husband Kaya Buyukataman and her daughter Sedef
Buyukataman.
The family has requested that contributions be made to your local associations and to Turkish Forum in
Esin's memory.
Sema Karaoglu |
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