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1947 - 2022

BORN

1947

DIED

2022

About

Smith College Wellesley College

ADRIENNE GERMAIN Obituary

GERMAIN--Adrienne. Adrienne was born in San Francisco on May 13, 1947 to William P. Germain, a hospital administrator, and Carel Bailey Germain, a prominent author and professor of social work. Tragically, Adrienne took her own life on May 19, 2022 in Oakland, California. Adrienne earned a bachelor's degree, Phi Beta Kappa, from Wellesley College in 1969 and a master's degree in sociology and demography from the University of California, Berkeley in 1971. She worked for the Ford Foundation for 14 years and was their representative in Bangladesh from 1981 until 1985. With Joan Dunlop, Adrienne was a co-founder of the International Health Coalition (IWHC), serving as Vice President and Program Director from 1986 until 1998 and as President from 1998 through 2011. Through her work, research, writings and leadership, she was a lifelong advocate for the educational, economic and sexual and reproductive rights of women worldwide. Adrienne's personal papers and the organizational records of the IWHC are maintained at the Sophia Smith Collection at Smith College, Northampton, MA. Adrienne will be terribly missed by her twin sister, Denise Germain Rabinowitz; and brother-in-law, Jonathan David Rabinowitz; and friends worldwide. A memorial service is being planned for the Fall in New York City.

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Published by New York Times on May 27, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for ADRIENNE GERMAIN

4 Entries

Matt Cort

August 4, 2023

I knew Adrienne in graduate school at UC Berkeley and during her early career at the Population Council and Ford Foundation. She was impassioned and focused on improving women's health care and economic opportunities, and dedicated her professional life to these endeavors to the benefit of so many. She was a guiding force and light for those who suffered, and for future leaders she trained.

Mary Racelis

October 3, 2022

Adrienne was an inspiration to us in the Philippines in the '70s and beyond as we struggled to bring women's issues to the fore. She encouraged us do that through effective programs of consciousness raising, action and empowerment. Her legacy remains in the minds, hearts and successes of many Filipino women of her and my generation, who found ways to assert our rights in practical, diplomatic but always forceful ways. We remember her fondly and will miss her.
Mary Racelis, Philippines

James T Allen

August 17, 2022

Just read about Ms. Germain in the FEN newsletter. I am inspired both by what she stood for in life and what she stood for in death.

Madeline bryer

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