September 4, 2024
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The legendary Diana Agabeg Apcar made history in 1920 by becoming the Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Armenia in Japan, marking her as the first Armenian woman diplomat and one of the first women to have ever been appointed in any diplomatic post in the twentieth century. As the youngest of seven children, she went on to raise three children of her own.
Thus, imagine the goosebumps when AIWA Board of Directors’ member and former AIWA San Francisco Affiliate President, Christine Soussa received formal letter that Lucille Apcar, the daughter of Diana’s only son Michael, had penned a letter expressing her intention to leave the residual of her estate to AIWA through the San Francisco chapter.
In May of 2021, then Chapter President Laura Dirtadian and Christine Soussa, went to Mariposa, California, to meet Lucille, a remarkable, funny, 92-year-old woman standing under five feet tall. Her presence exuded strength as they listened intently to her life story. Lucille was born in Yokohama, Japan, in 1925. She had grown up alongside grandmother Diana where she was exposed to many cultures until the age of 21, when she ventured to Mariposa County to establish her own female-founded travel agency with her closest friend. Fluent in both Japanese and English, Lucille catered to American tourists in Japan and reciprocated by guiding Japanese visitors through Yosemite, a place she cherished deeply.
“Spending the whole day with Lucille was phenomenal,” Dirtadian reflected, “ She truly epitomized strength, resilience, and the power of channeling the beauty of a woman’s energy.”
Christine recalls, “Having studied Diana Apcar in college, it was a tremendous honor to hear first hand stories from Lucille! I will forever cherish our meeting and discussions with Lucille, it is a profound honor to keep the Apcar legacy alive through AIWA.”
Lucille’s unwavering support for women, particularly women-owned organizations was evident. When asked about her desired allocation of funds, she insisted they be directed towards female entrepreneurs and female led organizations/projects. As a working woman, published author, and successful entrepreneur Lucille understood the unique challenges women face. Her family history of overcoming challenges and the unwavering resilience to surviving and thriving despite challenges is a pillar of Apcar’s life philosophy. We are grateful for this most generous contribution to AIWA. Lucille spoke about how hopeful she is for the future and how special AIWA and in particular the San Francisco affiliate was to her.
For over 33 years AIWA has been a global organization with a mission to inspire, empower and connect Armenian women worldwide. Based in Boston, the organization has many affiliates nationwide, with active chapters in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New England, and the Tri-States of NJ, NY and Connecticut. When visiting with Lucille she mentioned how special AIWA was to her, how she enjoyed participating and following the efforts of the SF chapter and how affectionately she thought of her friendships and work she did with AIWA members, particularly with Founding member Barbara Merguerian, who recounts,”Meeting Lucille, I had the opportunity to learn about her interesting life in Japan as a young woman, living in the Apcar family home with her grandmother Diana. Her grandmother’s extensive humanitarian activities on behalf of the Armenian people, and her taking over of the family business on the death of her husband, were an inspiration and motivation to Lucille.”
“We are invigorated and inspired by this incredible act of generosity,” said Silva Katchiguian, president of AIWA. “This gift is a critical step in our organization’s mission to encourage women to lead in entrepreneurship and diplomacy.” Lucille Apcar leaves over $150,000.00 to AIWA. The funds will go to championing women’s ingenuity by empowering and elevating female entrepreneurs and women-led projects. Lucille Apcar passed away in October 2021, yet her legacy endures through her generous contribution, ensuring her impact will resonate for years to come. AIWA-SF will be organizing a gala event in the Spring of 2025 to honor Lucille Apcar and the Apcar legacy.
By considering AIWA in your legacy or estate planning, you can help create a lasting impact, supporting initiatives that empower Armenian women and communities for generations to come. Reach out to us at [email protected].
