Professor İhsan Doğramacı, founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Bilkent University, who passed away on Thursday, February 25, 2010 just a month before his 95th birthday, was laid to rest on the grounds of the Doğramacızade Ali Paşa Mosque on Sunday after the president of Turkey, many other prominent citizens and thousands of colleagues, former students and other friends and admirers had paid their final respects to him.
 Ceremonies were held for Prof. Doğramacı at Hacettepe University and Bilkent University on Saturday, February 27. A further memorial ceremony was held at the Higher Education Council (YÖK) on February 28, following which a state funeral was held at the Kocatepe Mosque.
During the first farewell ceremony Prof. Hasan Kazdağlı, Vice Rector of Hacettepe University, presented Hocabey's life story. Prof. Gülsev Kale, Chairman of the Department of Child Health, Prof. Şinasi Özsoylu, retired Professor of Pediatrics and longtime colleague of Prof. Doğramacı, Prof. Uğur Erdener, Rector of Hacettepe University, and Prof. Ali Doğramacı, spoke about Prof. İhsan Doğramacı's career and accomplishments. The ceremony concluded with a performance of the "Summer" concerto of Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" violin concerto series by the Hacettepe Symphony Orchestra conducted by Prof. Erol Erdinç.
A gathering to commemorate and pay tribute to Prof. Doğramacı was held on February 27, at the Bilkent Concert Hall.
The ceremony began with Hocabey's biography illustrated by a slide presentation and continued with a speech by Prof Talat Halman, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Letters. Prof. Halman eulogized Prof. İhsan Doğramacı as "a benefactor who led an ideal life devoted to the ideals of serving children, health and education.” “On February 25,” he said, “10 geniuses passed away, each named İhsan Doğramacı. Those geniuses were Master of Pediatrics, Legendary Child Doctor, Reformer of Medical Education, Creator of Universities, Business Wizard, Monument of Philanthropy, International Celebrity, Angel of Music and the Arts, Builder of a Model City, and Family Man Par Excellence.”
 
Rector Ali Doğramacı expressed the family's grief at his father's passing and said that he would do his best to carry on the work started by him. Pianist Gülsin Onay performed Chopin's Polonaise Opus 53, a favorite piece of Prof. İhsan Doğramacı.
  
 A final memorial ceremony was held for İhsan Doğramacı at the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), of which Prof. Doğramacı was the first president, the morning of February 28. Education Minister Nimet Çubukçu, and President of YÖK Prof. Yusuf Ziya Özcan spoke to the many ministers, university rectors and others who attended the ceremony.
You can offer your condolences here:
http://www.taziye.bilkent.edu.tr/
http://www.bilkent.edu.tr/hocabey/
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