In Memoriam
It is with great sadness that we report the death of Francine Bogart Aigrain AB'45, Past President and active member in club affairs for many years. Francine is survived by sons Yves and Jacques and daughter Mireille, 12 grandchildren and 1 greatgrandchild.
Francine's late husband, Pierre Aigrain (1924-2002), elected Membre de l'Académie des sciences, section Physique, was Professeur émérite à l'université Denis Diderot and Ancien Secrétaire d'État à la Recherche. Pierre spoke on several occasions for the Club and both Francine and Pierre participated in many club events.
Francine Aigrain had a tremendous impact on the Harvard Club of France in many ways, not the least of which its gender balance. The Club, created before WW I, was a men's club up until the 1960s, when women were integrated. It was Francine who initiated a Radcliffe circle in Paris in the 1960's acquainted as she was with Edwina Morgulis Racine AB'32 (Mme. Pierre Racine) and other Radcliffe graduates. Meetings were held in her own home, the five or six participants after a time realized they were not numerous enough to support real club activities. Francine lobbied with club president Albert Ross and the women joined the men. Francine became Secretary for the club, contributed enormously to its growth and development, and became its first woman president (1976-1982). Francine was a dynamic leader, doubling membership (hand-typing 900 envelopes) and enhancing the club program with speaker and cultural events.
