The warm remembrances of Karin de Marco could have gone for hours at Tuesday's Geneva City Council meeting.

De Marco, the president of Croissy-sans-Frontieres, is credited with establishing the relationship with the Geneva International Cultural Exchange Committee, which resulted in the sister-city relationship between Geneva, IL, and Croissy-sur-Seine, France.

She died of a heart attack Friday, Jan. 18, and the city of Geneva has been flying the city flag at half staff through the week.

Former Geneva Exchange Committee Chairman Ernie Mahaffey said the partnership between the two cities is unique and would not have happened without de Marco's enterprise.

"She wanted a city near Chicago, on a river, and she found us," he said.

Mayor Kevin Burns said DeMarco was "very funny, very engaging," and it was her spirit that made the international culture exchange so successful.

"Karin personified the relationship our communty enjoyed with Croissy-sur-Seine, and her genuine love of people reminds all of us that no mater how many miles apart cities and people might be, friendship bridges that divide like nothing else."

Letter from Geneva's International Cultural Exchange Committee

It is with a sad and heavy heart that I inform you of the sudden loss of a wonderful friend, Karin de Marco, who died on Sunday, January 20, 2013.

Karin was President of Croissy sans Frontieres, the cultural exchange association of Croissy-sur-Seine.  Many of you will remember Karin from her recent visit to Geneva, accompanying the delegation with the jazz band last October. Her fourth visit in seven years!

Thanks to Karin, we enjoy this wonderful relationship between Geneva and Croissy. She was a driving force behind so many of our ICEC projects. Many lives here were enriched by her efforts.  She will live on in our hearts and in the continuation of so many cultural exchanges she helped foster.

The ICEC Board wishes to thank Geneva Mayor Burns and the Geneva City Council who honored Karin’s memory with our City flag lowered to half-staff and a moment of silence to start Tuesday’s Council meeting.

ICEC would like to share with you this video of the recent delegation visit, which is dedicated to Karin in loving memory. https://vimeo.com/57016104

Karin, we bid thee ‘adieu!’

Cynthia Albright
Geneva ICEC, President

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