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Condolences: Molly Bartlett

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July 25, 2023

Dear AUC Community, 

With a heavy heart, I write to share the news of the passing of Molly Bartlett on Sunday. Ms. Bartlett played a leading role in AUC’s history and was instrumental during the formative years as the University navigated the challenges of the 1960s. 

Ms. Bartlett, who was fondly known as Molly among the AUC family, was the spouse of advisory trustee and former AUC President Thomas Bartlett who led AUC from 1963 to 1969 and later served as interim president in 2002 - 2003. Unofficially, Molly dedicated herself to helping in ways big and small. During their tenure, the University witnessed unprecedented growth, doubling both in campus size and student body, expanding and developing its faculty and academic programs, and modernizing its facilities. Molly took on many volunteer roles from supporting the operations and recruitment of the New York Office to scouring Cairo for furniture and apartments for relocated faculty, helping international faculty in everything from finding schools to adjusting to a new city, and personally finding and purchasing the famous fountain on the Tahrir Square Campus that the Bartletts gifted to AUC at the end of their term in 1969. This video about the Bartlett legacy was recorded in 2021 for an event to honor Tom and Molly. It reflects Molly’s critical role as a member of the AUC family. 

After the end of their term, Molly remained deeply engaged with AUC and returned frequently to Cairo for the following six decades. In 2011, the Molly Bartlett Endowed Scholarship Fund was established to allow public high school students to attend AUC. Created by Trustee Richard Bartlett in his mother’s honor, the scholarship covers the full cost of students attending AUC. Throughout the years, Molly would meet each of the recipients, some now alumni, and take great interest in their progress and personal stories. 

The last time Molly visited AUC was in October 2021 to attend my inauguration ceremony as the University’s 13th president. I recall how honored and moved I was that AUC’s fourth president and his spouse made the journey to Cairo to be there. It is a reflection of their profound connection to AUC.  

Molly will always be remembered as a pivotal force at the University. Anyone who knows the history of AUC understands that few families have given as much of themselves or done more for the institution over that many decades as the Bartlett family, whose contributions began in 1963 and continue to this day. None of that would have been possible without Molly. Please join me in expressing our deepest condolences to former University President and Advisory Trustee Thomas Bartlett and Molly’s three sons Dr. Thomas Bartlett, Trustees Richard and Paul Bartlett. 

Sincerely

Ahmad Dallal, PhD

President