Alma Adamkienė

Alma Adamkienė (née Nutautaitė; 10 February 1927 – 21 May 2023) was a Lithuanian philologist and philanthropist. She was the wife of the president of Lithuania, Valdas Adamkus, and was First Lady during his two terms (1998–2003 and 2004–2009). She also held United States citizenship.

Alma Adamkienė
First Lady of Lithuania
In role
26 February 1998 – 26 February 2003
PresidentValdas Adamkus
Preceded byJulija Brazauskienė
Succeeded byLaima Paksienė
In role
12 July 2004 – 12 July 2009
PresidentValdas Adamkus
Preceded byLaima Paksienė
Succeeded byDiana Nausėdienė (2019)
Personal details
Born
Alma Nutautaitė

(1927-02-10)10 February 1927
Šiauliai, Lithuania
Died21 May 2023(2023-05-21) (aged 96)
Vilnius, Lithuania
NationalityLithuanian/American
SpouseValdas Adamkus (m. 1951)
Alma materFriedrich-Alexander-University, Erlangen-Nuremberg
ProfessionPhilology

Early life

Adamkienė was born in Šiauliai on 10 February 1928.[1] Her father, Stasys Nutautas, was a businessman; her mother, Ona Soblytė-Nutautienė, assisted her husband in various commercial activities. In 1944, when the Soviet Army returned to Lithuania, Alma Nutautaitė fled with her family to the West. She finished high school in Germany, and later studied Philology at Erlangen University in Nuremberg.[1]

Life in the United States

Alma Nutautaitė emigrated to the United States in 1949. She first worked as a laboratory assistant at a steel factory. Later, she took a position with an insurance company. She also organized and participated in Lithuanian émigré activities. Nutautaitė married Valdas Adamkus in 1951, and took her husband's surname (she was known as Alma Adamkus in the United States).[2]

First Lady

During the presidential election held in Lithuania in 1997, Valdas Adamkus campaigned for the presidency and won. After Adamkus became president, Adamkienė became involved in various Lithuanian social programs focusing on the welfare of children.[2] She opened a foundation, the Alma Adamkienė Charity and Support Fund, in 1999.

Personal life and death

Adamkienė had no children. She died from a stroke in Vilnius, on 21 May 2023, at the age of 95.[3]

Honours

1998 : Member 1st Class of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise[4]

2001 : Grand Cross of the Order of the Three Stars[5]

2004 : Member 1st Class of the Order of the White Star[6]

2006 : Grand Cross in the Order of the Crown.[7]

2007 : Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry[8]

2009 : Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland[9]

References
  1. "Alma Adamkiene, The First Lady". Office of the President of Lithuania. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
  2. "Behind the scenes. The nation's First Lady plays a vital role in her husband's career". Office of the President of Lithuania. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
  3. "Lithuania's former first lady Alma Adamkienė passes away aged 96". Lithuanian National Radio and Television. 21 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  4. "Про нагородження відзнакою Президента України "Орден князя Ярослава Мудрого"".
  5. vestnesis.lv. "Par apbalvošanu ar Triju Zvaigžņu ordeni - Latvijas Vēstnesis". www.vestnesis.lv (in Latvian). Archived from the original on 26 September 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  6. "Vabariigi President". www.president.ee. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  7. "President of the Republic of Lithuania - the Belgian Royal Couple pays the first visit to Lithuania". Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  8. "ENTIDADES ESTRANGEIRAS AGRACIADAS COM ORDENS PORTUGUESAS - Página Oficial das Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas". www.ordens.presidencia.pt. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  9. "Postanowienie Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 15 kwietnia 2009 r. o nadaniu orderów". prawo.sejm.gov.pl. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
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