Bilsel H. Alisbah *63

Bilsel Alisbah, who worked at the World Bank for 30 years, died of cancer July 2, 2017. He was 79.

Born in Turkey, he spent his first 15 years there and in Switzerland with his parents until he arrived in Princeton, N.J., with fluency only in Turkish and German. Nonetheless, he managed to graduate at the top of his class from Princeton High School, a position he also achieved when graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1959.

He then earned an MPA degree from Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School in 1961 and a master’s in economics in 1963. The World Bank recruited Alisbah, and he was employed there for 30 years. While there, he worked with Indira Gandhi in India and leaders of various West African nations. He became vice president of personnel.

After retiring from the World Bank in 1993, he moved to Turkey and became the director of the Central Bank. He then was the chief economic adviser to the prime minister, Tansu Çiller. Later, he taught at Bilkent University in Ankara before returning to the United States.

Alisbah is survived by his wife of more than 52 years, Lorenda; four children; and five grandchildren.

Graduate memorials are prepared by the APGA.