Claudette Gabriel Karabey of New York City died on May 14, after a short and courageous battle with cancer. She was 64.
She was born on February 11, 1959, in New York, the daughter of Serge and Irene Gabriel.
She attended Nishimachi International School in Tokyo and eventually graduated with her baccalaureate from the Lycée International in Paris, France. She graduated from Cornell University in 1982, with a bachelor of arts degree in government and Asian studies.
Her career included sales and trading responsibilities on Wall Street, independent consulting and finally her role as director of fundraising at Japan Society in New York.
Known for her kindness, elegance and warm spirit, she was multicultural and a global thinker who spoke four languages: English, French, Japanese and Turkish.
She is survived by her two children, Lara and Hakan; her son-in-law, Isaac; her father, Serge; stepmother, Marilyn; her two sisters, Suzette Gabriel Schoebitz and Maud Gabriel; and her long-term partner, Peter Trapp.