Dr. Helene R. Day

Dr Hélène R. Day

1929-2023

 

Born July 8, 1929 in Nice, France, Dr. Hélène Ravera Day passed away on June 2 at the age of 93. She was the wife of the late Thomas E. Day (LCDR US Naval Reserve). 

 

One of the first Fulbright Program students to arrive from France in the early 1950s, she earned a degree in Political Science at Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio after studying law in Aix-en-Provence, France.  She attended and graduated from the Lycée de Monaco. 

 

Dr Day, as she was known in social circles, was Consul Emeritus of the Principality of Monaco between 1974 to 2002 and received the Chevalier du Mérite Culturel de Monaco bestowed upon her by HSH the late Prince Rainier III.  While Consul, among other things, she facilitated a Mediterranean fish exchange between the Musee Oceanographique of Monaco and the New England Aquarium.  She was also instrumental in multiple cultural exchanges between Monaco and the United States such as the historical movie reels of Albert I sent to the Archives du Palais Princier and historical documents of the United States Bicentennial to the Bibliotheque Caroline. She organized numerous fundraising dinners for the Princess Grace Foundation, as well as Monegasque folkloriques dances with La Palladienne. She worked with Jean-Christophe Maillot and Les Ballets de Monte Carlo when they travelled to New England in the late 1990s.  

 

Very forthright in helping to promote cultural diversity and assimilate immigrants and refugees through the International Institute of New England formerly on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, Dr. Day was also a Life Member who helped organize for many years the now mythical International Institute Ball and the popular International Institute World’s Fair.  Fluent in 4 languages, Dr. Day also founded the French and Spanish Saturday Schools at Boston University, where she held a Doctorate in Romance Languages. She was also very active in promoting Francophonie throughout New England, notably in conjunction with the French Library in Boston and was Founding President of the French Speaking League of New England and an active member of the Club Richelieu.  

 

She was also a member of the College Club of Boston, the Boston Lyric Opera, the Civic Symphony and the Watertown Historical Society. She was a board member of the Waltham Historical Society and an active member of the Waltham Public Library, lecturing on various historical subjects such as the origins of the Mi’kmaq Native Americans in Canada. She has published a few books, particularly a Grammaire Provençale, The Global Gourmet cookbook as well as a number of articles, namely on Monegasque history, notably on the three voyages of Prince Albert I to the United States.  

 

She leaves behind her two sons, Thomas Charles Day and Lawrence Day his wife, Sylvie Carpentier-Day and their two children Zoe and Maxime.

 

Family and friends will honor and remember Hélène's life by gathering for visitation on Sunday, June 18th, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street, (Rte. 20), Waltham where her Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m. Burial will be private.