“A luminary to so many teachers” (Editorial in ‘Halkin Sesi’ of 27 December 1992)

Of those who wrote about him in English/American, in Turkish, in Greek –book-magazine-newspaper articles and officially and privately (in England, Cyprus, Australia).. to a poet he was a star –in his poem, to a columnist an eminent school, to an author a remarkable man, to an editor a defender of liberties, to a writer an honour to have known, and to a researcher ‘Such nice things I have heard about him!’...

To Secretary of State for Education he was ‘the teacher of teachers’ –inscribed on his tomb, a university professor’s condolences from Turkey were to his nation –who in his honour named a street after him.

Orhan Ari was born in Lapithiou -Paphos, in the, at time, British colony of Cyprus.. after completing his secondary and high-school education in Nicosia, and upon qualifying through Morphou Teachers Training College, he also studied agriculture…

With a keen interest in his continuing professional development through courses and seminars, and as to rest mostly self-educated, he has left his unmistakeable mark in educational, cultural, ethical, social, progress and development of Cyprus.

“…loss of valued Suzan Ari we are grieving” (Salih Cosar –Leader Democrat Party [Minister for Economy kktc] ~in ’Halkin Sesi’ -26 Nov. 2002)

Premier of Nth. Cyprus attended her funeral.. from Canada university education staff to others in USA & UK who as ‘auntie’ referred to her poured in messages, including from persons knighted by Britain to representing nation in Europe, of commiseration…

Suzan Ari, in cultural and social development of Cypriot was a great helper in efforts of her late husband Orhan Seyfi Ari “whose mark on nation’s history of education is not a small one”.

As Greek and Turkish Cypriot pupils of her husband and many people of British Colony of Cyprus Orhan Ari’s efforts, so did many from later Republic of and still later Northern Republic of Cyprus remember and appreciate Suzan Ari’s help in those efforts to educate, modernize, a society previously resisting or helpless in cultural progress.

She was born in Morphou –where after her compulsory education and training as dress-maker under British system of apprenticeships and self-education in Turkish and Greek comtemporary literature and with an avid interest in current affairs (perhaps resulting from her father Mr. Uney’s social activities as a successful businessman and local community leader in central Nicosia –the capital) she was one of very first to show with her husband (Mr. Ari -a young idealist teacher) in 1941 courage of conviction that, while there was nothing wrong with Cypriot Turkish and Greek custom of dowries, marriage should be for love.