Alma Adamkienė

Alma Adamkienė (née Nutautaitė; February 10, 1928)[1] is a Lithuanian-American philologist and philanthropist. She is the wife of the former President of Lithuania, Valdas Adamkus, and was First Lady during his two terms (1998–2003 and 2004–2009). She also holds United States citizenship.

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

(1928-02-10) February 10, 1928
Šiauliai, Lithuania
NationalityLithuanian/American
Spouse(s)Valdas Adamkus (m. 1951)
Alma materFriedrich-Alexander-University, Erlangen-Nuremberg
ProfessionPhilology

Early life

Adamkienė was born in Šiauliai. 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 of America 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. Alma Nutautaitė married Valdas Adamkus in 1951, and took her husband's surname (she is 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.

Honours

1998 : Member 1st Class of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise[3]

2001 : Grand Cross of the Order of the Three Stars[4]

2004 : Member 1st Class of the Order of the White Star[5]

2006 : Grand Cross in the Order of the Crown. [6]

2007 : Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry[7]

2009 : Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland[8]

References
  1. "Alma Adamkiene, The First Lady". Office of the President of Lithuania. Retrieved 2009-04-13.
  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 2009-04-13.
  3. https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1213/98
  4. vestnesis.lv. "Par apbalvošanu ar Triju Zvaigžņu ordeni - Latvijas Vēstnesis". www.vestnesis.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2019-10-22.
  5. "Vabariigi President". www.president.ee. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
  6. http://archyvas.lrp.lt/en/news.full/6486
  7. "ENTIDADES ESTRANGEIRAS AGRACIADAS COM ORDENS PORTUGUESAS - Página Oficial das Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas". www.ordens.presidencia.pt. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
  8. "Postanowienie Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 15 kwietnia 2009 r. o nadaniu orderów". prawo.sejm.gov.pl. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
Honorary titles
Preceded by
Julija Brazauskienė		 First Lady of Lithuania
1998–2003		 Succeeded by
Laima Paksienė
Preceded by
Laima Paksienė		 First Lady of Lithuania
2004–2009		 Vacant
Title next held by
Diana Nausėdienė


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