Prominent philanthropist and botanical painter Niki Goulandris dies

Niki Goulandris, a prominent Greek philanthropist, environmentalist and accomplished botanical painter who co-founded the Goulandris Natural History Museum (GNHM) in Athens, died on Saturday, aged 94.

Goulandris studied political science, economics and philosophy in Athens and Germany. She married Angelos Goulandris, of the ship-owning Goulandris family, and together founded GNHM, establishing it as a center for research and education.

She served as former deputy minister for Social Services (1974-75), former Secretary of State for health in Greece (1974), honorary deputy president of Hellenic Radio and Television (1975-80), and member of the World Commission on Culture and Development of UNESCO.

Through her lifetime, she became a well- known botanical painter, having painted about 800 Greek indigenous plants, many of which have been printed.

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