Barbara Fales de Bragança, La Médaille d’Or de Solidarité et Valeur

Barbara (Suki) de Bragança has had a passion for France and the French language and culture since her youth. She was raisedin Venezuela by American parents and mastered Spanish early, but her love of French was kindled by a sixth grade teacher who inspired her through French cuisine, film and fashion.

Her educational studies of French at Wheaton College (BA in 1977) led to a year abroad program with Smith College in Geneva in 1975-76, and she taught French to undergraduates while working on an MA in Comparative Literature from Florida Atlantic University between 1977-1979.

Suki was introduced to the Alliance Française as a student in Paris in 1972-73. Little did she know at the time that her adult life would center around the Alliance Française of Boston/Cambridge as President of the Board, and board member since 1988 with a position as Chairman of the Nominating Committee for the National Board of the Federation des Alliances Françaises, USA from 2010-2016.

As Chairman of the Bal du Printemps in Boston, she helped to stage “bals” with elaborate costumes and historic themes. This well-known annual event attracted many young people to the Alliance Française along with the social elite of Boston, resulting in additional funds for the school of the Alliance Française and its expansion. When the Alliance Française merged with the French Library (now known as the French Cultural Center), Suki remained active on the Board where she is to this day, creating a scholarship there for outstanding Teacher of the Year, along with a Mosaïque Cultural Committee and Fund to further enhance the cultural offerings at the FCC.

Suki was formerly active in groups such as the French Heritage Society and the Swan Society which she co-founded to assist the Curator of European Decorative Arts at the MFA, Boston. She has served as co-Chair of Literary Lights for Children at the Boston Public Library, and remains active as a Trustee at the New England Conservatory of Music, and as an Overseer Emeritus at the Boston Symphony Orchestra. In 2009, France bestowed her with the Chevalier dans l’Ordre National du Mérite.

Suki and her husband Miguel have three children who have put their languages and service into action as citizens of the world. They reside a part of the year in Paris to allow direct contact with this country and culture that the entire family holds so dear - a tribute to the de Bragança heritage.

Jacquline Gupton, La Médaille d’Or de Solidarité et Valeur

Jacqueline Gupton was born in Fontainebleau, where she attended the Lycée International, followed by two years of studying English in London. She then relocated to Germany, where she worked in computer software development for the U.S. Department of Defense.

In the U.S., Jacqueline attended the University of North Carolina and worked in the French Department, in charge of their Exchange Program with l’Université de Lyon. After moving to Greenwich, CT with her husband, she assisted the “Welcome Wagon” organization by founding and leading “les Francofilles,” an organization dedicated to promoting social and cultural interchanges between francophones.

She also tutored in French at the local school, and served on the Board of the Alliance Française for twenty years, where she organized l’Alliance du Soir French-language conferences and a French “cineclub.”

Working with volunteers from l’Accueil New York (ANY), she also helped organize “cafés rencontres” for lonely French retirees. In 1998, the Guptons purchased Rocklands, a historic property near Gordonsville, VA. They have spent fifteen years on its restoration, including adding a formal French-style garden, relocating a 12th-century stone tower from France and re-assembling a 17th-century Virginian farmstead.

As CEO of Gordonsville Preservation Associates, Jacqueline has led the transformation of the center of this historic town. She has also worked jointly with Nicole Yancey to help establish a Sister City program between Gordonsville and Thoré-la-Rochette (the village of Rochambeau). She has continued to participate in the Alliance Française of Charlottesville, and has hosted several major events, including a joint fund-raiser with the English Club in commemoration of the Battle of Yorktown, with attendees including descendants of Washington, Saint-Simon, Cornwallis and Rochambeau!

Living near Montpelier, home of James Madison, she and her husband have established the Gupton

Library there, and she has also assisted the Montpelier staff in the translation of French documents and in purchasing furniture in Paris identical to that owned by the Madison family.

Finally, and most importantly, Jacqueline is a mother of two and grandmother of four, all of whom, together with her dogs and cats, are completely bilingual!