The Institut d’études avancées in Nantes is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Ramona Bunduc, a former staff member of the Institute, who passed away this week after a long battle with illness.
Ramona Bunduc worked for several years at the Institute, where she was responsible for the maintenance of the spaces and apartments for resident researchers. She was valued for her professionalism, discretion, and humanity. Her role, though discreet, was essential, making her a valuable link in the Institute's dynamic of exchange and connection.
Alain Supiot, founder of the Institute, paid tribute to her in a moving text published on LinkedIn on 27 April 2025:
"It is with great sadness that the former fellows of the Institut d'études avancées de Nantes and I learned of the death of Ramona Bunduc, taken prematurely this week by an illness she had been courageously fighting for a long time. Ramona was one of those who were fleetingly referred to as the ‘essential workers’, during the brief period when Covid 19 forced people to become aware of the work of ‘people who are nothing’ in the eyes of the powerful, but on whom the well-being and survival of all actually depend.
Ramona's keen intelligence, her sensitivity and her taste for a job well done left their mark on all those who were lucky enough to know her when she worked at the Institut d'études avancées in Nantes...".
