Yvonne, Lady Cochrane Sursock, is a philanthropist, a prominent public figure, and an advocate of the arts in Lebanon. She was born the only daughter to Alfred Bey Sursock, a Lebanese aristocrat and Donna Maria Theresa Serra diCassano, daughter of Francesco Serra, seventh Duke of Cassano. In 1946, she married Sir Desmond Cochrane.[1]
Lady Cochrane Sursock was president of the committee and general manager of the Nicolas Sursock Museum in Beirut from 1960 until 1966. She founded the Association for the Protection of the Natural Sites and Ancient Buildings (APSAD; Association pour la protection des sites et anciennes demeures) in Lebanon and was its president from 1960 until 2002.[1]
Her work today focuses on projects that prevent Lebanese emigration and reroot people in their villages of origin by creating jobs for them in the fields of agriculture, textiles, and handcrafts.[1]
Lady Cochrane is a vocal advocate of the protection of the environment in Lebanon as well as the country's unique architectural and cultural heritage.[1]
She is owner of the Sursock House and a broad swath of property along Rue Sursock, reaching the trendy, Rue Gouraud.[2]
William Dalrymple (1997): From the Holy Mountain (interview with Lady Cochrane Sursock, p. 238-42)