When it was the turn of our Mütevelli Leyla Tuten's mother, Samiha Hanım, to become the Mütevelli, her brother Fikret Argeşo held the position since she was living abroad. After Fikret Argeşo's death his brother Semih Argeşo became the Mütevelli and authorized his son Cengiz Argeşo.
Cengiz Argeşo, born in 1941, served as the Mütevelli until his death in 2018.
We respectfully commemorate Cengiz Argeşo, whom we will remember for his efforts to improve and preserve the Library and refer to the words of Cengiz Bey's wife, Ms. Nazire Atakoğlu Argeşo:
“The restoration of this beautiful library, the books and the building was undertaken during my husband Cengiz Argeşo’s tenure as the Trustee. Some of the books were repaired with the help of the Konya Manuscripts Institution. The domes of the Library and the exterior were renovated under the supervision of the Greek Museums Directorate and the Institute of Archeology in Rhodes. My husband went to Rhodes for inspections several times a year. In these years, as in the past, the Muslim people living on the Island continued to meet in the Library courtyard after the morning prayer on Bayram days to celebrate the Bayram. During the holidays, folklore groups from Turkey would also come, teach dances to the young people of Rhodes and perform shows on the Bayram nights. During Ramadan, Muslim and non-Muslim residents of Rhodes would hold collective iftars together. During Ramadan, food parcels were prepared and distributed to the people of Rhodes in need. In the month of Muharram, ashura was boiled and served to the public. I went to Rhodes Library with my husband for years and participated in these valuable events.”
We remember with love and respect our family elders who have been the Trustees – Mütevellis – since 1792, starting with the founder Hâfız Ahmed Agha, his mother Ayşe Hatun, who succeeded him upon his death in accordance with the founding Charter, Ahmed Fethi Pasha, Mir-i Miran Ali Rıza Bey, Mahmut Celalettin Pasha, Yegâne Hanım, Fatma Ferdane Hanım, Mediha Hanım, Said Gülfırat, Ahmed Fethi Amal, Emine Bihter Perker, Fikret Argeşo, and Semih Argeşo.