GENEVA – Geneva’s flags are flying half-staff after the death of a woman from France who began a trans-Atlantic sister city relationship between Geneva and Croissy-sur-Seine.

Karin de Marco, who died Sunday after suffering a heart attack, was president of Croissy sans Frontieres, the cultural exchange counterpart to the Geneva International Cultural Exchange Committee. The translation means Croissy Without Borders, past exchange committee chairman Ernie Mahaffey said.

De Marco approached Geneva seven years ago to foster a partnership, Mahaffey said. Three delegations from each community visited on alternating years, expanding cultural exchanges and building friendships.