Jewel S. LaFontant-MANkarious (1922-1997), A.B. Oberlin 1943, '79 hon., trustee 1981-86. She was the first African American woman to serve as assistant U.S. attorney and the first African American woman to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court.
From October 1943 onward, Marianne Cohen, (a member of the French Resistance), smuggled groups of children to Switzerland until she was arrested with a group of 28 of them in May 1944. The Jewish members of the underground planned to rescue her, but she refused, fearing her escape would endanger the children. The children were rescued, but Marianne was kidnapped by members of the special services from Lyon on July 3, 1944, severely tortured and murdered in Ville la Grand, near Annemasse.