Known as the second wife of the Beatles' own John Lennon, Yoko Ono was a known activist, too. And because of her activism, she was awarded three honorary doctorate degrees.
The most recent one was her honorary doctorate from Pratt Institute. During the 125th commencement in 2014, Yoko attended the event at Radio City Music Hall. Business Insider has it that she also holds two more honorary doctorates from the University of Liverpool and Bard College. She continues to support University of Liverpool in memory of her late husband.
Born in 1933, Yoko Ono is a multi-media artist, singer, songwriter and peace activist. She spent some time at Sarah Lawrence College but became involved in New York City's downtown artist scene. While her parents approved of her college choice, Ono said they disapproved of her lifestyle and chastised her for befriending people they felt were beneath her. She loved to mingle with artists and poets. It was during that time that she discovered her own enthusiasm and creativity for art.
She met John Lennon in 1966, they became an official couple two years later. She met him at her own art exhibition in London.
Her activism was also shared by her late husband. He often used their Hilton Amsterdam property to stage a public protest against the war in Vietnam. She also brought issues about feminism through her music and art.
Even though she is widowed, Ono continues to preserve Lennon's legacy. She helped fund the Strawberry Fields in New York City, the Imagine Peace Tower in Iceland and the John Lennon Museum in Saitama, japan.
In her tenure as an activist, she has made multiple significant philanthropic contributions towards peace especially in the Philippines and Japan. She advocates the need to help others in time of disasters for relief and assistance.
Check out Yoko Ono's commencement speech at Pratt below:
