Pas vandaag bereikt me het bericht dat Yolanthe door een tragisch ongeval is overleden. We hebben elkaar leren kennen op TEDxAmsterdam. Ze vroeg me natuurlijk wat ik daar deed en ik zei dat ik misschien zo op het toneel zou moeten spreken omdat ik genomineerd was voor de TEDxAmsterdamAward. Natuurlijk was ze gelijk heel nieuwsgierig naar mijn speech. We spraken daar een tijdje over, ik vertelde over mijn speechcoach en zei vond dat die het helemaal fout had gedaan: "Speechen is theater voor de geest, jouw coach wil de mensen in slaap wiegen". De Award ging naar een ander genomineerde, maar ik had de hoofdprijs; contact met een geweldige speechcoach. Yolanthe heeft me geholpen met mijn eerste echte TED-talk. Ik zie me nog staan op het terras tussen de niets vermoedende terrasgangers en op het strand bij Schevingen waarbij ze steeds verder weg ging staan: "Ik moet je hier kunnen horen, je emoties kunnen voelen".
Het is een een beetje cru om te ontdekken dat juist op de dag dat ik weer in den Haag was om in het World Forum te spreken, jij op die dag bent overleden.

Yolathe ik zal je altijd dankbaar blijven voor je tips en je warme persoonlijkheid, elke keer als ik spreek zal er ook een stukje van jou op het podium staan.

Liefs en dankbaar je even gekend te hebben,
Peter

Wij kennen Yolanthe als een spitsvondig en kleurrijke vrouw. Yolanthe heeft veel voor onze organisatie betekend. In 2011 heeft zij tijdens onze mensenrechten cyclus in de ATTwerkgroep met het thema gender relaties en vrouwenhandel voor veel kleur en humor gezorgd. Ook heeft Yolanthe met verve de ATT deelnemers die op zoek waren naar werk ondersteund, op weg naar ons ATT Diversiteit Congres toe, met hun sollicitatie presentatie. Yolanthe heeft altijd graag met ons mee willen denken bij de invulling van onze ATT programma’s.

Kort voor mijn vertrek naar Japan hebben Marja van Starrenburg en ik op 20 maart onze laatste lente lunch met Yolanthe met veel plezier kunnen delen. Yolanthe was erg geïnteresseerd in de vorderingen van WINWIDE en keek met enthousiasme uit om zich weer volledig voor de expats en ons festival in te zetten. Dit wetende is zo intens triest en niet te bevatten! Hoe fragiel kan een leven zijn…

Bedankt lieve Yolanthe voor je maatschappelijk inzet. Wij wensen je allen een mooi, zachte reis toe. Sandra namens al je WINWIDE en ATT-collega’s.

I’m so grateful for the wonderful memories I have of Yolanthe from the many years she and I spent together in her beloved Hoboken as friends and neighbors. The one that I keep coming back to in these difficult days is of her standing tall and straight and steady in tree pose during the yoga classes she held in her home. “Hold the posture,” she liked to say, in a soothing but firm voice. Hold the posture in yoga and in life. . . . She taught me many other lessons--to appreciate the moment, the quotidian that she revealed to be extraordinary; how to begin again, to listen to that voice inside and trust it, to be more open to people and to all that the world has to offer. . . .so much. This morning, I went to Castle Point, a favorite spot of hers in town, to watch the sunrise over the NYC skyline in her honor and to represent her life here and her many Hoboken friends who have moved elsewhere. Goodbye, Yolanthe. I’m sure your bright, bold spirit is lighting up the heavens, but the world is a dimmer and duller place in your absence.

inspiration |ˌinspəˈrāSHən|
1 the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, esp. to do something creative
• a person or thing that stimulates in this way: she is an inspiration to everyone.
• a sudden brilliant, creative, or timely idea
• a divine influence
2 the drawing in of breath; inhalation.


I met Yolanthe at Kripalu in Lenox Mass in 1985.
I was living in NYC at the time and needed to move out. Yolanthe suggested Hoboken and sure enough, I ended up in an apartment directly across the street from her!
We were instant friends, bosom buddies and since then she was to me, Yoli from Hoboli.

We’d go to Secret Ingredient every day for a muffin and listen to Gabe sing from behind the counter “I love you more to day than yesterday” while we amused ourselves making up stories about the regulars and gloating that they were dressed for work and we, in our yoga pants, were freelance…(or unemployed). But no matter, we had each other for support.

She was industrious and inventive, thinking of new ways to support herself.

And I’d be there editing all her pamphlets each time she’d have a new business idea, from Yoga Instructor, to Smoking Cessation, to Life Coach. To gum ball machines! We even made a marketing video of her unique “Post Yoga”, yoga postures performed against a split rail fence up at Castle Point. We were certain it would be the next big thing at NYC gyms!
(I still think it could be)

I vividly remember visiting her one summer in Nantucket when she was a housekeeper for the wealthy “Mr. G”. She gave me a crisp white apron and taught me how to make use of a folded dust cloth. Yolanthe, cleaning! She managed this spectacular seaside mansion, biked around the dunes on her days off and lived in a charming little cottage that had a small deck, and lots of fresh cut flowers. Oh, yeah, and Dennis, the cook she LOVED to hate.

Yoli was NEVER bored or boring. She brought life to everything she did and to everyone she met. From her sumptuous, boisterous dinner parties, to her sidewalk ‘yard’ sales, to her colorful attire. Even in her quiet, contemplative moments, reading, surfing the net, looking through old photos, or just stroking her cats (Molly and Dolly) she was fully Yolanthe.

Fiercely independent, adventurous, pixie-ish. A great cook, a great storyteller, a great teacher and an inspiration…

“Inhale. Hold It. Now exhale with a big “HAAAAAAAaaaaa!”

That was my Yoli. Much love to you Yoli. You are in my heart. Thank you for your friendship, your love and your inspiration. My love and sympathy to all her family and friends here in her beloved United States and in The Netherlands.

I am so very sad to learn of Yolanthe's untimely death. Whenever I think of Yolanthe, which I do quite a bit, I think of her delightful straightforwardness, her full engagement with the world around her, her genuine curiosity, her witty sense of humor and conspiratorial sense of fun. I can hear her now, taking in a wondrous lungful of breath and "hhhaaaa-ing" it out in sheer joy, contentment, affirmation that the universe really is an amazing place. My husband Kim and I first met her in Hoboken. She was our yoga teacher, and we loved her from the get-go. We went on to hang out with her in Hoboken/Jersey City, the Berkshires, our house in Concord, and her wonderful familial apartment in the Hague. I so admire her stylish twirl through life, her maternal warmth, deeply engaged in her pursuits, so enterprising! Whatever came her way, she always moved forward with positive energy. Goodbye dearest Yolanthe! xox

Yoga came into my life by way of Yolantha, as did laughter, lightness and wisdom

So shocked and saddened at this news. I was recently in touch with Yolanthe through Linked In, congratulating her on the latest of her many adventures as speaker, coach and teacher. To her goes the credit for inspiring me to become a yoga teacher. Her outdoor yoga classes at Castle Point in Hoboken, the many picnics on the grass and in her unique living space, her generosity, kindness and abiding sense of humor and mischief will ever be with me. She was teacher, mentor, and dear friend, and her light will be greatly missed.

Like so many others today, I am shocked to think that my vibrant friend Yolanthe is no longer among us (physically). Today I feel her spirit in everyone's remembrances, including my own. The last time I heard from her was right after the bombings in Boston, two weeks ago. She was writing to check in, maintaining a connection with me that spanned nearly 20 years and began when Yoli became my very first Kripalu yoga teacher in Hoboken, NJ. I became a regular student of her classes, then a good friend. Yoli was so gifted at creating fun and community - she had picnics and dinner parties and gatherings galore with her students, friends, and fellow ex-pats. She took to the streets and sidewalks with her roller blades and, once, during a snowstorm, with her cross-country skis. Yolanthe spent a Christmas with me and my family on Cape Cod, and she later hosted me in Holland when I came over to visit. I vividly recall hanging out at her beloved beach club and touring the Hague during my visit. Yolanthe Smit lived life full-on as a teacher, friend, traveler, adventurer, artist, public speaker and creative, original thinker. Rest in peace, Yoli, and keep shaking thing up, wherever you are! I love you and appreciate your love and friendship over the years.

Yolanthe and I met as colleagues at an Internet start-up in New York 13 years ago. We had since become great friends. She and I hit it off right away. There was something very special about this flamboyant and colorful lady! I immediately felt happy in her presence. I love her strong and vibrant personality and youthful outlook. Her energy and humor were infectious. Her dry wit and chutzpah were inspiring. Her eccentricity made her stand out from the crowd, and I admire her boldness in always speaking her mind without fear.

Despite our age differences, we communicated like peers, like sisters, sharing our joys and struggles. While she made a transition back to Holland, I stayed in her Hoboken apartment and took care of her cats Dollie and Mollie, falling in love with them. I felt her strong presence in the beautiful apartment she had lived in for most of her time in the States. Her eclectic collection of books and decorations showed what a curious and open-minded person she was. She had a huge circle of friends and I was always amazed at how how she charmed everyone around her in a very sincere and powerful manner.

During our transition to Europe from the States, we supported each other through emails and shared our every lives through Fotolog and blogs. Yolanthe was prolific in her photo-taking and writing. She was very much at the forefront of adopting new technology and new trends. I had a hard time catching up with her! And at retirement, she did not slow down but instead, determined to live a meaningful third quarter of her life, putting her passion into organizing TED events, English coaching, traveling, exploring and enjoying great music such as the operas of Wagner.

The last time we met was in The Hague, 2004. I have so many fond memories of her--our strolls on the beach, at her childhood quarter, in her neighborhood, in Chinatown. We shared so much good time and laughter. Our friendship transcends age and it will continue after she passed on.

Yolanthe, I can't believe you have left us so suddenly! I miss the twinkle in your eyes, your wicked smile and assertive voice. I miss you sorely. But I trust that you are having a hell of a good time wherever you are, coz I have confidence that whatever you do, you enjoy it to the fullest! Be well, and see you on the other side later!

Yolanthe was a sparkling presence, and she will be missed.