Our beloved Sophie left this earth on November 8, 2013. Her loving light surrounds us and can be found in the space of your heart, always. We invite all those who knew and loved her to share thoughts and memories on this memorial website. We also invite you to watch a beautiful film she made, set to the song “All Wash Out.” Please watch this wonderful gift she gave to us, and leave a message in the space below.
Jack and Cait..
I have nothing so profound to say, but you’ve been on my mind and in my heart since I heard the news of your beautiful Sophie. When we last saw each other at Marion and Shel’s party, I left feeling especially happy to have seen you. I have wonderful memories of being together when we were little which makes me feel even sadder that I never had the privilege of knowing Sophie very well. I’ve watched her video again and again and it is amazing! She certainly seemed to have made the best of her short life. It looks like she brought spirit and light to everyone. I wish you peace as you try to understand this all. Sometimes there are no answers. I love you both!
Robin
Dear Sophie,You will be forever in our hearts.We will be seeing you again..Until then
rest well.Dear sweet spirit.
God speed Sophie.
Uncle Barn
Soph,
I have always loved looking up to the stars, it is one of the reasons why I always wanted to go to space –I want to see what the stars see. Each night when I look to the stars, I see you and I smile. You are, as Karel (the man who took us clubbing in Moravia) said, “in the Great Beyond.”
I still cannot seem to find the words to properly thank you for all that you have given to me. Just know that I love you. I will always love you.
beloved friends, I am beyond words, unable to write through tears, what a terrible sadness and loss for you, all of us. This beautiful light; what is the world without her?
Sophie’s light was young and did not spread far, but when it went out the world was darker.
We feel exactly the same! I hope Sophie and Lorraine are watching over us!!
Sophie’s film is such a gift to all of us. I feel connected, through Cait, as we painted at Oakledge Park in Burlington, VT together, which looks like one of the spots where Sophie filmed in the rain. When we painted at Oakledge, it wasn’t raining, but we were surrounded by water and were all inspired by it, all interested in how we might portray those lovely gentle waves on our canvas and paper. My daughter was with us as well, and we all enjoyed learning from one another as we created. We all used different mediums, but came together to capture that moment, and here Sophie has captured it in yet another medium that will live on beyond her to touch others. Like ripples in the water, it will go out and out to the world, in gentleness and beauty, allowing us all to cry, and allowing the tears to be washed away, and inspiring us all to use our creative gifts to bless others.
Soph,
A day hasn’t gone by thus far where I haven’t thought about you. It is still just so hard living on this floor right across the hall where you were. Its just like people say: grief comes in waves.
You’ve given me so many things that I’ll always be thankful to you for. You brought me so close to people I never thought I would be friends with. You made me realize how much I should not worry about the little things in life, but instead enjoy everything while I can. And finally, you helped me realize my own weaknesses and inner demons, and gave me the strength to work on them.
I’ll always think of you as the girl that held me in Budapest when I got a little too drunk while talking politics and started sobbing for no reason. You just accepted me and that’s the best thing anyone could ever ask for from a friend.
I hope you know how much you have forever effected my life. I’ll never forget you and will always love you.
Soph, you are truly the greatest person I have ever known. I try every day to be more like you. You have made me a better person, and in your absence you continue to. You are the most genuine, kind soul and you had an uncanny ability to make everyone around you feel loved and at ease. You were always my greatest advocate, and continue to be my greatest inspiration. You pursued your love of film without hesitation, always remaining open to others about your art.
Whenever I feel too far from you, it may be crazy, but I look at my veins. I know that somewhere in there our shared blood pulses through me. I remember our late night talks on your fire escape, our wine nights, and our city explorations walking arm-in-arm. I wish more than anything there could be more of those days and nights. Life didn’t allow us that luxury, and so I treasure every moment I was able to spend with you.
I think of you constantly. Every time I pass your old apartment, enter Tisch, hear a song we both loved, or just when I wish I could tell you something. There are so many things I wish I could tell you. It seems cruel that you were taken so soon. I try to imagine you as still living your dream in Prague, and that one day you’ll come back with your life’s work, all on 35mm film.
Living a life without you seems impossible. The most difficult thing to accept is that the rest of the world is missing out on you. To me, New York City will always be a monument to you— your kindness, talent, drive, love, grace, intelligence, beauty, and charm. You are an inspiration to us all, and the world is a little less bright without you here.
I love you dearly cous, and hope to be reunited with you one day. The sky, the largest screen of them all, is yours now.
Sweet Sophia,
My heart is broken. I’ve watched videos of you and grandma Lorraine many times since you have been taken from us! I’m sorry that the last time I saw you that you were only a little girl. You were a bright light even as a young girl! You will always be missed. Your cousin Sara who is 9 now says she sees you in every rainbow…she says she knows she is safe when she stands under your colors….I think we both know her new favorite song …we love you so much!!! We will miss you everyday xxoo
Dear Sophie…I only knew you for what seemed like a few moments, however…in those moments, you clearly lived a life of graciousness, showed a passion for your pursuits and extended love to the people closest to you that truly knew they were loved, by you. I am a better person for knowing you, even for just a few moments. You will forever remain in the hearts and souls of the people who loved and respected you. Here’s to you, Sophie…
Sophie,
Beautiful girl, so full of grace and light. The last time I saw you was on the street in Burlington, you ran up and gave me a hug, because that’s who you are. You told me about how excited you were to begin taking a film class here in Burlington – because of your dream to be creative and your inclination with film.
Last night, all of my dreams were about you, they were like your films, bright, beautiful, joyous and thought provoking. It made me feel so honored to see you in the dream world and to be able to watch your films, as if to be really clear that your energy and you light and your gifts will always persist. It is a complete and wonderful honor to have known you Sophie, and I am grateful for you, and your gentle, inspired way.
Here is a poem by Rilke which you may or may not like – because you lived so gracefully and deliberately, but here it is anyway….
(Also, I changed the masculine to the feminine)
The Swan
This clumsy living that moves lumbering
as if in ropes through what is not done
reminds us of the awkward way the swan walks.
And to die, which is a letting go
of the ground we stand on and cling to every day,
is like the swan when he nervously lets herself down
into the water, which receives her gaily
and which flows joyfully under
and after her, wave after wave,
while the swan, unmoving and marvelously calm,
is pleased to be carried, each minute more fully grown,
more like a queen, composed, farther and farther on.
I only knew Sophia for a short time. But every interaction left an imprint. It was clear she was one of the good ones. Life blooms and fades and we become callous to it to protect ourselves, but there was something about Sophia that hit my core. A mix of talent, kindness, and beauty that makes thinking of her passing hard to bear. I probably did not know her well enough to feel this way, but she was special. And while the unfairness that such a special person was taken so early makes it hard to breathe, the knowledge that we live in a world where she had the the chance to exist gives the next breath meaning.
I’m so sorry for your loss, I’m sorry that someone so young and full of potential was taken too soon. But I’m grateful for the gift you received, that you were able to create such a wonderful person, who left an impact to last a lifetime in no time at all.
This young woman whom I did not know has such a superior beauty and wisdom about her that it makes me think that she is just where she is supposed to be. I am feeling blessed to share in her life and film. It touched me deeply and has left an imprint on me. blessings to her family.
Dear Sophie Lorraine Nitya,
We do not know why you had to leave so soon.
Only God and you know that.
Without a doubt, you are the Light!
Your video is a gift. Well done, goddess Nitya!
I shared it with and Siddha Yoga friend of mine and this is what she had to say:
” ( the video) captures her innocence, her beauty, her spiritual understanding, her joy, her bliss. An adventurer, model, nature lover, dancer, wise yogini, artist, free spirit, mystic…”
Love you, dear One!
Nandadevi~Jeanne
Hi kiddo,
You are my very first memory of VT. I remember you giving me the biggest first-hug I’d ever gotten, and knowing right then and there that everything in VT would be OK. Little did I know how quickly and how much I’d come to love you. It didn’t take long until we’d just go along with it, when people asked if we were sisters. And that’s how I’ll always think of you. I could have never wished for a sweeter, more caring little sister to share my year in Vermont with.
I knew you were bound for greatness, Soph.
with your mind, heart and arms wide open you took on the world.
always sparkling – even during difficult times. shining your contagious smile. Now, I see you glowing in the stars. In the first snow this year. Everywhere. You’ve changed shape, but live on.
The meaninglessness of your death is consoled, a little bit, by how much meaning you brought to life. Your own and those around you. I rejoice in thinking about how much light and love you spread during your life. You planted so many seeds all around you, which will continue to grow and blossom, forevermore.
The room radiated with love yesterday at your memorial service. I think everyone will find strength in the courage your parents showed.
If only love could have saved you – you never would have left us.
I feel overwhelmed by how blessed I was to get to know you, Sophie. You have forever changed me. There will forever be a Sophie-shaped hole in my heart. And in the world. But – the perfect remains.
Thank you for every-single-thing, Soph.
ཨོཾ་མ་ནི་པདྨ་ཧཱུྃ