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.
Hey Soph,
Being at your memorial yesterday was so surreal. There was so much love in that room. I cried. I laughed. I felt hollow. I felt full. I felt amazed. I felt sad. But most of all I felt lucky that you were a part of my life and I felt proud of everything you accomplished in such a short time.
All the Bellwether girls sat together and it was so strange… It was as if you were supposed to be there with us. You were like an older sister and mentor to all of us and as we looked at the slideshow we came to the conclusion that we all went through extremely awkward stages except you.. You were always full of poise, grace and beauty. Remember my Harry potteresque glasses? (like why..) thanks for still being my best friend in those days.
Even at age 10 you had such talent and vision. You always had such a passion for making movies. I’ll never forget running around in your backyard and you making us blow bubbles cause it looked cool on camera. And then watching you edit everything. You were always so artsy and we all wanted to be like you, especially me.
Every Wednesday my Dad and I would come over for satsang and you and I would hang out in your basement playing with American Girl Dolls or watching Friends (which was entirely inappropriate for our age for sure) I remember watching the series finale with you and being so sad it was over, thinking it was the end of the world. I feel so honored that you invited me to your ashram one weekend. That’s something I’ll cherish forever and always remember.
It always cracked me up how many times you legally changed the spelling of your name. You’ll always be Sofi with an F to me…
Sophie means wisdom and throughout the memorial crows were flying by the windows. At the end, someone stood up and said that crows are the wisest of all birds. I know you were there watching over us, flying as free as those birds.
Thank you Sophie for being my friend, my big sister, my director, my co-anchor and most of all just for being you. Thank you for a million memories and when I think of my childhood memories every single one involves you in some way. Thank you for being a part of my life.
It’s impossible to accept that you’re gone but I know that you’re in a beautiful, peaceful place watching over all of us always.
I love you Sophia Lorraine and you’ll live in our hearts forever.
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, your 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….
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 she 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.
Sophie, honey…
You grew into such a BEAUTY FULL young lady! I feel so blessed to have known you – to meet you when you were just wee when I worked with your dad at MBF for a bit – and then to watch you grow up as I became an integral part of TBS – so so lovely you are. And obviously so so loved are you also! My heart is full thinking of you, my smile warm – Godspeed.
I have been trying to find words to express how I am feeling about your loss. Words have been failing me. Seeing you both last night was wonderful. You are carrying yourselves with such strength and dignity. To attend a memorial to Sophie, who I am sorry to say I did not know very well, made me feel a lot closer to her and helped me to understand the kind of person she was. Every parent hopes and dreams that their children will grow up to not only be productive members of society but to SHINE. Sophie shined! She had such depth, character, talent and love within her. Everyone who came in contact with her knew this. Isn’t that the most important thing? She made her mark in her too short life. An indelible mark that will never be erased. There is no understanding or comprehension of the why. Instead there is understanding and comprehension of what her purpose was while she was here.
I leave you with words from the James Taylor song Secret O’ Life that some how reminds me of Sophie:
The secret of is enjoying the passage of time Any fool can do it There ain’t nothing to it Nobody knows how we got to The top of the hill But since we’re on our way down We might as well enjoy the ride
The secret of love is in opening up your heart It’s ok to feel afraid But don’t let that stand in your way ‘Cause anyone knows that love is the only road And since we’re only here for a while Might as well show some style Give us a smile
Isn’t it a lovely ride
Sliding down
Gliding down
Try not to try too hard
It’s just a lovely ride
Now the thing about time is that time
Isn’t really real
It’s just your point of view
How does it feel for you
Einstein said he could never understand it all Planets spinning through space The smile upon your face Welcome to the human race Some kind of lovely ride Sliding down Gliding down Try not to try too hard It’s just a lovely ride
The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time…
My thoughts and love are with you
Hey Soph,
Thanks for visiting Mackie and I last night in my dream. We were in a train station – in Europe I’m assuming – and I just saw you from and ran to you and hugged you until I woke up. Mackie was saying how she had just had lunch with you, like you’d never left. I wish it was real. I miss you so much Soph. Love you forever.
From afar***
Hi Sophie 😉 I remember we would use our name in every single text or message we sent each other. It was our thing. And I’m blessed and proud to say that we connected on so many other things, too. It’s funny because I only got to know you for about a year, but we quickly got close, and in such a great way. Everyone I’ve spoken to who knew you has emphasized one thing: there was something so genuine about you. It was so admirable, and it manifested itself in the small things and the big things you did. Soph, it doesn’t feel real to have lost you and we all miss you so much. But your spirit is too strong and too vibrant to fade away. I know you will be with us forever. Love you Soph – you always had the best shoes!
Sophie never believed in writer’s block. We always talked about how if you just started writing, let it all out and kept on going, eventually non-sense would turn into sense. On the day my heart broke, and we all lost this beautiful girl, I didn’t know what to do with myself. None of us did. So I did what I knew Sophie would tell me to do, and I started writing. I just wish she was here to edit it with me.
Here’s what I wrote:
The beauty. Fast asleep next to her best friend. So fast, so young. The life behind her beautiful eyes. Soft skin, and fragile hands. Sitting next to you, sitting with you, for hours. Talking in circles, dreaming of dissonance. Living recklessly and safely with one another at the same time. Dreams of the future, someday living together. What she was doing, what she was going to do, stayed at my apartment this summer, cuddled in my bed, made coffee in my kitchen, wrote at my desk. She left some objects behind. Some of them I wondered if I wanted to give back, or if she wanted them back at all. We shared these things, these spaces, these habits, the same anxieties we shared and coped. And I always called her when I was in need because I knew she’d understand. She always would. She would drop everything in a heartbeat for any one of us if we truly needed her. And I need her. I need you Sophie. Stay with me. Stay in my hand, my mind, my laugh and cry, every line that I write. Your dreams, your dreams. Live them through me. Watch Sophie, I will try my best to carry your dreams for you – the dreams that were so fleeting, but so bright.
Beautiful Celeste… Simply beautiful…
This brings joy to my heart & tears to my eyes. Thank you Celeste <3
So intensely exquisite. Thank you. Love, (the other) Celeste.
I did not know Sophie. I saw her video on Facebook, posted by Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros. I watched the video, and was instantly mesmerized by her beauty and spirituality. I can’t stop thinking about her, and I don’t even know her. If she touched my heart this easily through a video, I can’t even imagine how amazing she was in person. I am so sorry for your loss. Her beauty and spirit will live on through her art she leaves behind.
How can someone have been so beautiful (in all possible ways)?
Rest in peace, Sophia.
Brazil
Hello, my name is juliemy’m from sao paulo, Brazil. so I would say that she could touch the heart of all of us and it is today as an inspiration to my life, know that your story today is known throughout the world and that all carry the love of her gaze.
sorry my bad english….
with love
j.
Missing you a lot Soph. I wish you could tell me all about your after life. Love you forever.
Sophie,
I didn’t get to know you the way so many of our Prague friends did, but the encounters I did have with you are all special in some way. I still think about you often, especially lately. I’ve written lyrics about it, and sometimes I just talk to Wali (who loves to talk about you), but this time I felt like I could write something here.
You really could not have imagined how you changed the lives of the people you knew, they all love you so much.