Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation notes with great sadness the death of the singular champion of nonprofits everywhere Simone Joyaux this past Sunday.
In a relationship spanning nearly two decades, Simone and the foundation partnered to build the capacity of organizations around our region. In her inimitable way, she helped BTCF grow as a resource for nonprofits and nonprofits adopt best practices and become more effective.
The programs she led were time-intensive and rigorous. She had exacting standards and delivered “the body of knowledge,” as she would say, to guide staff and board members to think differently and aspire higher for their organizations.
Her personality filled rooms, matched only by the depth of her knowledge and her limitless curiosity. She stayed accessible to the people she trained long after their time together ended, keeping in touch and mentoring with great generosity. Funny and fun, she mastered the art of building and sustaining relationships and set a gold standard for others to follow.
You can read tributes to Simone from the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Nonprofit Times, and contribute your own on this page.
We will sorely miss Simone—and her infectious energy, commitment and compassion. Our thoughts are with her life partner, Tom Ahern, and her family and friends around the world.