Obituary
As the Istanbul office, we remember Dr. Antonie Nord, head of the Heinrich Böll Stiftung’s Department for International Cooperation, who passed away in mid-May, and the two days we spent with her.
Dr. Antonie Nord, head of the Heinrich Böll Stiftung’s Department for International Cooperation, passed away on May 18 after a long illness.
Shortly after Antonie took over as head of the Department for International Cooperation, the Covid-19 pandemic began. For a long time, it was not possible to meet in person. But finally, between June 20 and 22, 2022, Antonie came to Istanbul.
The visit felt like the beginning of a return to normal life after the pandemic. She was accompanied by Jan Philipp Albrecht, the newly appointed co-president of the Heinrich Böll Stiftung.
This, of course, was no coincidence. The Heinrich Böll Stiftung had long supported Turkey’s full EU membership, advocated for the rights of people of Turkish origin in Europe, and backed democratization efforts. As of 2022, Turkey was going through difficult times due to inflation and anti-democratic practices. There was a fateful general election on the horizon. Nevertheless, expectations for the future were far from pessimistic.
She met our team and quickly bonded with everyone. We had a group dinner in Balat. Even though, as the then-director of the Istanbul office Kristian Brakel put it, our feet were covered in blisters from a “miscalculated walking distance,” the weather was beautiful. They were days of new beginnings and hopeful feelings.
During the two days she spent in Istanbul, Antonie did not hesitate to rush from one neighborhood to another to visit all of our local project partners. She met everyone one by one and listened to everyone individually.
We also took a boat trip on the Bosphorus together with all our project partners. That same day, the Pride March had been banned. On the boat, with rainbow flags, we managed to hold our own small celebration.
Antonie carried this determined spirit into her illness. She fought until the very end and remained active to the last moment.
We have lost not just a colleague, but also a decisive feminist who championed gender equality in every aspect of life, a patient listener and keen observer, a witty and sharp intellect, a warm and generous friend, and a humble and constructive leader.
As we offer our condolences to her family and loved ones, we also want to say that we will always carry in our hearts not only those two days in Istanbul with Antonie, but also the legacy she left behind.
Farewell, Antonie. We miss you.