Please send your remembrances of Heather to memoriesofheather@holm.es, or submit through the form below, and we will feature some of your thoughts and memories here on this site.
“every time we think back to some memory of hanging out, we realize something. There isn't one specific instance or memory of Heather that pops to mind. Rather it is every instance that pops to mind. Plain and simple, everything about her was delightful…
In every social setting we can remember, she was always naturally social glue for every situation. What I mean is that she had this uncanny ability to make everyone feel comfortable. She always managed to pull everyone into the conversation. Her infectious laughter made us want to laugh even harder…That was Heather always, and we'll never forget it.”
- Anit and Poojah Chakraborty
“I met Heather through her love of horses. Heather was so special, kind and so generous. I will never forget her generosity. She adored her horse Rio and I remember all the hours she spent with him. Heather wanted Addie to experience horses, I remember the special way she had teaching Addie. I will miss her friendship, her special smile and laugh.”
- Linda Bushnell
“It has been uplifting to read the tributes to Heather, all of them speaking so truly. She was always only comfortable to be with, from the time of first meeting her in Seattle right through to our visit at the end of July, when she was experiencing a last period of some stability and energy. We are grateful for that final time together before the end descended so suddenly.
I could share any number of memories, but I will choose just one which I think is characteristic. Out at dinner in Manhattan once, I ordered lamb, and of course we always talked about the food, so I remarked that lamb is a favorite of mine, but that I seldom get it. On our next visit, when we were having dinner with them at home and Heather was cooking, she said she had a surprise. Well, it was an absolutely perfect rack of lamb, prepared exactly as I like it, because we had discussed that too of course. She remembered, and she acted on it.
The space Heather leaves with her absence will be enormous, but it will not be empty. Telling the stories will keep the memories present, and they will be sustaining. I will tell Addie, “You don’t remember the time your mom bathed you in the bucket on the balcony in Maine, but it involved a lot of splashing. We all smiled and laughed, especially your mom. And see, here is the picture. We can feel what it was like again, now.”
- John Holmes Sr.
“I met Heather many many years ago when she came into my Yoga studio on the Lower East side. She was quiet and a bit shy, but her beautiful Yoga practice caught my eye early on. As we got to know each other as student and teacher, I grew more and more fond of her. She was a dedicated Yogi who joined me on many of my Yoga retreats to Mexico. I loved when Heather was there because I knew her kindness and thoughtful manner would be a great asset to the group. During the day she was the “quiet one” sitting off from the group reading her book... But once we all gathered for dinner and drinks, Heather was right there with us sharing her insights and great sense of humor…
She was so much fun and what a great laugh! She was so smart and quick witted, loved food and art and had such a lust for life - it was infectious!”
- Mel Russo
“….Heather and I took a long drive out to a barn to visit her horse, just the two of us….Three minutes into the drive, I fell in love with my sister-in-law. She was genuine and funny… We talked about our goals and philosophies regarding parenting and children. Despite all her protestations, she'd done a lot of thinking about her future children, and her love for them was already palpable.”
-Jill Lyon Ferguson
“Heather was the daughter-in-law every Mother-in law dreams about welcoming into their family. She was not only a daughter-in-law but more like a daughter to us. She was such a sweet girl with such a great "chuckle" of a laugh. We were truly blessed to have had her in our family. We thank her for all the beautiful moments she gave us, the two amazing children she blessed us with, the wonderful times we shared together but most of all we know she cherished our son and her relationship with him most of all…
Our heart is truly broken at her loss, but she will forever be adored by us for all the happiness she brought into our lives. As you know Heather loved to drink champagne! So please join me with A Toast To Heather. Heather, we all love you darling, thank you for sharing your Wonderful Life with us! We will keep you in our Hearts Forever!”
— Ronee Holmes
“I remember the way she felt—a trusty anchor through joy, sorrow, inquiry, and play. So. much. PLAY. Heather went toe to toe with every fleeting second and would invite you into her world with a raised eyebrow and an impish smile. To her, everything had its place and could be understood (or, at times, unraveled) through the right lens and with the right questions…
She was tender and honest, unafraid of life’s complexities, and able to cultivate amusement in the dreariest of places. She was laughter, softness, apple picking, and soul searching, topped off with a healthy dose of wit.”
— Trystin Sova
“Heather was not only a great cook but also a great hostess… Both of her homes were so cozy and we always felt so welcome… I loved the way she laughed, throwing her head back. Her bubbliness was infectious! She loved beautiful high heels. She was always thinking of others. We will miss her always.”
— Laura Schubert
“I met John when he was 5 years old. As his step father I watched him grow and mature into manhood. Ronee and I were always concerned, as all parents are, would John be all right and safe. Would he find someone to share life with who would understand him, love him, protect him and be by his side through thick and thin. John hit a home run when he found Heather. It was love from the start. She was exactly what we could hope for. They were madly in love, spending every free minute together. She was a great mate, supportive, loving, caring, dedicated and most important a good friend to share the highs and lows of life. Oh, did I mention her cooking skills, over the top. She had a very infectious laugh, you couldn’t help but laugh along with her. Then Adeline arrived. This is when their relationship truly matured. How could two people in love become more in love? It happened and you could feel the love and positive energy between them. Heather loved John and she loved Motherhood so much they had a second child, Christopher. Heather shined a bright light on all who came in contact with her. That light has dimmed, but it will never go out. Heather I hope you never forget us, because we will never forget you.”
— John Stern
“The memory of Heather that captures the most about who she was to me was on a visit to NYC when Addie was about 2 or 3, and starting to transition to those bigger-kid emotions. After dinner one night she had a complete meltdown, crying and running around the apartment, but she kept circling back to Heather, who was sitting on the floor with her arms open, just creating a safe and loving space for Addie to have her feelings. After Addie went to bed, I told Heather I was so impressed by how well she had handled that, and she said it had never happened before, and they were just learning as they went along together. That was when I really knew what an amazing mom Heather was. Addie and Kit are so lucky she is theirs. “
- Isabel Sachs
“Lover of art, and design and fashion. She loved the pops of colour, whimsical, floral, sometimes a little off-beat and like you never knew how pieces could fit together or where they were from. but it worked. mixing old with new, traditional with modern… She was an amazing cook. She taught me so much and shared so much of her love of cooking and food with others… I love to see her dance around in the kitchen as she cooked, sprinkling something here, and stirring something there. It's hard to capture why she was so special to so many people in her life. For me, she was one of the strongest and smartest people I knew. She had strong opinions, but she never treated anyone in a condescending way. She was the kindest and most generous person. She was the consummate host, the perfect most considerate host. Every detail thought out… She was the most considerate friend, she listened and made you feel so special.
Her laugh was the most contagious thing in the room. The thing I think I'll miss most. It's the biggest cackle coming out of this little person. And it made you feel like all the joy in the world was captured in it and nothing can stop it. Everyone wanted to make her laugh…
Her two biggest accomplishments in my eyes are her two children. They are kind, insightful, inquisitive, funny, super smart, and wonderful little human beings with the biggest hearts. True testaments to how her and her husband so intentionally raised them.”
- Priscilla Yip
“Heather was a force. Magnetic. When she was in the room, that was where you wanted to be. She was the perfect, extraordinary combination of relaxed, silly, unflappable elegance. Trying to remember her, it's almost like I can only picture her gliding. And laughing - anyone who knew Heather I'm sure can still hear her laugh… When Heather laughed at your joke, you felt special. When she invited you to dinner, you said yes. When she was at a work event, it felt like a party. She was classy and fun, strong and persistent, generous and kind. I will miss her forever.”
— Lily Bellow
Send A Remembrance
If you have a thought, a story, or a memory to share, you can submit through the form below. If you’d also like to include a photo or video, please email directly to: memoriesofheather@holm.es