IIAV director joke blom died suddenly

Amsterdam, January 26th, 2004

Intensely shocked and surprised, the staff and board of the International Information Center and Archives for the Women's Movement (IIAV) would like you to know that our Director Joke Blom died early in the morning on Monday January 26th.. We are stunned at this huge and sudden loss. Joke will be buried this coming Saturday in her home town of Alkmaar.

Joke Blom (1957) was the Director of the IIAV for eight years. Less than two weeks ago she announced to a full gathering of IIAV staff that she would be leaving the IIAV to take a new step in her life. She would take up the post of Councillor for the City of Alkmaar on February 2nd, a new function that she welcomed with great ambition and energy.

Joke Blom came to the IIAV as interim-director in 1995. Half a year later, in December 1995, she accepted the position of Director. The IIAV had at that time come out of a large and difficult re-organisation and had only recently moved to the present location at the Gerardus Majellakerk in Amsterdam-East. The process had taken its toll on the organisation. Joke Blom was given the task of creating a peaceful working environment and to take the IIAV out into the world.

The IIAV grew rapidly under her direction. In 1996 it was one of the first organisations to have information available online. Now the entire collection can be searched online via www.iiav.nl. The establishment of the department of International Cooperation in 2000 has strengthened the international position of the IIAV. All in all, Joke Blom turned the IIAV into a modern knowledge and information centre and a financially healthy organisation.

We were preparing ourselves for the coming farewell and were saddened by it, but this saying goodbye in this way is unbearably heavy.

We wish her family and many friends courage and strength at this difficult time.

On behalf of the IIAV and the Board
Marjet Douze, Adjunct Director
Elske ter Veld, Chair

We appreciate it very much if you sign the book of condolence.