Lottie Tobias became a Baha'i in 1950 when there were only a
few dozen believers in Netherlands. She was elected to the first Local
Spiritual Assembly of Den Haag in 1952, and in 1957 was elected a member of the
first Spiritual Assembly of the Benelux countries (Belgium, Netherlands,
Luxembourg), serving as secretary for the Netherlands. In 1962 she was elected
to the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the Netherlands, and
served on that body until 1986. For 24 years she was the secretary.
The National Spiritual Assembly, describing her as the "mother" of the Netherlands Baha'i community, pointed out in its eulogy that Lottie herself had always said the Baha'i community was her family. "She was interested in everyone and followed the progress of her friends' children -- they were her children and so it was very moving that she died in the arms of two of these, now very adult, children." On 25 July 2003 Lottie, 93, died while on her way home to Voorburg from a summer school held in De Poort. More than 350 mourners attended her funeral.
In a tribute, the Universal House of Justice said:
“Having served with distinction for more than two decades on
the National Spiritual Assembly of the Netherlands, as well as on the first
Spiritual Assembly of the Benelux countries, she will always be lovingly
remembered for her dedication to the progress of the Cause, the upbuilding of
its institutions and her tireless endeavors over many years to inspire and
encourage all the friends."
(Adapted from Baha’i World News Service)
