R.I.P Joyce Clyde
If you would like to write to Kazumi (Joyce’s husband), here is his mailing address.
Kazumi Nakazawa
1910 Ganges Ave.
El Cerrito, CA 94530
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two Tributes to Joyce Clyde
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EVENT # 1
“GATHERING of JOYCE’S TRIBE”
AUGUST 23, Sunday - 1:00pm to 7:30pm
WHAT: “GATHERING of JOYCE’S TRIBE” - a pre-event informal “open house”; come when you can, leave when you need to! For Family, Friends, Co-workers, Fellow Dancers & Musicians. A flowing spontaneity of community sharing, grieving and celebrating our dear friend Joyce Clyde. It will be what we make it. Bring stories, music, songs, poems, laughter. Spontaneous heartfelt dancing will be sure to happen. All welcome. Joyce’s sister, and their best childhood friend, “sister Suzie” are coming in the afternoon. Can’t attend the big JOYCE-FUL CELEBRATION? This is another chance to pay tribute to Joyce in community. (No Zoom options)
Please bring a potluck dish or treat to share.
WHERE: Toby & Fred’s Home, 1925 Hudson St., El Cerrito (One block from Joyce’s Home)
PLEASE RSVP if you are coming: toby4peace@sonic.net, Questions: 510-501-5412
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EVENT # 2
"A JOYCE-FUL CELEBRATION"
SEPTEMBER 27, Sunday - 2:00PM to 9:00PM
WHAT: A Big Splash of a Celebration of Life & Dance Party for Joyce Clyde!
A tribute to our joyful, generous, and forever kind and inclusive sister Joyce. To include a formal remembrance and sharing of her life, followed by lots of music and dancing, led by some of Joyce’s favorite bands. We will pay tribute to the beautiful being that Joyce was by dancing the evening away to the rhythms that unite us all. This event will be live-streamed, so all can “attend.” More details soon.
Please bring a "potluck finger food” – offering to share! Only vegetarian at Ashkenaz
Live Streaming
WHERE: ASHKENAZ: 1317 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley
2:00 PM Start 3:00 PM Celebration of Life 5 PM to 9 PM Music, Singing, Dancing
|
|
 |
Some of the ideas to include on this day from our start-up planning meeting - People sharing stories; Photographs; Live Music w/o sound checks; Recap of life during the ceremony, especially the surprises; Music at the beginning when people enter; One dance where everyone acknowledges each other; Singing and musical contributions throughout.
Right now we are looking for some of the manager/coordinator roles. See below for what roles are filled at this moment and what roles are needed.
Each Manager/coordinator will need assistants, so there will be ways to volunteer to help and make the day exceptional. Again, we will send out a call for assistants to the manager/coordinator roles within the week.
Roles
Manager/Coordinator Roles (filled)
Project Manager/coordinators– Sharon & Nancy
Master of Ceremonies – Ken
Stage/Facilities Manager - Ken
Tech – Adony’s team
Music – Nancy with Lise Lipman
Food – Linda and Natalie
Decorations – Toby – altar for Joyce
Family Liaison – Toby
Slide Show - Clayton (Helpers Cheryl, Ricki, Toby)
Recap of Life – short and long bios - Janice (Joyce’s sister0
Photographer - (will ask Elliot Kuner and Loui Tucker)
To be filled
Volunteer coordinator - Day of
Guest Book – Name tags
Paper program - design & printing
Program for the Ceremony – ? who will speak, who will sing, and when
Donation Manager/Budget
Invitations PR /distribution/design One page flyer?
Setup/Take Down
Facilities Manager
--
Sharon Anne Mulgrew
You can't go back
and change the Beginning,
But You can start where you are
and change the Ending C.S.Lewis
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Le 4 août 2026 à 13:58, Rachel MacFarlane <merakli@earthlink.net> a écrit :
Dear Community,
I’ve just been told by her good friend that our beloved community member, Joyce Clyde, died last night. I’m devastated by this news. Though she lived in the Bay Area, Joyce has been a friendly presence on both coasts—and I was looking forward to seeing her at the upcoming East Coast Balkan camp. She will be sorely missed.
Rachel M.
I, too, am very sad about the news of Joyce’s passing. So many fond memories of Joyce at so many different camps and folk dance venues. She was wonderful supporter of all that our community/communities have come to mean. She will truly be missed by so many of us. Thank you Joyce for that you shared with us. Peace be with you.
We are so sad to hear this news about Joyce’s passing. Sandy and I have many fond memories of hanging out, playing and dancing with Joyce at east coast EEFC camp and in Plovdiv and at Rose Valley camp.
We will very much miss her and the contributions her presence made to our entire Balkan camp community.
R.I.P.
Mike and Sandy
So sad to hear of her passing. I'll miss Joyce. She was such a pal in Gadulka class, and at the Plovdiv seminar in 2015. I could always count on her for a smile and a dance. Rest in peace.
On Wed, Aug 5, 2026 at 9:43 AM jaap leegwater <jaapleegwater13@gmail.com> wrote:
I am saddened by the loss of our beloved friend, dancer, musician and singer Joyce Clyde.
Thank you Joyce for your many years of presence and support in my Bulgarian dance classes, events and tours. You will be greatly missed by many of us who enjoyed knowing you and with whom you shared your passion for Balkan music and dance.
My condolences go out to her family, friends and loved ones.
❤️, Jaap
Oh no!! I am so very sorry to hear this news. She was such a bright presence - this is a shock. I'm sending my love and condolences to all of her friends and family.
Sarah
This is so sad for all of us. Joyce was a radiant presence. It always lifted my spirits to see her in further down the dance line, or to look out from the stage and see her dancing joyfully. I hope she knew how much we loved and valued her.
Condolences to her family – may her memory be a blessing.
Thanks Rachel for letting us know.
Mark
So sorry to hear the news. She was such a fixture of the camp experience. She'll be missed.
- George
On Tue, Aug 4, 2026 at 8:03 PM Beth Bahia Cohen <bethbahia@mac.com.dmarc.fail> wrote:
How can this be? Joyce, you will be missed by so many! It’s difficult to comprehend. Condolences to your husband. May you dance with the angels…
Very sorry to hear this sad news. Joyce often played gadulka at our live music events here in Santa Cruz. And kept the announcements timely and organized for the whole Bay Area community. She’ll be missed.😔
I also am very sad to hear this. Joyce was a cabin mate for me at Mendocino for many years in addition of course to being together on the dance floor at Mendo and many other events. I had not seen her in person for the last few years since pre covid days, only on Zoom, but had expected that some time soon, when I feel that I can travel to the US again, I would meet her on the dance floor. This is big loss to our community.
Erika
I will miss her. Playing music with her, dancing with her, her humor and especially her big hugs.
I am so, so sad to hear this - I was happy to see Joyce on Zoom from Stockton being her happy self and was looking forward to sharing a hug and the dance floor with her in person at Iroquois Springs. She will be missed by so many!
Henry
Joyce was such a warm, enthusiastic, happy person who contributed so much to our community.
We will miss her very much.
Linnea
I’m so sad…Joyce was a wonderful, caring person who loved Balkan music. - always friendly, happy to see you…such a lovely presence. She was also very encouraging of new dancers and musicians; Joyce freely lent her instruments to newcomers at Mendo Balkan Camp to encourage them to join the community. I will miss her…
May her memory be a blessing…
Jeff
Oh, our hearts are breaking. Joyce, your smile, your sense of humor, and your wonderful energy will be missed terribly. Rest in peace, dear friend.
Xo Judy
So sorry to
hear this terrible news. I always looked forward to seeing and talking
with her at events. She will be truly missed.
Cheryl
Oh, dear sweet,
kind, fun Joyce, camp friend for so many years! I’ll miss you!
Jerry Kisslinger
Percussion/Prose/Poetry
Our community is lucky to have had such a joyous person as Joyce amongst us. So positive and generous. Yes, we will miss her greatly.
She and I were both special education teachers in the East Bay, and it's clear that she brought that same happy enthusiasm, mixed with an incredibly dogged devotion to Getting Things Done, to her vocation as well as her avocation. Boy, did she have stories.
I'm glad to know that she was at West Coast Camp and Stockton this summer.
Lanita
I just spent 2 weeks at Stockton Folk Dance Camp dancing, singing, playing music, and hanging out with Joyce. I’m happy for that time with my amazing friend, and devastated that it was the last time.
holly
I am hugely sad to hear this. Our cabin won't be the same without her.
Lea Anne Kangas
Joyce was a wonderfully kind, friendly, and funny woman. It's sad she was unable to come to one more Balkan camp.
Matt S.
There will be an aching, empty space in the many dance lines, camps, and ensembles with which/whom Joyce shared her knowledge, joy, and sense of humor for many years to come.
May her memory be for a blessing, always
Susan CD
Oh my gosh, I’m so sad about this….
I will really miss her joyous dancing presence and big hugs…
Ari
…i think every dance floor will seem empty without her joyous loving presence. i’m so glad we had our usual fun connections at mendo. i’m so sad those were the last.
RIP indeed.
I danced with Joyce many times. She will be missed. RIP
I am stunned. Joyce was flying to NY for camp and we were driving up together as we have done for so many years. My car will seem empty.
Laura
Dear Community,
I’ve just been told by her good friend that our beloved community member, Joyce Clyde, died last night. I’m devastated by this news. Though she lived in the Bay Area, Joyce has been a friendly presence on both coasts—and I was looking forward to seeing her at the upcoming East Coast Balkan camp. She will be sorely missed.
Rachel M.
I am equally stunned and sorry to hear this! Paul, thank you for your post. Joyce was such a knowledgeable, smart and genuinely friendly fixture -- on the EEFC list, in person over the handful of Balkan Camps I made it to over the years, and on Zoom gatherings. I was truly glad to see her each time we reconnected. Her energy for life and art seemed boundless. My condolences to her friends and family. I will miss her presence.
Shelley
Hello EEFC Folks
I was stunned
to hear that Joyce Clyde had passed suddenly.
She had just been mentioned in the July/August 2026 edition of Let’s Dance
Magazine. Eighteen people had correctly identified Joyce as the previous
issue’s “Mystery Guest”, and there was a short article and nice photo thanking
her for maintaining the Bay Area Balkan/Bulgarian Music and Dance Newsletter.
We met at several Kolo Festivals many years ago. We did re-connect via email during the pandemic and more intensely last fall as we coordinated/shared publicity information for Bulgarika’s Midwest and West Coast Tours.
I will miss Joyce joining in on Zoom at our 3rd Saturday VDR “After-Parties” as she usually “accompanied” many of our guest musician hosts on her gadulka. Joyce registered for the DCFF on Zoom this summer, and I have visions of seeing her on screen as she joined up with our Balkan musicians playing her favorite kind of music.
Let us celebrate Joyce’s many valuable contributions to the IFC community and let us remember her fondly.
Paul Collins – Chicago, IL
It has been great to hear everyone's experiences with Joyce - so many connections I was unaware of. For me, it was delightful conversations on the bus up to East Coast camp, and years of her helping me with my cluelessness with dance, but mostly loving singing with her.
I went to visit Joyce's husband Kazumi yesterday, and he asked me to convey his gratitude for everyone's memories and friendship with Joyce. It touches him deeply.
I asked if he would like me to post his contact information, and he said he is not ready for that yet.
Kazumi cannot unlock Joyce's cell phone, but he does have access to her computer. He has been reading your messages here and on Joyce's BBMDE Google group. Kazumi also has access to Joyce's Facebook page but is unfamiliar with the interface. I showed him how to open the comments on the posts.
Kazumi also asked that you share any funny memories you have of Joyce. I will also print and compile them in a binder for him. If you copy me at glynis.hawley@gmail.com, that will make it easier for me.
Yours in sorrow,
Glynis
hello
I have been struggling to find my words for Joyce. I came to Berkeley in 1972 and don’t remember when I met her. She was always There. I do know that when we formed our band Édessa Joyce was an integral part. No matter what dance we played we could never stump her! With her brilliant encyclopedic brain, whether the dance was from Bulgaria, an obscure part of Greece, Albania, Turkey, or Macedonia Joyce would know it and get the line started. But she would never hog the lead. She would start the line with her big goofy grin and then bow out to let someone else shine. She was always building community that way.
May we all be so lucky to be remembered with the words that people are writing about Joyce. In her quiet way she truly lived a kind, loving, caring, passionate and compassionate, selfless life full of friendship and generosity. This a a hole in our community that won’t be filled.
I share a couple happy but fuzzy photos from fun events, and a beautiful photo from her long time friend and neighbor Connie, in case you didn’t see it.
in great
sadness
Lise
Wonderful words, Lise, thank you for articulating your loss that we all share, and thank you for the pictures. Sending love to all who are grappling with this, including myself.
Shelley
hello
I have been struggling to find my words for Joyce. I came to Berkeley in 1972 and don’t remember when I met her. She was always There. I do know that when we formed our band Édessa Joyce was an integral part. No matter what dance we played we could never stump her! With her brilliant encyclopedic brain, whether the dance was from Bulgaria, an obscure part of Greece, Albania, Turkey, or Macedonia Joyce would know it and get the line started. But she would never hog the lead. She would start the line with her big goofy grin and then bow out to let someone else shine. She was always building community that way.
May we all be so lucky to be remembered with the words that people are writing about Joyce. In her quiet way she truly lived a kind, loving, caring, passionate and compassionate, selfless life full of friendship and generosity. This a a hole in our community that won’t be filled.
I share a couple happy but fuzzy photos from fun events, and a beautiful photo from her long time friend and neighbor Connie, in case you didn’t see it.
in great sadness
Lise