Mathilda Amalia Smith

Geslacht: Vrouw
Vader: Johannes Christiaan Smith
Moeder: Anna Maatje Breas
Geboren: 18 Feb 1918 Haarlem
Overleden: 4 Dec 2015 onbekend
Religie: Ned. Hervormd
Aantekeningen: Last Name: Bonnist
First Name: Mathilda Amalia
Maiden Name: Smith
Date of Birth: 18/02/1918
Rescuer's fate: survived
Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS
Gender: Female
Profession: SECRETARY IN THE OFFICE
Place during the war: Amsterdam, Noordholland, The Netherlands
Rescue Place: Amsterdam, Noordholland, The Netherlands
Rescue mode: Hiding Providing forged documents Other Arranging shelter
File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/2894)
Mathilda Smith was the secretary of the textile firm owned by Mr. Hoek, who was Jewish, working out of his house in southern Amsterdam. In August 1942, after the extensive summer razzias, Mr. Hoek gave Mathilda a proxy to act in his name in matters related to the firm. Shortly afterwards, as the situation for Jews grew more and more precarious, the various members of the Hoek family---parents, and three grown-up children---decided to go into hiding and hid in different places. Mathilda knew where they were all hiding and agreed to act as the intermediary between the family members, keeping them in touch with one another. From that time on and well into 1943, Mathilda made sure the Hoeks were safe in their hiding places. Each time one of them had to move for one reason or another, Mathilda, who still lived with her parents, hid them temporarily in her house until she found them an alternative address. She also arranged false identity papers for them. Unfortunately, only one member of the family, the son Maurits, survived the war. The rest of the members of his family were caught. Mathilda and her parents also hid another Jew, Ernst Bonnist, and his mother in their house. Mathilda and Ernst married after the war. Mathilda considered it her human duty to help the Hoek family and others, and never asked for any remuneration for her acts of bravery.
On March 29, 1984, Yad Vashem recognized Mathilda Bonnist-Smith as Righteous Among the Nations.

Gezin 1

Huwelijkspartner: Ernst Bonnist geb. 14 Jan 1915 overl. 31 Juli 1976
Huwelijk: 18 Dec 1945 Amsterdam
Kinderen:
  Else Regina Bonnist Female geb. 9 MRT 1952
  Eduard Johan Bonnist Female geb. 25 Nov 1946