By Anne Levin

Dorothea von Moltke
(Photo by Andrew Wilkinson)

The March 23 passing of Dorothea von Moltke, co-founder of Princeton’s Labyrinth Books on Nassau Street, has inspired tributes from people who worked with her on a range of community-oriented initiatives, literary and otherwise.

“This week we have said farewell to our dear store founder, Dorothea von Moltke. She was a great force for good in the world, and we know that all of you share our sense of profound loss at this sad news,” reads a statement from the store. A memorial service for von Moltke will be announced in coming weeks, the statement continues.

The range of postings and messages reveal von Moltke’s influence not just as a bookseller, local business owner, and proponent of social justice, but as a friend as well.

“Over the years, Dorothea and I became very dear and close friends,” wrote Janie Hermann, public programming librarian at Princeton Public Library, in an email. The library frequently collaborated with Labyrinth on literary events.

“The conversation always revolved around books and authors, but also grew to include talking about our children, upcoming vacations, our health … you name it, we talked about it,” Hermann continued. “Her drive, ambition, intellect, passion, and idealism were inspirational. I cannot even express how much I am going to miss her.”

A posting from Anthropology at Princeton [University] reads, “The extraordinary and much-loved Dorothea von Moltke, co-owner of Princeton’s unique Labyrinth Books, passed away too soon on March 23, leaving family, friends, and our community in deep mourning. Dorothea was a treasured friend to many in Anthropology, and her combined love of books, big ideas, and unwavering commitment to social justice was simply unparalleled. She will be deeply missed.”

According to a 2023 article in Princeton Magazine about Labyrinth Books, von Moltke was born in Buffalo in 1968. She grew up in Hamburg and Bonn, Germany, and moved to Vermont for her last year of high school. She graduated from Yale University, moved to East Berlin when the wall came down, and worked for a roundtable against xenophobia before starting graduate school. With her husband Cliff Simms and his brother Peter, von Moltke opened Labyrinth in 2007.

“As many of you will know, we have lost our beautiful friend Dorothea von Moltke, after a brave battle with a devastating disease,” wrote Princeton University Art Museum Director James Steward in a Facebook posting last week. “Everything about this is unjust, in the way that life can be unjust and cruel. She was a true light in this community — passionate about ideas, authors, books, and indeed this place and its people. I count myself blessed to have had her these 16 years as a friend, a collaborator, a local business leader, someone I could count on to buck me up and help me have the strength to carry on the good work. Way too young and way too early. No platitudes, please. This one is hard.”

There have been numerous Facebook postings about von Moltke. Artist and Arts Council of Princeton faculty member Veronica Olivares-Weber wrote, “Our community has suffered a tremendous loss with the passing of Dorothea. She had a big heart and a deep commitment to helping others. I will always remember when Anne D. Reeves and I reached out to her for children’s books for the The Red Umbrella Princeton, she never hesitated to donate. She generously provided boxes full of amazing books for both young and older students, knowing they would go to children who couldn’t afford them and would help nurture their love for reading. Her kindness and generosity touched so many lives, and she will be deeply missed.”

A posting from The Whole Earth Center called von Moltke’s death “a huge and heartbreaking loss for our community.”

The proprietors of Tipple & Rose Tea Parlor and Apothecary, just down the street from Labyrinth Books, recalled von Moltke’s advice during a difficult time, when they asked a few local business owners for insight on the local market.

“Dorothea heeded the call and sat with us for nearly three hours detailing her experience, offering advice, and just … listening,” the posting reads, “which we sorely needed.”

Jon Lambert, owner of Princeton Record Exchange, recalled working with von Moltke on several music-related projects. “And we bonded during COVID, helping each other navigate those challenging times,” he wrote. “It was a real comfort having a friend to count on right around the corner. Condolences to her family and friends.”

Hermann recalled von Moltke as game for just about anything when they discussed joint programs between Princeton Public Library and Labyrinth Books.

“No idea was out of bounds when we collaborated,” Hermann wrote. “She even agreed to host a disco dance party in the basement of Labyrinth Books Princeton one year when music was the theme of summer reading. Dreaming and scheming with Dorothea during our early morning coffee meetings at Small World Coffee was a highlight of my month.”

In lieu of flowers, von Moltke’s family suggests donations to Medecins Sans Frontieres/MSF and Resistancia en Accion NJ.