Brigitte T'Sjoen Mimms

Obituary

Dr. Brigitte T’Sjoen Mimms—known lovingly as Mom, Maman, Mamacita, and Minou—passed away at her home in Far Hills, New Jersey, on January 24, 2026, at the age of 73. She was held by those who, in her words, were her whole life: her husband, Gaines, and their four children, Meredith, Rémy, Lee, and Philippe.

Brigitte was born in Renaix, Belgium in 1952 to her beloved parents, Albert and Jenny. An avid illustrator, she spent her childhood tucked away in her room, creating elaborate stories of an American royal family and designing paper dolls, complete with their own wardrobes. She loved math, learning English, and playing field hockey, exemplifying the curiosity, discipline, and imagination that would define her life.

While attending dental school at l’Université Libre de Bruxelles, she met an American medical student from New York who became her lab partner and eventually her life partner, Gaines. They bonded over Mendelssohn and formed a shared language, a mix of French and English, that was uniquely their own. They wed at her parents’ house in 1979 and, a few days later, left for New York City to build a wonderful world together for 47 years. While Gaines completed his medical residency, Brigitte practiced dentistry in Manhattan and particularly loved her French-speaking patients who were devoted clients of hers whenever they visited the States.

Brigitte had an extraordinary artistic eye for potential. She fell in love with a dilapidated house with a beautiful view in Far Hills, New Jersey, trusting in her visionary sense to transform it into something special. Like so many things Brigitte touched, the home soon became a place of joy, laughter, and art—as well as the site of her cherished and much admired garden. While home was her favorite place to be, she and Gaines traveled extensively with their children in tow and often escaped to New York to attend theatre and concerts.

In 1993, Brigitte became an official American citizen, and, as with everything she did, assumed this responsibility with deep sincerity. She championed the causes she cared about with fierce dedication, bringing her children and grandchildren with her as she marched in support of women’s rights, reproductive rights, and stronger gun control legislation in New York and Washington, DC, where she and Gaines enjoyed time in their Foggy Bottom rowhouse.

Brigitte was mischievous and funny with an iconic sense of style. A natural athlete, her mother-in-law referred to Brigitte as “my Olympian” in admiration of her commitment to swimming, tennis, running, and long walks. Her humor, creative gifts and notes, and love of being active created a rich world for her children and grandchildren.

As Julius Caesar himself said, “De tous les peuples de la Gaule, les Belges sont les plus braves.” (Translation: Of all the people of Gaul, the Belgians are the most brave.) No one embodied that spirit of courage more fully than Brigitte when she received a diagnosis of ALS in May 2023. She met the disease with remarkable determination, grace, and dignity. She was a woman of true grit.

Her people have been well-loved by her and carry her vibrancy with them forever: her brother Philippe (Alberte), husband Gaines, children Meredith (Aaron), Rémy (Emily), Lee (Lynn), and Philippe (Taylor), and grandchildren Bastien, Alice, Evelyn, Cecil, Celeste, Vivienne, and Ava.

In lieu of flowers, the family has set up donations to Planned Parenthood of Northern, Central, and Southern New Jersey in memory of Brigitte. Use this link to donate: https://bit.ly/ppncsnj-bmimms

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