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| Kay Masini |
Mrs. Masini, who celebrated her 84th birthday July 31, died Sept. 19. She and her husband, Don, celebrated 70 years of marriage this year and he described her as “the love of my life.” The couple shared many memories of their family times on Beaver Island and their travels. “I miss her more than anyone can imagine,” her husband said.
Mrs. Masini's career as an artist was renowned. Her depth of art knowledge, techniques, experimentation, and dedication to learning and improving her skills was exceptional and remarkable, her family said. Her work was featured in many shows and she had a one-woman exhibition of her work in Canton Township last year.
A lifelong painter, Mrs. Masini served on art boards and as a member of national and international organizations. The Internationale Vriendenkring gave her a solo show in Antwerp, Belgium, where her paintings are represented in many private collections.
She devoured art books; studied the masters and took workshops with top instructors, her family said. She developed writing skills and used her fount of knowledge to create poetry which she used on her annual Christmas card project which was published from a combination of the cards she created over 50 years, they added.
Mrs. Masini won numerous awards and two of her paintings were selected for inclusion in the first North Light book “Acrylic Works - the Best of Acrylic Painting.” She was one of only five Michigan artists to be included.
The artist attended high school in the Chicago area. She earned her bachelor degree at the Dominican University in River Forest, Ill.
She studied at the Chicago Art Institute and Oxford University in England, as well as in multiple workshops with leading instructors in the United States. Mrs. Masini was a partner in a marketing communications firm, based in St. Joseph, MI, representing major U.S. clients, plus financial, health and educational institutions.
“She was a remarkable woman; wife; mother; grandmother and great-grandmother,” her husband said.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Masini is survived by daughter, Lita (the late David) Popke; sons, Michael (Cindy) Masini and Jon (Julie) Masini; daughter, Lynne (Don) Eckardt; grandchildren, Alexandra (Jason), Kit, Lisa (Brian) Kiersten, Hank, Anna, Kevin, Jack and Donald, and great-granddaughter, Abigail. She is also survived by a sister, Michele (Jim) Stamm, and many beloved nieces and nephews, along with a multitude of friends and fellow artists.
She was the daughter of Sadie Gallagher Peternard and Roland Bruce McDonough, who preceded her in death as did a brother, John (Grace) Peternard.
Visitation is planned for 5 until 7 p.m. tomorrow, Sept. 18 with a rosary immediately following at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 26325 Main St., Beaver Island. She will lie in state from 10:30 until a funeral mass at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 19 at the church.
The family is suggesting memorials may be made to Beaver Island Historical Society, 26275 Main St., Beaver Island, MI 49782 or Beaver Island Marine Museum, 38105 Michigan Ave., Beaver Island, MI 49782.
A public celebration of Mrs. Masini's life is planned for next month in Plymouth although the date and time have not yet been determined.
Below are some examples of Mrs. Masini’s artwork.
