Latest Guides

Community News

Jane Popovich, Founding Kidspace Board Member Passes Away Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Published on Friday, August 14, 2015 | 9:04 am
 
Jane Popovich and her husband J. Kristoffer Popovich at Kidspace Children’s Museum, July 10, 2012

The community is joining Kidspace Children’s Museum is mourning the loss of Jane Popovich, one of its greatest advocates, donors, board members, and friends. Jane, who was a member of the Junior League of Pasadena at the time of the creation of the “Making Senses” project which led to the founding of Kidspace and who has twice served as the Chairperson of the Kidspace Board of Directors, died on Tuesday, August 4, after a long battle with cancer. Jane was 71 years old.

After the creation and successful run of the “Making Senses” project in 1978-79, Jane served as one of the original Board members when Kidspace became an independent nonprofit.

“Jane was the heart and soul of Kidspace and without her hard work and dedication there would be no Kidspace,” said Cathie Partridge, fellow founding and longtime Kidspace Board Member. She, along with Cathie Partridge, have served the longest on the Kidspace Board of Directors.

Jane and her husband, J. Kristoffer Popovich, who has also served on the Kidspace Board of Directors, have faithfully and generously supported Kidspace since it’s creation with their time, talents, and resources. The Popovich family has given more than $7 million to Kidspace over the years, including being the largest contributors to the Campaign to bring the Museum to Pasadena’s Brookside Park.

“Jane was and always will be a pillar of Kidspace Children’s Museum. With her help, we have impacted the lives of millions of children. I am proud that I had the privilege to work along side her during these past four years,” said Michael Shanklin, Kidspace CEO. “I will miss her strategic questions during board meetings, her radiant smile, and her love for Kidspace and the children we serve.”

Two of her daughters, Kimberly Shepard and Jennifer Allen, have carried on her legacy of service at Kidspace, each having served as the President of the Circle of Friends, a group of more than 100 women who are dedicated to supporting with funds and volunteer hours, the operations of Kidspace Children’s Museum.

Jane had also served on the Board of Trustees at USC since 1983, as well as holding the position of chairman of the USC Associates, the premiere support organization at the university. Other boards on which Jane has served include the Junior League of Pasadena, Huntington Hospital, Westridge School, and the National Charity League. In addition to Jane’s nonprofit work, she was also a successful entrepreneur, owning her own chain of retail clothing stores in San Marino, Pasadena, and Newport.

Jane is survived by her husband, Kris, three daughters and sons-in-law; Kimberly and Robert Shepherd, Tricia and Michael Fink, and Jennifer and Christopher Allen, and eight grandchildren.

Get our daily Pasadena newspaper in your email box. Free.

Get all the latest Pasadena news, more than 10 fresh stories daily, 7 days a week at 7 a.m.

Make a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 

 

 

buy ivermectin online
buy modafinil online
buy clomid online
buy ivermectin online