Memorial Resolution for Catherine "Kit" Lai
WHEREAS, It is with great sadness that the members of this chamber learned of the departure of Catherine "Kit" Lai, at the age of 37, on June 30, 2017; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed body has been notified of her passing by the Honorable Marty Quinn, Alderman of the 13th Ward; and
WHEREAS, Kit was born on October 1, 1979, to Maureen and David Lai at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. She had a brother, Brendan. Her mother was a teacher and counselor in the Chicago Public Schools. Her father was an architect and hospital administrator; and
WHEREAS, Kit grew up on the near Southwest Side of Chicago and graduated from Whitney M. Young Magnet High School. She graduated from Vassar College with a degree in technology and was a major contributor on the volleyball team; and
WHEREAS, She married John (JD) Darcy. They were married for thirteen years. Both of them worked at L'Oreal USA. They had a two-year old son, Dashiell; and
WHEREAS, Kit had an illustrious career in marketing in the beauty industry. Kit began her career at Behrman Communications. She later worked at Translation, TLCommunications and Coty. She was most recently working at L'Oreal, where she was an Assistant Vice President of Lancome. She was promoted in May to Vice President, Global Communications and Digital for the luxury brand Atelier Cologne; and
WHEREAS, Kit was a long-time enthusiastic supporter of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. While at Lancome she increased fundraising from the company for the Hospital by 37% in one year; and
WHEREAS, Kit was pregnant with her second child when she passed away. Mother and unborn child passed peacefully together into eternal life; and
WHEREAS, Kit leaves to cherish her memory her parents, Maureen and David Lai; husband, John Darcy; son, Dashiell Darcy; brother, Brendan Lai; and a host of family and friends; and
WHEREAS, Kit Lai touched the lives of all who knew her as somebody who cared deeply for family and friends. She will be greatly missed, but the memory of her character will live on in those who knew and loved her; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this sixth day of September, 2017, do hereby express our sorrow on the passing of Catherine "Kit" Lai and extend to her family our sincere condolences.