On Thursday, May 18, 2023, Karen A. Marinovich, artist, professional, mentor, mother, grandmother, and friend, finished her earthy race and passed peacefully to her eternal heavenly home. Known for her red hair and sweet countenance, she leaves behind a legacy of kindness.
Karen Ann Lane was born on Friday, October 18, 1946, in Madera, CA. Her early years were defined by time spent with her close-knit family which included her younger brother, Stephen, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Her childhood throughout high school found her living in Chowchilla, CA. After high school, Karen met her future husband, Gary A. Marinovich, while attending school in Santa Cruz, CA. They were married in 1970 and started their lives together and opened a bar and restaurant in Aptos, CA named the “Gorge”. They sold that restaurant after several years and moved to Los Angeles, CA to follow Gary’s coaching career.
After separating from her husband, Karen went on to varied careers including 40+ years of experience in business and medical office management, engineering, project management, and non-profit consulting.
Karen had passion for the arts and for disability and aging related issues. After moving to Nevada County in 2006 to be closer to her parents who were aging, she dove into work with multiple community-based organizations. She was hired at the Foothill Theater Company and quickly rose to the position of Executive Director. At that same time, she joined the Board of Directors for the Center for Nonprofit Leadership. After serving her full term as a board member there, she continued on the Curriculum Committee, helping to develop and facilitate many trainings and workshops on various topics for the nonprofit organizations of her community. Looking for ways to continue lending her gifts to Nevada County, Karen embraced becoming a consultant, coaching, and helping many organizations along the way. This path led her, finally, to her work as a valued consultant for FREED.
Karen, one who was adept at juggling multiple projects, simultaneously, worked as the Falls Prevention Coalition Nevada of County Coordinator. Her role was to provide education and training to individuals and the community to help reduce the risk of falling for seniors and people with disabilities. As a program of the Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Foundation, Karen was instrumental in organizing the annual Falls Prevention Coalition Conference, bringing together older adults, people with disabilities, family members, and caregivers to address issues related to aging and access to resources for healthy living.
Karen loved making art with friends, traveling the world, cooking shared meals, hosting and organizing community events, fostering collaboration across private and public entities, and mentoring individuals to build their leadership and business skills. She was particularly passionate about supporting nonprofit board of directors and helping organizations develop business and fundraising plans to advance their mission and impact in the community.
Karen is now reunited with her father, Jack Lane, mother, Joyce Potter, brother Stephen Lane, her beloved grandmother, Della Lane, and grandfather Logan Lane (Papaw), and her aunt Wilma Dell Tas’hjian, and Uncle Edward (Eddie) Tas’hjian that she cherished so much.
Karen is survived by son, Layne of Pittsburg, CA, daughter, Shannon of Grass Valley, CA and Grandson, Brandon of Grass Valley, CA.
In celebration of Karen’s life, please donate time or money to a local nonprofit that supports the arts, people with disabilities, or older adults. Donations can also be made to FREED at: Donate – FREED Center for Independent Living
