Karla Lacey
May 23, 1958 – November 7, 2023
Karla Lacey, loving mother, wife, and friend, passed away after a cardiac event at home in Los Altos, California, on November 7, 2023. She was 65.
Karla was one of a kind. She had an inspiring zest for life, and a limitless supply of funny stories with which she entertained her many, many close friends.
After graduating from Cooper High School in Abilene, Texas, Texas A&M, and the Harvard Business School, Karla enjoyed a successful career as a top business executive, including her time leading Colgate teams in Portugal, Argentina, and Costa Rica. Her greatest success, and her most important source of joy, was as the mother of her girls, Kelly and Sarah. Karla adored the girls and would quickly transition from a senior business executive to the snack mom at every softball game in Modesto. She delighted in every activity—every sport, every practice, every church choir rehearsal.
Karla was a prolific reader, sometimes finishing an entire book during one night of fitful sleep. Her expansive intellect was only matched by her tremendous capacity for friendship and caring. She served on the Bus Barn Board and volunteered in many roles at her church, Los Altos Methodist Church, as well as with the Friends of the Library.
Sponsored by Kathy Kane and Nancy Tubbs, Karla joined Thursday Morning Dialogue in January 2009. An active member, she served as President and Social Chairperson through multiple terms, and frequently opened her home and hosted gatherings of members.
Karla is survived by her husband, John Zoglin, daughters Kelly and Sarah, sister Karen Alfaro (Jaime), brother Kevin Lacey (Becky), mother Alice Lacey, and niece Kelly and nephews James, Adam, Joseph, Joshua, Kaijah, and Michael, sister-in-law Katie and brother-in-law Bill (Chahaya). Karla is predeceased by her father, John Lacey.
Donations can be made in Karla’s honor to the American Heart Association.
Watch the recording of the memorial service for Karla Lacey (Vimeo)
Visit the memorial tribute website for Karla Lacey (MyKeeper) There are many photos of Karla with family and friends in the “Momentos” section. Please feel free to post your thoughts, tributes, memories, and a photo.
One of my favorite Karla stories is when she talked about the challenges of getting her daughters to understand that they would need more than Birkenstocks and a sweatshirt for East Coast weather when they went off to college. I always smile when I think of her.
What a great idea to create this page…Karla was such an important part of the fiber of the TMD tapestry…her welcoming drawl and smile and great way of organizing and willingness to take on ‘more’ to help make the organization run so smoothly…I will ALWAYS think of Karla when I think of TMD…I wish everything good to her family as they adjust to life without such an indomitable mama bear!