The stock photo industry lost an irreplaceable leader when Jane Kinne passed away this past weekend. For more than 50 years Jane fought for the rights of photographers and stock agencies. No one has given more to our industry. Patrick Donehue, PACA President, has written a moving tribute to Jane that we publish below.
Dear PACA Members and Friends:
It is with great sadness that I report that Jane Kinne passed away this weekend after suffering from post-operative complications from heart surgery that she underwent last month in New York.
As many of you know, Jane was the matriarch of PACA and was largely responsible for shepherding the growth and well-being of our association since the mid-1950s. Her integrity, grace and common sense always presented itself in a modest manner that befitted her Midwestern upbringing. Although she was tiny in stature, she was simply a giant to those of us that were privileged to know her well. She was tough, but gentle. She was also wise beyond words.
Jane was fortunate to have many diverse passions. She was an unbridled proponent of the protection of copyright and was widely known as a champion of photographer rights. She was also a strong believer in the value of an active photographic community where information is shared and common interests are explored. Jane was always a consensus builder. She deeply cared not only about our industry, but also about the people who chose it as their vocation.
I've known Jane, Russ and Casey Kinne for over 25 years, and like hundreds of others, I've always felt like an adopted member of their family. She was always there to offer guidance and support and to generously share the benefits of her experience and point of view. Knowing that we carry a part of Jane within our collective DNA will, hopefully, make our shared loss a bit more tolerable.
It is time to begin the celebration of Jane's life and to memorialize her endless contributions to our industry. To that end, the Executive Board of PACA will meet to discuss the possibilities of building a program in her honor in an attempt to serve her memory and continue to drive the passions in which she so strongly believed. Please feel free to forward along your thoughts and ideas and we will incorporate them into our planning and discussions.
At Jane's request, no services will be held. However, contributions in Jane's name may be made to the NAMPA Infinity Foundation, a fund to foster an appreciation of nature through photography. A celebration of life memorial service by the photo industry is currently being discussed.