Laurie Lacob
Aug. 15, 1957-June 19, 2023
Woodside, California

Laurie Kraus Lacob passed away on June 19, 2023 following a long battle with cancer. Despite significant health challenges, Laurie lived her life with passion, purpose, and joy. Her energy, graciousness, and kindness were infectious, bringing out the best in those who surrounded her.

Laurie was born August 15, 1957, to Annette and Phillip Kraus (deceased) in Los Angeles, CA. Her parents were the children of Jewish immigrants, and they ingrained in her the value of education, a strong work ethic, and the importance of “giving back.” Laurie embraced her parents’ commitment to supporting social justice organizations throughout her life.

Laurie grew up in suburban Los Angeles before attending the University of California, Irvine, where she received her bachelor’s degree. She met her former husband, Joe Lacob, her sophomore year, and they married shortly after her graduation. Together, they moved to the Bay Area, where they both attended graduate programs at Stanford University. After Laurie earned her Master’s degree in Journalism in 1982, she and Joe began to put down roots on the mid-Peninsula.

Laurie enjoyed a stimulating career and spent more than a decade developing and executing research and communications strategies in the venture capital, technology, and university advancement sectors. Following the birth of her second child, she chose to stay home to raise her children and welcomed the arrival of a third and fourth child to her growing family. She focused on creating a loving, active, and fun-filled environment where the four close-knit siblings thrived. After Laurie and Joe divorced, she continued to focus on providing her children with a stable and supportive home during their critical development years.

The pride and joy of her life, Laurie’s four children—Kirk, Kelly, Kent, and Kayci—all excelled both in the classroom and as student-athletes, becoming accomplished young adults. Although they barely knew their maternal grandparents, who passed when they were young, it gave Laurie great satisfaction to know that her children embody many of the same philanthropic values that began two generations earlier.

In recent years, it has been a delight for Laurie to see some of her children find wonderful significant others. Their partners not only enhance their lives but fit in exceedingly well with the rest of “The K Club,” as Kirk, Kelly, Kent, and Kayci refer to themselves.

Since 2020, the apples of Laurie’s eye have been her twin grandsons, Lincoln and Pierce, the sons of Kirk and Molly Lacob. The toddlers bring joy and hilarity to every family gathering.

Laurie adored adventure travel and organized many annual trips for the family. Together they hiked, biked, and shared quality time in beautiful locales. Once the kids were “launched,” she enjoyed extraordinary trips with like-minded friends. However, as the saying goes, “East or west, home is best.” Laurie loved her adopted hometown of Woodside, where she lived for over 30 years.

Laurie devoured books and movies and became intrigued by the potential for film to be a vehicle of social impact. Embarking on producing in mid-life, she was involved in the creative aspects and production of two films, released in 2013 and 2020. While neither film achieved widespread distribution, Laurie thoroughly enjoyed her education and role in the independent filmmaking process.

Laurie’s engagement in her community began when her children were young, as a board member of the Woodside School Foundation and as a trustee of Menlo School. Later, she served on the board of Ronald McDonald House Stanford and the board of the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health. She was a long-time advisor to the Stanford Cancer Council and served for more than ten years on the steering committees for Under One Umbrella, supporting the Stanford Women’s Cancer Center and Part the Cloud, supporting research on Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, Laurie was an active philanthropist for domestic and global organizations, focusing on issues of health, education, gender equity, and social justice.

Laurie leaves her beloved children Kirk (Molly) Lacob, Kelly Lacob, Kent Lacob (Blake Johnston), and Kayci Lacob; her grandsons Lincoln Lacob and Pierce Lacob; her sister and lifelong best friend Kathy (Larry) Levit; nephew Marc (Elizabeth) Levit, niece Jaynee (Sean) Leventhal, and many wonderful friends whom she felt exceedingly lucky to have in her life. While regrettably cut short, Laurie’s life abounded in love and meaning.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the Stanford Women’s Cancer Center (Please make reference to The Laurie Kraus Lacob Memorial Fund), the FutureGrads program of the Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula, or the organization of your choice.

Tags: public service