Karen Ann Giamo-Kirk
February 1, 1951 ~ December 15, 2022
Karen Ann Giamo-Kirk of Vienna, Virginia, passed peacefully away in her sleep on December 15, 2022, after a protracted battle with pancreatic cancer at the age of 71. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Karen lived a life full of exploration, dedication, and love. She was a free spirit whose love of adventure took her on many travels, from cross-country hitchhiking, to backpacking in the mountains, to photographing some of the most beautiful places across the globe. She could be described as many things, including kind, thoughtful, professional, and creative. She also had a passionate and fiery personality when she "let her Sicilian side show."
Both fun loving and hard working, she also thrived in the fast-paced world of journalism. She graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor's of Arts in Journalism and a specialization in photography, which became a lifelong hobby. She started out in the field as a reporter in 1974 at Lake County News-Herald in Willoughby, Ohio. Her career soon took her to Detroit, Michigan, in 1978, where she worked in print media at both The Detroit News and The Detroit Free Press as well as in television media at WDIV-TV. While working at WDIV-TV in September of 1985, she gave a talk about TV news production at the Detroit chapter of Mensa, which led to an introduction and first date with the love of her life, Dan Kirk. Within a few months, during a trip to Mexico, they got engaged, were married in 1986, and became parents in 1987, and again in 1990. Dan's career brought the newlyweds to the Washington DC area, where Karen worked at the McClatchy/Tribune News Service, rising to the position of Managing Editor, overseeing more than a dozen editors who compiled hundreds of stories each day. She retired after almost 40 years in the journalism industry from McClatchy/Tribune News Service in July 2014.
In addition to her accomplished career, Karen was also a beloved mother, who managed to seamlessly balance the responsibilities of her career and her parenting. She was an avid consumer of film and television, as well as the arts, and could always be counted on to share her views and perspectives about the latest hits. She also had a voracious appetite for news and politics, which led her to volunteer to write and edit for a political newspaper after her retirement. She enjoyed traveling, especially to scenic locales with plenty of nature and hiking. As an amateur photographer, we will always remember the trips she took through her vivid photographs, along with the elegant backstories and photo editing she provided for them.
Karen is survived by her husband Dan Kirk; son Nathan; daughter Chelsea; brother Ben Giamo; sister Linza Douglas (husband Eric Douglas); mother-in-law Wanda Myers. She was predeceased by her mother and father, Marie and Nathan Giamo; father-in-law David Kirk; step father-in-law George Myers.
Memorial services will be held at Money and King Funeral Home on Wednesday February 1, 2023, at 2 p.m.
Donations in Karen’s honor can be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, pancan.org.
Both fun loving and hard working, she also thrived in the fast-paced world of journalism. She graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor's of Arts in Journalism and a specialization in photography, which became a lifelong hobby. She started out in the field as a reporter in 1974 at Lake County News-Herald in Willoughby, Ohio. Her career soon took her to Detroit, Michigan, in 1978, where she worked in print media at both The Detroit News and The Detroit Free Press as well as in television media at WDIV-TV. While working at WDIV-TV in September of 1985, she gave a talk about TV news production at the Detroit chapter of Mensa, which led to an introduction and first date with the love of her life, Dan Kirk. Within a few months, during a trip to Mexico, they got engaged, were married in 1986, and became parents in 1987, and again in 1990. Dan's career brought the newlyweds to the Washington DC area, where Karen worked at the McClatchy/Tribune News Service, rising to the position of Managing Editor, overseeing more than a dozen editors who compiled hundreds of stories each day. She retired after almost 40 years in the journalism industry from McClatchy/Tribune News Service in July 2014.
In addition to her accomplished career, Karen was also a beloved mother, who managed to seamlessly balance the responsibilities of her career and her parenting. She was an avid consumer of film and television, as well as the arts, and could always be counted on to share her views and perspectives about the latest hits. She also had a voracious appetite for news and politics, which led her to volunteer to write and edit for a political newspaper after her retirement. She enjoyed traveling, especially to scenic locales with plenty of nature and hiking. As an amateur photographer, we will always remember the trips she took through her vivid photographs, along with the elegant backstories and photo editing she provided for them.
Karen is survived by her husband Dan Kirk; son Nathan; daughter Chelsea; brother Ben Giamo; sister Linza Douglas (husband Eric Douglas); mother-in-law Wanda Myers. She was predeceased by her mother and father, Marie and Nathan Giamo; father-in-law David Kirk; step father-in-law George Myers.
Memorial services will be held at Money and King Funeral Home on Wednesday February 1, 2023, at 2 p.m.
Donations in Karen’s honor can be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, pancan.org.
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A candle was lit for the decedent.
We have a few memories of Karen as a young woman traveling on her own across country in the 60s and ending up at our Bay Area home. Later in years she stepped in via email to help us research when our son was diagnosed with 4th stage melanoma. She was a kind and giving person, a wonderful cousin, and a talented photographer. May she rest in peace!
There is a hole in my heart from missing you. Thank you for showing me important life lessons. “There is No Place Like Home. ” Love always, Deb
Karen got the Ansel Adams Award at a 2014 MCT Information Services paper-plates-award ceremony: for the editor most likely to be a prize-winning photographer!
I worked with Karen for more than two decades at KRT Information Services (later MCT Information Services). Very professional, extremely talented editor and manager and an absolute joy to work with. Always patient with me when “The Graphics Guy” had questions about the News Service!
A candle was lit for the decedent.
Happy Birthday Karen. Dan, Nathan and Chelsea it was a beautiful service. I’m so sorry I couldn’t be there in person. Sending my love and prayers.
Cousin Karen was always a sweet, kind and gentle soul. She was the one to take great photos at all our family gatherings and weddings and follow through with forwarding all the pictures. She and Dan always made it a point to get together with Dick and me when they came to Florida to visit Dan’s parents. We were planning on getting together this Christmas, but God had a different plan. She is missed and loved.
Cousin Marie