Colin Kent

August 18, 1964 – July 9, 2024

Colin Kent, age 59, long-time resident of Palo Alto, died on July 9 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.

Born in Los Gatos on Aug. 18, 1964, he grew up both in the South Bay and in Washington State, before graduating from Santa Rosa High School in 1983. He lived and worked in Los Angeles and San Francisco before moving to New York City in 1990 to live with his partner, now husband, Chris Donlay. He graduated from the Parsons School of Design there and worked as a store designer for Tiffany & Co. and Gap Inc. He and Chris moved back to the Bay Area in 2000, settling in Palo Alto. He earned a BFA in graphic design from San Jose State University in 2012, and worked for a number of technology companies since, including Apple, Microsoft, Samsung, Roku, WebEx, and most recently the startup xMems.

Colin had a keen visual sense and was interested in all types of design, from products and fashion to art and architecture. He loved to travel and was inspired by the designs he found elsewhere, which often informed his own work. He was a talented cook, enjoyed fine dining, and baked for his friends every week. He had a clever sense of humor, and brought fun and laughter to every conversation.

He is survived by his husband, of Palo Alto; his father, Robert (Laurel) Kent of Vancouver, WA; mother-in-law, Janet Campbell of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL; brother, Kevin (Anne) Kent, of Seattle; brother-in-law, Philip Donlay of Nampa, ID; nieces, Marina Kent, of London, and Vanessa Kent, of New Orleans; nephew, Patrick (Annie) Donlay of Salt Lake City; cat, Tiki; and a large collection of designer shoes.

Donations may be made in his memory to Pets in Need (www.petsinneed.org).