Ann Kale

It is with sadness that we mourn the loss of Ann Kale, who lost her battle with cancer on August 11^th. She was surrounded by friends and family to the last and will be forever in their hearts and minds.

Ann, born in Los Angeles, graduated from Cal State San Diego and afterwards accepted an internship in New York City with a preeminent architectural lighting design firm, beginning a career that would span nearly 40 years. She founded Ann Kale Associates in 1987 and became an award winning, nationally recognized architectural lighting designer, ultimately with hundreds of projects to her credit. Ann was a true force of nature, blazing a path in a profession that, at the time, was largely dominated by men. She was a mentor to many and taught lighting design at the Parsons School of Design.

Ann and her architect husband, Bob Kupiec AIA, married in 1990 and lived in Park Slope, Brooklyn. They welcomed their daughter, Julia, in 1997. Ann always planned to return to California and in 2003 made sure Santa Barbara was the place her family landed. Throughout her daughter’s childhood, Ann was active in local school affairs and reveled in orchestrating the “Books for Bedtime” series of musical theater performances at Montecito Union School, a program very popular with the students as well as their parents. As Julia moved on to Santa Barbara Junior High, Ann took on the role of PTA President, continuing her commitment to Public Education.

Ann’s spirit will continue to shine through the spaces she touched, the people she mentored, and the standards of excellence she set. 

Ann was great fun to be around. She was a wonderful storyteller and took great pleasure in “growing up with Julia” in the era of Harry Potter, relaying the tales during long drives to their country home in the Berkshires. A dinner in Ann’s home often consisted of her, Bob and Julia play-acting accents and characters for the fun of it… well into Julia’s adulthood. Ann was very pleased that Julia inherited her talents as an artist. They often painted together and have left behind some wonderful canvases that will be cherished. She loved gathering around the fireplace with friends and truly reveled in a spirited game of Hearts… it’s certain that she is shooting-the-moon somewhere.

Ann Kale Associates continued to thrive in Santa Barbara and made significant contributions to our community. Over the last 20 years, Ann’s expertise and commitment to design excellence has brightened many of Santa Barbara’s landmark buildings including the Lobero Theater, Cabrillo Arts Center, the MOXI Children’s Museum, the Music Academy of the West, the Carrillo Recreation Center, Paseo Nuevo and the Hotel Californian to name just a few. Ann’s spirit will continue to shine through the spaces she touched, the people she mentored, and the standards of excellence she set. 

Ann is survived by her husband and daughter, her sister Denise, brother Paul, and beloved nieces and nephews – Christopher, Nicole, Curtis, Olivia, Alison, Greta and Sean. 

There will be a memorial service on September 17^th at 2:30 pm in the Mural Room of the Santa Barbara Courthouse… one of her favorite projects. Following the Memorial there will be a Celebration of Life gathering at the Kale-Kupiec home in Montecito.