Beverly Kay Schwartz

1931 - 2024

Beverly Kay Schwartz
August 13, 1931 - April 2, 2024
Beverly Kay Schwartz, aka Kay Hand, died at the age of 92. Kay was the daughter of Grant and Mary Hand, living in Berkeley where she witnessed the construction of the Golden Gate and Bay bridges. After graduating from El Cerrito High, she moved to Salt Lake City, Utah where she met and married her first husband of 21 years, Boyd Holding, becoming Kay Hand-Holding, much to her chagrin. They had 3 children, Craig, Alison, and Ann, losing Alison at the age of 2. After moving back to the Bay Area in 1967, Kay married her 2nd husband, Tom Schwartz in 1973. Following her second divorce in 1989, Kay moved to Sonoma, which she considered one of the best decisions she ever made. There she joined the First Congregational Church, volunteered for FISH, worked at an antique store, learned Reiki, joined a book club, took a poetry class, hosted a meditation group, and made countless friends. Her passions included reading, art, spirituality, the SF Giants, home decor, and puzzles. She was exceedingly generous, eternally grateful, had a great sense of humor, and an eye for the beauty all around her. Kay's best asset was her loving heart which she shared freely. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, brother Brian Hand, daughter Mary Alison Holding, and son Howard Craig Holding. She is survived by her sister Barbara Lee, daughter Ann Thompson, grandson Evan Thompson, sister-in-law Betsy Hand, daughter in-law Chris Holding, step-children Tom (Lin), John, and Ann Schwartz, plus numerous nieces, nephews and step-grandkids. Her family would like to thank friends Bobbie Croucher, Karen Boon, and Dotty Abbott for their countless acts of kindness which enabled her to continue living in her beloved home. They were her angels here on earth. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to a charity of your choosing.