Obituary of Pamela Kent Laak

Pamela Kent Laak, 92, passed away in the early morning of May 21, 2024, while her son Bruce sat next to her holding her hands. A daughter of Lewis Shaw Kent and Madelyn Ames Kent, and the second of five children, she was born on February 18, 1932, in Montclair, New Jersey but spent her childhood growing up in Chatham, Massachusetts.

Pam loved athletics and spent much of her time as a youth studying dance. An avid and lifelong learner, Pam thrived at school and graduated from Connecticut College. She married Edwin Laak, and moved to Palo Alto, California where she had four children. When the children were young her lap was always available for a loving back-scratch and later, words of encouragement for their varied pursuits. She loved to cook, experimenting on a family of willing mouths. Pam loved the outdoors and as a family went on many camping trips, and an especially memorable backpacking trip at Point Reyes National Seashore. She provided lots of love, encouragement and security to her family, and was always there for her friends. After raising her four children, eventually as a single mom, Pam founded and developed a thriving ballet and modern dance school and then became a business woman in Silicon Valley’s tech industry. She loved traveling, learned Spanish in Guatemala, painting in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico and absorbing the local culture wherever she visited. With her longtime partner Ken Shanon, Pam visited Morocco where they were married (at least according to traditional local wedding traditions they were married!) They also very much enjoyed windjammer cruises in the Caribbean.

Pam ended up in the sweet village of Damariscotta, Maine, where she gracefully dealt with oncoming dementia and the failings of a once active body, never losing her beautiful and vibrant spirit, and loving smile.

Pam is preceded in death by her brother, Beau, and later, by her little dog, Lucy.

She is survived by her children: Bruce Laak of Damariscotta; Kristin Laak of Sebastopol, CA; Kent Laak (Denise) of Point Reyes Station, CA; and Colin Laak of Vashon Island, WA; grandchildren: Luna Hemamya Arteaga-Laak and Liam Lewis Elliot Laak; brother Josh Kent (Barb) of Ridgway, CO; sisters Debbie Springer (Charlie) of Boulder, CO; and Lucy Smith (Peter Jackson) of Damariscotta, ME; and many nieces and nephews.

Honoring Pam’s wishes, there was no funeral service, and arrangements were handled by Direct Cremation of Maine. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.directcremationofmaine.com