Kay was preceded in death by beloved husband, Robert, and beloved son, Scot; brothers Joseph and Mike Spolarich.
Survived by loving sons Jay, and Bruce and wife Linda, grandchildren Nicolas and Morgan, nieces Linda Spolarich (Highland, IN); Tina Jenkins (David) of Mooresville, IN; and nephews Michael Spolarick (Susan) of Schererville, IN and Kenneth Spolarich (Elizabeth) of Chicago, Il.
Kay received her Baccalaureate and Master’s degrees in English at St. Joseph’s Calumet College and Purdue University Calumet respectively, MBA at Keller Graduate School of Management, and a Doctorate in Business Administration at Nova University.
During her long career in higher education, Kay taught English and business courses as a faculty member at Calumet College where she eventually joined the administration, first as Associate Academic Dean, then as the Dean of Academic and Student Services. Working on her doctorate in business administration led her to accept the role of Associate Dean of the School of Management and Business at National Louis University in Chicago, Il. She returned to teaching as a faculty member at St. Edward’s University, Austin, TX, where she became a tenured Professor of Business Administration, serving first in New College, then in the School of Management and Business. She retired in 2014 and was named Professor Emeritus of Business Administration in 2016.
Kay and her husband moved to Austin, TX in 1991 after having lived in the Calumet Region in Indiana for all of their lives. She valued family, friends, and colleagues in both states and was especially proud of her grandchildren whom she loved dearly.
Kay belonged to the Croation Federation Union, Lodge 170. As a member of St. Thomas More Parish in Austin, she served in various ministries and was the Treasurer for the STM Woman’s Group.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital (1-800-822-6344, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105).
The family will receive friends for a reception following the Funeral Mass.
