"It is with great sadness that I let you know that our wonderful, vibrant brand consultant, Di Paice, passed away this morning after a valiant struggle against cancer," stated Zizi Hollander, GM of CT Media and publisher of Soccer-Laduma.
"In the short time that the Soccer-Laduma brand was in Di's hands she achieved so much, working tirelessly while at the same time dealing with chemotherapy and its side effects. Di was passionate about Soccer-Laduma and, in tribute to her, we will keep building on the marketing foundation she laid for us," Hollander continued, adding that Paice will be remembered with love and gratitude.
Paice had been a cancer survivor for more than three years; only last year, in October, Brand magazine was suspended with immediate effect by its board while Paice, who was its founder, editor and publisher, took a much-needed rest to recover from the toll of her treatment.
At that time, she said: "The stress of running the business in difficult times, coupled with eight months of continuous chemotherapy this year, has taken its toll. I owe it to my loved ones and to myself to take time to heal".
Paice has left a memorable legacy in the brand that she loved and of which she was so proud. In Brand's first year of publication it won the Professional Services category in the business-to-business section of the PICA Awards, broke even in its second year, and won the Watling Trophy for the Business-to-Business Magazine of the Year.
Bizcommunity.com extends its condolences to her family, friends and colleagues and invites tributes to be added to her special tribute page on Bizcommunity.
Update 29 July 2009: Di's family will be holding a private, family ceremony at the Maitland Crematorium in Cape Town at 3pm on Thursday 30 July. From 5.30pm onwards, there will be an 'open house' at 5 Ross Road Newlands (off Campground Road) for friends and colleagues to join the family in celebrating Di's life. In lieu of flowers, donations to St Luke's Hospice are welcomed.
