The news of the passing away of Di Paice on Friday, 24 July 2009, has been met with much sadness and grief by the industry and it is with love in our hearts that we all pay tribute to this incredible woman who remained positive until the very end in her fight against breast cancer. Di, you are already sorely missed, and we at Bizcommunity.com pay tribute to you along with everyone else.Her 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.
On Friday morning, 24 July 2009, Di Paice died after a long, brave battle with breast cancer. For many people within the South African media industry, Di was a well-known and highly respected journalist, editor, teacher and friend. At Africa Geographic, she was all these things – and so much more. As the wife and soulmate of the magazine’s founder and CEO, Peter Borchert, and my stepmother, friend and mentor, she touched the lives of many of the people in this company and her passion for life, wit and fierce intellect coupled with a boundless capacity for joy and celebration has left an unfillable hole in our lives.– Sarah Borchert, editor, Africa Geographic
I met Di relatively late in my life and career, at a Loeries breakfast at Sun City. This was the start of a special friendship and an inspiring working relationship.Having had the opportunity to contribute to Brand magazine for nearly two years, I not only got to know her as an excellent journalist with a razor-sharp mind, but as journalism’s Lance Armstrong who fought tooth and nail to keep Brand going despite her illness and ongoing treatment.When she slept over on business visits to Johannesburg and we invariably talked the night away, she never failed to amaze my husband and I with her zest for life, her passion for, and belief in Brand, and her will and determination to keep it going. Courageous and committed until the bitter end, she was a wonderful example for us all.Even after Brand’s closure, she gave her everything for Soccer Laduma – and enjoyed every minute of her new venture.Her vibrancy, enthusiasm and sheer guts will fondly be remembered.Hamba kahle, dear friend.– Wilma de Bruin, freelance journalist
It is with great sadness that I let you know that our wonderful, vibrant brand consultant, Di Paice, passed away [on Friday] morning after a valiant struggle against cancer. 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.She will be remembered with love and gratitude.– Zizi Hollander, GM, Soccer Laduma
When Di Paice first approached me with the beautiful mock-ups for BRAND magazine, I have to admit that I was skeptical. The publishing industry is tough, and survivors require deep pockets and more often than not, the backing of a big media house. And here was this petite pixie blonde, filled with passion and enthusiasm and the excitement of bringing something new to life.In retrospect, it was a naïve undertaking. But that's what I loved about Di, and ultimately why I joined her quest when I hardly knew her. She was fearless in the face of her conviction. She knew what she was up against. But she did it anyway.Working with her was a real privilege. She was forthright, and honest and fair. She listened, she talked. She bubbled with enthusiasm. She wrote with furious (and sometimes frightening!) intensity. And when she decided to close the magazine into which she had poured her heart and soul over the previous three years, she did so with enormous dignity and no regrets.I wished I'd known her better. I wish I'd spent more time listening to her wicked giggle. I wish I'd called her to tell her how much I admire her, and how much I will miss her in my life. She taught me to be a better journalist, but more importantly, she never failed to remind me that journalism was - ultimately - just a job. Family, friends, love and laughter. These are the things that count, and Di was blessed with an abundance of all four. My heart goes out to Peter and their extended family.– Kim Penstone, Freelance marketing, media and advertising journalist and commentator Associate editor, BRAND magazine
I first met Di when I was looking for a Cape Town editor for Advantage. The memory I have of her at that meeting was a woman with a wonderful friendly personality, bubbling with enthusiasm. Coming as she did from a world of woman's magazines, she knew very little about the advertising industry, but she took to the challenge like a duck to water and it wasn't long before she became the darling of the Cape Town advertising industry. She was a true professional and made a major contribution to the success of Advantage.We worked together for eight years, and I am glad I met her. She is a great loss to journalism. My sadness is that she died so early in life. I will always remember her bubbly spirit. My sympathies to her wonderful husband Peter, and her children.– John Farquhar, editor-at-large, Wag the Dog Publishers
Amid all the egos, posturing, hustle and bustle of the media and marketing trade press, Di was always a calming influence –gentle, objective, charming and dedicated. We shall all miss her.– Chris Moerdyk, independent analyst and marketing advisor and Bizcommunity.com columnist
Di was a hugely talented editor and a wonderful person. She was elegant, had a wicked sense of humour and loved this industry with the passion of a true professional. She was much loved and respected. Her family was very dear to her. She put up a brave fight against her cancer and remained positive to the end. She will be dearly missed and the industry is poorer without her.– Louise Marsland, editor-in-chief, Advantage magazine
You go through life meeting milestones that equate to your own stage of life. Yours and your friends' childhood birthday parties.Twenty-firsts. Weddings. Christenings. Then up a generation to your children's and your friends' children's birthdays. But you don't expect the funeral stage to hit until some years later.Di didn't deserve it so young. As charming, enthusiastic, honest and decent a person as I have met.– Tony Koenderman, associate editor of Finweek and editor of AdReview
