Donna Kimber

Donna Nicole Kimber, of New Market Maryland , died Tuesday August 9, 2011 at her home from an unexpected complication in the midst of her battle with a rare form of salivary gland cancer.

She was born in Ventura , California on January 12, 1979 to Donna and Steve Kimber.  She graduated from Saint Bonaventura High School, attended St Thomas University in Southern Florida, and later Crummer Graduate School of Business in Central Florida.

She was a gifted student, making academic success seem effortless.  She majored in finance at St. Thomas, which she attended on an athletic scholarship for softball.  She also studied finance at Crummer and after school, embarked on a successful career in the banking industry that took her from Florida to San Francisco and most recently to Maryland , with frequent travel to South America and across the United States .

A natural and lifelong athlete, Nicole remained involved in organized sport after her college softball days and was an avid outdoorswoman.  True to her Southern California roots, she played beach volleyball whenever possible and enjoyed hiking, surfing and yoga.  She was training for a marathon even as she underwent chemotherapy.

She was a quiet but profoundly passionate philanthropist, donating time and expertise, and more importantly herself, to many causes.  She served on the advisory board of a large national health organization and was involved in teen mentorship programs in all the states she lived in.  All of these charitable duties were carried out with complete humility – many of her closest friends were surprised to learn of her involvement.

Nicole will be remembered for so many things, not the least of which is her laugh, which was bright, contagious and delightful, just like Nicole.  She was sincere and loyal, intelligent and enlightened; fiercely funny… there aren’t many admirable traits that don’t describe Nicole; to list them risks missing something.  She was a beloved daughter, partner and friend who made a profound impact on those fortunate to have known her.

Nicole is survived by her fiancé Jake Galvas of New Market Maryland, her parents Donna and Steve Kimber of Oxnard California, and her brother Christopher Kimber of Los Angeles, California.

The Memorial Mass and Reception celebrating her life will be held at 11:00am on August 17, 2011 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Damascus Maryland at 9240 Damascus Rd, Damascus, MD 20872. A follow on memorial in California is tentatively being scheduled for a later date. Memorable contributions in lieu of flowers can be sent to the Baltimore Hope Lodge at 636 W. Lexington St. Baltimore, MD 21201.  A memorial site has been set up to honor Nicole at WWW .Forevermissed.com/nicole-kimber