Monique Kane
Dec. 4, 1937-Sept. 30, 2025
Palo Alto, California
Monique Kane, age 87, of Palo Alto, California, passed away peacefully on September 30, 2025, surrounded by her family and loved ones. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and mentor whose warmth, humor, kindness, and leadership touched countless lives.
Born on December 4, 1937, in Rhode Island to Thérèse Legris and Adrien Geffroy, Monique spent her early childhood in France and North Africa. In 1940, her mother secured passage for herself and her children on one of the last passenger ships to leave France, escaping the war in Europe and returning to Rhode Island. Monique grew up in the small village of Fiskeville, surrounded by a large extended family, family pets, and the fields and woods of the Legris family home. The beauty and energy of that environment inspired her lifelong love of family, community, and nature.
Monique attended Salve Regina College in Newport, Rhode Island, where she met Leo Kane, a young naval officer. They married and had three children. In 1967, the family moved to Palo Alto, California, where Monique began teaching at Peninsula School in Menlo Park, a progressive K–8 school rooted in Quaker values. She also became active in the anti-war movement, joining marches and community efforts for peace.
As she raised her children, Monique became increasingly drawn to understanding the emotional complexities of the human experience. While working full time and raising three children as a single mother, she earned her master’s degree in psychology and became a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Her courage, curiosity, and empathy guided everything she did.
While building her career, she also created a home that was both nurturing and free—a place where her children could explore, ask questions, and discover who they were. She encouraged them to follow what made them happy, whether that meant painting, hiking, or backpacking through the Sierras. That same love and encouragement later defined her relationship with her grandchildren, to whom she passed down her generosity, humor, wisdom, and truly unconditional love.
In 2000, Monique met the love of her life, Bill Heinz, through a dating website. Their connection was immediate, and they bonded over shared interests, long conversations, and a mutual appreciation for music, nature, and family. They married in July 2003, blending their families with ease.
Monique’s professional life reflected the same compassion and drive that guided her at home. She joined CHAC (Community Health Awareness Council) in 1986 as a Clinical Supervisor, guiding interns who provided counseling to thousands of children in local schools. She later became Clinical Director, mentoring many aspiring therapists who would go on to shape their own communities with the lessons she taught them. In 2001, she became Executive Director, leading CHAC through significant growth and the move to its expanded El Camino Real location in 2013.
Her leadership and dedication earned her the 2006 Athena Award for “Outstanding Woman of the Year in the Mountain View Business Community” from the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce, and the 2012 Eleventh State Senate District “Woman of the Year” Award from State Senator Joe Simitian.
Beyond her professional work, Monique was a pillar of the Mountain View community. She was an active member of both the Kiwanis Club of Mountain View and the Rotary Club of Mountain View, volunteering her time and energy for fundraisers, events, and local initiatives. She was known for her warmth, humor, and ability to make everyone feel welcome—whether she was leading an organization or connecting with neighbors at a community meeting.
After retiring from CHAC in 2015, Monique continued her private therapy practice for several years. She found joy in hiking, travel, attending TheatreWorks and San Francisco Symphony performances, and was an avid reader—especially of mysteries. In 2017, a maltipoo named Kiki came into Monique’s life and became her loyal companion, always by her side.
In addition to her hobbies and time with loved ones, Monique never gave up her political activism. She remained deeply engaged in social issues, volunteering and advocating for peace and equality. Her compassion and commitment to justice never dimmed.
Monique’s passing is a profound loss to all who knew her. Her life was one of courage, kindness, and purpose—a legacy carried on by the countless people she taught, helped, and loved. She will be remembered for her generosity, integrity, and the example she set of how to live with heart, love, and conviction.
Monique is preceded in death by her beloved daughter, Susan, her sister, Colette, and her brother, Guy. She is survived by her husband, Bill Heinz, her son, Clifford Kane, her daughter, Nicoll Kane, and her grandchildren—Kimberly Kane, Brendan Hoffman, Naomi Hoffman, Sophia Kane, and Alec Hoffman.
Her warmth, her grounding presence, and her unwavering generosity will be dearly missed and forever remembered by all whose lives she touched.
Tags: public service
