My whole heart
for my whole life.

Kim Louise Hagerty

12.30.56 - 08.25.21

Kim Louise Hagerty, 64, of Traverse City, died peacefully with her loving family by her side on August 25th, 2021. Kim left a lasting business and community legacy, second only to her legacy of love.

Kim was born on December 30th, 1956 in Traverse City to Frank and Louise Hagerty. Kim was a member of the first graduating class of the Pathfinder School in 1974. She completed her education with a fierce determination, graduating early from both high school and college. After graduating from Albion College, Kim received her law degree from the University of San Francisco in 1981. She operated a successful law practice in Lake Tahoe before moving back to Traverse City in 1996 to support the growing family business. Kim fulfilled many valuable roles including Legal Counsel, CEO and later co-CEO. She was gratified by the ability to positively impact the lives of Hagerty employees and their families, including the simple act of saying hello in the hallway. During her career at Hagerty Insurance, the business grew from fewer than 10 employees to hundreds. Finally, Kim served as Chairman of the Board, which she retired from in 2014.

Family was another reason Kim returned to Traverse City. One of the greatest joys of her life was adopting her daughter Mia on January 17th, 1996. She tackled parenting with an unwavering love and devotion, imparting her passion and curiosity for the world through countless adventures together. Kim married the love of her life Antonio Simão on July 24th, 2003. They enjoyed many happy years together raising Mia and experiencing life together. Kim and Antonio were lovers of boating, aviation, traveling to Portugal and other exotic places to taste great flavors from around the world.

Kim had a strong love affair with education. She served as Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Montessori Children’s House for 3 years. During her tenure, the campus on North Long Lake Road was completed, and she was also a founding member of the Karen Circle and a constant champion of the Children’s House community. Kim served on NMC’s Foundation board from 2009 to 2019, and since then has been an honorary member.
Kim led her life with passion, purpose, and her heart filled with love. She was a founding member and supporter of the Archangel Gabriel Orthodox Church. She loved pink, hearts, her cats, the San Francisco 49ers, great food, and entertaining her community of friends and loved ones. Kim was a flower lover and avid gardener, and she spent countless hours tending her beautiful garden. Always one to celebrate the big and little moments in life, Kim enjoyed holidays to the fullest. Kim’s life-long love of learning and her retirement to Naples with Antonio sparked new interests including raising orchids, watercolor painting, and exploring new places in their RV.
Kim is survived by her mother, Louise; husband, Antonio; daughter, Mia; sister, Tammy (Bruce); brother, McKeel (Soon); her nieces Olivia, Hanna, Sophia, Ava; her stepdaughters Marcia and Carina; and her many close friends.
She is preceded in death by her father, Frank and her infant brother Darby.

Memorial Card

"Red Thread" is a documentary that tells the story of the metaphorical red thread that connects Kim’s Chinese-American-Portuguese family. Originally filmed in 2018 and created as a self-directed project by Kim’s daughter, Mia.

Philanthropic Passions

At one point in her life, Kim Hagerty changed her business card so that it read “pink heart” where her occupation would typically appear. This is the epitome of Kim's spirit.

As a successful lawyer and businesswoman, Kim made her way in the professional world with grit, determination, and a heart filled with love. But she always believed that her “why” came from the positive impacts that professional success could confer. Running a business in her hometown wasn’t about ego, it was about being able to support local families with things like the purchase of their first home. And making money wasn’t just about making money, it was about what the money could do.

By all accounts, Kim’s mission was to spread love. In her last years, she made it clear that she wanted to be known for love, beauty, health, philanthropy, and fun. Therefore it would not be doing her justice to solemnly spread love. No, it was important that she spread love and have fun while doing it. Below are the highlights of some of the organizations she loved.

Montessori Children’s House

As the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Montessori Children’s House for three years, Kim will be remembered not only for her giving spirit, but also for her inspired vision and optimism that supported a local school in a time of tremendous growth. “I grew to know that Kim loved a project, especially when it involved new buildings and a dedicated group of people,” Founding Head of School Gretchen Uhlinger said. “Kim had a unique ability to guide a group of people while helping to make them feel as though the work was joyful and that the goals she set would certainly be reached.”
For Kim, meetings weren’t just meetings; they were a chance to meld minds, share laughs, create community, and advance a vision. “I think that, more than anything, Kim appreciated the Montessori mission to guide and encourage each unique child so that their lives could be full of confident curiosity and that they would live with an honest appreciation of the people of the world,” Gretchen said. “I believe that Kim lived that mission.”
Montessori Children’s House >
Archangel Gabriel Orthodox Church

Kim was a founding member and long-time supporter of the Archangel Gabriel Orthodox Church, which began with a dream and a conversation over 25 years ago. In 1996, Kim met Stephanie Long, who together with a small group of Traverse City locals, shared the vision of establishing an Orthodox community in Traverse City. “In those early years, we had some people questioning how the church was going to happen, telling us that no one was going to come,” Stephanie recalled. “But Kim would always behave as if the church founding had already occurred. It wasn’t through a sheer forced will, it was just her belief that it was already so.” Within a few years, the congregation grew to sixty families and created a loving community for people to gather and worship in Traverse City. Today, eighty families are part of the church.
During an ambitious building project for a new Orthodox Church campus, Kim’s love for beauty was manifested in every aspect: from the flower path, community garden, sanctuary adornment, and the building of a Founders’ Garden. Kim was the first person to have an Orthodox funeral service the day following the official door opening of the new sanctuary on September 6th, 2021.
Archangel Gabriel Orthodox Church >
Women’s Resource Center

Kim had a fierce love for women, so working to help a women’s organization became a natural extension of that quality. “She wrapped herself around the Women’s Resource Center (WRC),” Executive Director Juliette Schultz recalled. The Women’s Resource Center protects, shelters, and empowers people impacted by domestic and sexual violence by providing individual and group support and emergency shelter. What began as a personal friendship and business mentorship between Juliette and Kim transformed into a nearly decade-long giving relationship.
“Kim approached giving with love and her whole spirit,” Juliette said. “She asked to cook turkeys for Thanksgiving for all of the residents in the shelter.” In 2017, Kim helped the WRC put on a Gentlemen’s Event, which began a conversation about healthy masculinity in the community. “She was so excited to put on the event, and she was never afraid to get her hands dirty,” Juliette shared. “She pulled out all the stops and willingly leveraged her position as a business leader in the community to give to the organization, and that is just one example.”
Women’s Resource Center >
NMC Foundation

Kim’s involvement with the Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) Foundation was rooted in her belief that education can change the world and create opportunity where there was none before. Some of her most notable involvements include her decade-long legacy as a board member, the creation of the Hagerty-Simão Family Scholarship for NMC Commitment Scholars and aviation students, and her and Antonio’s million dollar gift in 2021.
But as with everything in Kim’s life, it was beyond just what she did and more about how she did it. “Just even in how she welcomed me and others to meetings always felt warm and inviting,” Rebecca Teahen of the NMC Foundation recalled. “Kim always made everyone feel welcome.”
NMC Foundation >
TEDx

Kim was involved in TEDxTraverseCity since its inception in 2010 and joyfully contributed to the gathering for a decade. She loved participating in the event because of the opportunity that it gave to bring the community together and exchange fresh and new ideas.
“Kim contributed her wisdom and was a tremendous thinking partner,” TEDxTraverseCity curator Sara Harding said. “She was always energetic in bringing speaker ideas each and every year. It won’t be as vibrant without her.”