Nova Chemicals executive Mark Kay died Oct. 19 while attending the K 2019 trade show in Düsseldorf, Germany.
Kay, 56, was performance films group leader for Calgary, Alberta-based Nova, a major North American supplier of polyethylene resin. Kay was a resident of Cranberry Township, Pa., near Pittsburgh, where Nova previously was headquartered. A local obituary said Kay died unexpectedly from a heart attack.
Kay joined Nova in 1999, He had previous industry experience with Exxon Chemical, Avery Dennison and 3M and held degrees from the University of Michigan and Northwestern University.
Kay is survived by his wife Susan. three adult children and a granddaughter. The local obituary said that Kay "was known for his quick wit, his infectious smile, and his kind and compassionate spirit."
"He approached everything in life with great passion," it said. "He loved being a dad and his children were the light of his life."
"Those who were lucky enough to spend time with Mark will remember him for his humor, always practicing his dad jokes and 'A material.' Making people smile was Mark's mission."
In a letter to customers, Nova executive John Thayer said Kay "has been part of the Nova family for 20 years and has touched many of our lives as a colleague, business partner, mentor, advisor, teacher, and friend."
Thayer described Kay as "a formidable influence within our industry" and added that he "consistently brought his technical expertise and expansive knowledge to everything he did."
"Mark's passion and dedication for our industry, safety and sustainability were contagious," Thayer said.
In a letter to its members, the American Institute for Packaging and the Environment said Kay "was a passionate advocate of our work and will be greatly missed in this community." Kay was active with the group, serving at the committee level and attending its annual meetings in Washington.
Services are Nov. 4. Memorial donations can be sent to St. Sebastian Men's Emmaus North, 103 Ryan Drive, Pittsburgh PA 15220, Attention: Howard Soles.