Life is Full of Surprises

Lilly Kassos was full of surprises.

From driving around West Seattle in her little red sports car, to opening up a hair salon and becoming an extremely successful businesswoman, to exploring her talents in Japanese sumi art, Lilly kept her friends wondering what she would do next!

Lilly grew up in the First Hill area of Seattle with her parents, Frank and Alexandra Kassos, where they settled after emigrating from Greece in the 1920s. She later attended the Annie Wright School in Tacoma. Lilly always remained proud of her heritage, hosting Greek-themed events and dinners in her later years.

She co-owned a lumberyard in Burien before her entrepreneurial skills led her to becoming a hairstylist with a fiercely loyal following. Lilly was known as being extremely creative and talented, skills that she directed to her love of art after selling her salon business in the 1980s. She became a dedicated and involved volunteer at the Seattle Art Museum and the Frye Art Museum, and took many art classes, specializing in sumi painting, a technique using black ink and precise brush strokes.

In addition to her love of art, Lilly was an avid golfer and reader, and enjoyed boating on Puget Sound with her friends. She was also a going concern in her chapter of the Red Hat Society, leading the 12 members on lots of fun outings (Western clubs and dancing!) as well as participating in local parades. She was known by her Red Hat Society sisters as being spunky, feisty and always up for a new experience.

Many of Lilly’s friends described her love of cats throughout her life. She adored her silver short-hair cats and they became a part of her family over the years. She was amazed at how clever they were and how intuitive they could be, taking on human characteristics. Her wonder and awe of cats extended to big cats. She was able to see them up close on safari in Africa—a trip of a lifetime for Lilly. This admiration of cats of all sizes is something she shared with her father. Her friends suspect this love of big cats originated with visits to Woodland Park Zoo with him as a young child.

Thank you, Lilly, for remembering the zoo so generously in your estate plan. Your gift of $1.6 million dedicated to the care and welfare of big cats in honor of your father, was a true surprise. And for that, we at Woodland Park Zoo are forever grateful.

A special thank you to Sandra Newmaster, Peggy Rafn, Judy Derbes Leyden, Peggy Kemper, Jeffrey Kemper and Marian Herrin for sharing your memories of your dear friend, Lilly Kassos.