Friends and family celebrate the life of Kim Unti

Unti was the acting executive director of the Renton Downtown Partnership prior to her death.

By Joshua Solorzano • December 19, 2024 1:00 pm

Following her accidental death, friends and family of Kim Unti, who was acting executive director of Renton Downtown Partnership, met at Drum Roll Wine to enjoy refreshments and celebrate her life Dec. 13.

On Nov. 26, Unti had been in downtown Renton handing out flyers for an RDP event when she was struck by a car. She died Nov. 28 because of a fatal brain injury. The Renton Police Department said the circumstances of her death are still under active investigation, and there is no update.

RDP board member Jennifer Thompson said Unti was the glue that held the downtown partnership together. They wanted to celebrate and take a moment to do what Unti would do, celebrating her life through raising a glass. Thompson said Unti would not want her friends and family to wallow.

“Oftentimes in the last few weeks, I’ve been like, ‘What would Kim do?’ She would say get up, show up, be Kim,” Thompson said. “So this event is to honor her and to not ever forget what an amazing person she was in this community. What an amazing mother, what an amazing wife, and what an amazing friend. She was all those things.”

Thompson said Unti was involved in various projects that enriched downtown. But a project that comes to mind that she did voluntarily was when Unti and her husband cleaned the awning of a downtown business just to do some good. Despite her work, Thompson said that Unti’s biggest project was how she united people. In unity, Thompson said, everyone at the event wore red, Unti’s favorite color.

Scott Lane said when he first moved to Renton three years ago, Unti helped him understand how he could help in the community and how he could get involved in the community. He described her as patient and understanding.

Lane said that through his work with RDP and volunteering on different committees, he saw how Unti had a large heart and helped out wherever she could, regardless of whether she was on the committee. Lane said Unti would help people understand what was in downtown Renton, and she would always advocate for downtown. He said that in the years to come, people will remember Unti and all she did for the community.

Former RDP president Sheila Humphries said she was in her role when Unti was hired. She advocated for Unti to get the job.

“She had a warmth that we didn’t see with the other candidates. The other ones just kind of seemed like they just wanted to be, you know, part-time,” Humphries said. “Even though the job was part-time, one thing Kim exuded was a warmth that downtown Renton needed at the time.”

Humphries said Unti joined RDP before the COVID-19 pandemic began, and when the pandemic began, she played a large role in advocating for downtown businesses. Humphries said RDP would consistently post Facebook videos of her at different downtown businesses, effectively making her the face of the organization. Humphries said her being the face of RDP wasn’t on purpose, but she made it happen, and everybody loved it.