Karen Wick, owner of Coco’s Bistro, former Dayton City Commission candidate, has died

A Dayton Public Schools board member, Wick ran for Dayton City Commission in November, ultimately losing the election to Darius Beckham and Darryl Fairchild.

Montgomery County Commissioner Mary McDonald called Wick’s death a “huge loss” for the Dayton community.

“Dearest Karen, you will be greatly missed,” McDonald wrote on social media. “My deepest condolences to the family and staff. This is a huge loss to the Miami Valley.”

Wick’s fellow school board member, DPS Board President Chrisondra Goodwine, said Wick “represented the very best of public service.”

“She was, without question, the kindest, most optimistic, and friendliest member of our board. She led with warmth, humility, and unwavering grace,” Goodwine wrote in a statement on Sunday. “No matter how heavy the issue or how difficult the moment, Karen showed up with a steady heart and a genuine smile that reminded us all why this work matters.”

Goodwine described Wick as giving “so freely of herself” to others, whether through her work on the school board, as a businesswoman, or as a mother to two children.

“Karen led with heart ... Whether she was encouraging students, supporting staff, or simply showing up in quiet moments that never made headlines, her impact was constant and deeply human,” Goodwine continued. “She believed in doing the work with people — not just directing it from afar — and that is a legacy that will forever live within our schools and our community."

Board member Jocelyn Rhynard also released a statement of condolences.

“I am saddened to hear about the sudden passing of DPS board member Karen Wick. She dedicated many years of her life to her community and deeply loved and cared about the Dayton Public Schools students. My sympathies and condolences go out to all of her family, friends and loved ones,” Rhynard’s statement reads.

Wick, 64, opened Coco’s Bistro with her husband Jim Gagnet in 1996 in Dayton’s Oregon District before moving the restaurant to its current Warren Street location in 2012.

The restaurant is named after Wick’s daughter, Coco.

She previously worked at Reynolds & Reynolds for nearly two decades prior to opening Coco’s.