Secaucus, N.J. - Kate Beck, a 32-year veteran of Panasonic, has passed away suddenly after a brief illness.

In a statement this morning, Panasonic said it "mourns the loss of our dear friend and esteemed colleague," who began with the company as a management trainee in March 1980.

In Beck's career with Panasonic, she held positions of increasing responsibility in sales management and marketing, and most recently was a senior product manager on the display team of Panasonic Consumer Marketing Company of North America, the company said.

Beck was a regular fixture at Panasonic press events and trade shows like International CES and CEDIA, and at retail buying group meetings.

Her family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Niemann-Pick Disease Foundation or Half the Sky Foundation.

A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday, March 24, at 9 a.m. at the Church of Saint Joseph in Greenwich Village, 371 Sixth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10014.