Kathryn Joan Lee

Nov. 26, 1957 - June 11, 2026

Kathryn Joan Lee - Rynna - moved quietly and deliberately through this world, and many were profoundly touched by her grace and kindness. The name Kathryn derives from the Greek word for purity, and Rynna’s pure heart and clarity of purpose were central to her essence. She, like the bowman of her Sagittarius birth sign, aimed for whatever she felt was essential--whether it was a field goal, mastering internal medicine, completing a race, listening intently to a friend or patient, or maintaining awareness in her sitting practice–and she always hit her mark. This began early in life. Kathryn knew from the age of four that she wanted to become a doctor when she snuck into her physician father’s study and found his books of medical illustrations endlessly fascinating. She was a deeply imaginative child, playing with her Noble Knights, creating elaborate treasure hunts for friends, and following in her mother's wake, learning to bake and restore an old house. She learned piano and loved classical and folk rock music. Rynna brought diligence to everything she did—always studious, quiet, and keenly observant. Deeply embodied, she excelled in athletics and was an intense yet generous competitor. In the shadow of The Mayo Clinic, at Lourdes High School, she lettered in four sports and was later inducted into its Hall of Fame–no small achievement for a young woman of her generation. She still holds the Minnesota women's record in the 880-yard run (preserved because the event was later converted to metric distances). Rynna's early recognition that she was a lesbian and different in temperament and inner life from many people in her loving but fairly conservative community set her on a spiritual and reflective journey. That search became one of the central threads of her life. Following in her brothers' footsteps, she attended Carleton College, where she studied science while pursuing her interests in languages and athletics. She spent a term in Pau, France, becoming fluent in French, though she delighted in telling friends that she spoke it "like a Swiss man," with characteristic irony and a wry smile that belied her underlying confidence. She also read ancient Greek, loved quoting from The Iliad, and spoke passable German. After moving to Boston, she became an accomplished marathon runner, achieving a personal best of 3 hours and 3 minutes, a feat of which she remained quietly proud. At the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, she pursued research on oncogenes, initially envisioning a future as a research oncologist. (When she was later diagnosed with lung cancer, the irony was not lost on her.) She attended medical school at the University of Chicago, where she excelled in her studies and clinical work. Her growing conviction that quality of life mattered as much as life extension led her toward psychiatry. Her interest in meditation, spirituality, and the unfolding understanding of her own sexual identity eventually brought her to residency training at the University of California, San Francisco. Two encounters during that period transformed her life. The first was meeting her Zen teacher, Joko Beck, whose influence inspired a lifelong meditation practice. Rynna sat daily, and later twice daily, rarely missing a session. She brought the principles of living fully in the present moment into every aspect of her life, principles that sustained her vitality, courage, and acceptance through her final days. The second transformative encounter was meeting her beloved partner, Tricia. Their meeting felt magical, though neither understood what it would become. They met on Independence Day in 1987 and did not see each other again for a year. Another year passed before they recognized the depth of their connection, became partners, and were married by Joko among the redwoods in 1994, surrounded by loving family and friends. Kathryn trained with Stan Grof in the early groups studying Holotropic Breathwork, and Tricia soon followed her into both Zen and Breathwork training. Together they founded one of the first Transpersonal Psychiatry groups at UCSF, exploring the intersections of psychiatry, psychology, and spirituality and offered Holotropic Breathwork workshops. Rynna then commuted between two small psychiatry practices in San Francisco and Los Angeles while Tricia was a Fellow in Child Psychiatry at UCLA. When Tricia returned to UCSF, they settled in Berkeley, where Rynna shifted her psychiatry practice to both Berkeley and San Francisco. They traveled widely, seeking experiential learning and contemplative practice - studying with teachers in India and Nepal while also participating in ceremonies with shamans, curanderos, and traditional healers. Kathryn became Chair of the Educational Committee at the Northern California Psychiatric Association and established the organization's first Women's Committee. Through these roles, she introduced Transpersonal Psychiatry and meditation to annual meetings.She also supported Tricia's candidacy at the C.G. Jung Institute of San Francisco. Together they immersed themselves in learning: reading, questioning, debating, and weaving psychological and spiritual ideas into their clinical and personal lives. Rynna embraced Tricia's deep wish to become a parent, leading them through many medical adventures and misadventures over a decade before the birth of their son, Lucas. Rynna devoted herself as Lucas’s “Mahdie,” his grounding parent. Years of nesting followed, including cherished time in Occidental, Ca., where they enjoyed free time in a cottage among the redwoods, built patios and a local community, and constructing a wildly inventive treehouse. Later, in the Berkeley Hills, Rynna continued building community through her daily walks and the friendships they fostered. Breast cancer and later, stage IV small-cell lung cancer brought profound challenges. Rynna met illness as she met life itself: with discipline, humor, kindness, curiosity, and valiant courage. Even in her final years she remained committed to meditation, presence, and the practice of being fully present in each moment. Rynna will be remembered for her warmth, curiosity, dry wit, and unwavering integrity. Unassuming yet secure in what she knew, she listened with a unique sensitivity and understanding, and she understood herself and others deeply. She brought a steady presence and a commitment to the present moment to her family, her work, and her friendships. She was there, fully, and this will endure in the lives of those shaped by her presence. She is survived by her loving wife, Patricia (Tricia) Speier, her son, Lucas Speier, and her brothers and sister: Rob Lee, Cheryl Lee-Appleby (John) and Rick Lee (Mary), and nephews and nieces: Alex, Jack, Kent, Amy (Joe), Philip, Steve, Matt and Lynn (Tyler), who hold her with enduring love and esteem. She was preceded in death by her parents, Anna Junkerman Lee and Robert E. Lee, as well as an infant son, Mikhael.