Dr. Kathryn O. Alexander

Kathryn "Kay" Ogier Alexander died peacefully in her home, surrounded by family, on September 28, 2016. She is remembered for her selflessness, love of learning, generosity, integrity, and fiercely protective and unstinting devotion to her family and friends. She found great joy in opening her home and heart to others. She had strong opinions and an iron will and fortitude. She unprecedentedly survived pancreatic cancer at age 83, and enjoyed seven "bonus" years.

Born in Pasadena on October 5, 1926 to Aileen Polhemus Ogier and Walter Williams Ogier, she attended Pomona College, where she met a band of friends - each nicknamed for a character from Winnie the Pooh - who gathered as "Pooh Corner" for the rest of their lives.

In 1949, Kay married Dr. Harold Alexander and a few years later moved up the coast to Santa Barbara, the city that she made her home. Kathryn embraced her community with integrity and commitment, and left lasting marks. She flatly refused to sign the universally accepted agreement permitting the homeowners' association to block a purchase by an "undesired" purchaser. She participated in the founding of the Santa Barbara City College, and she served continuously on its Board of Trustees for 45 years--the longest serving trustee in the State.

In the late sixties, Kay returned to school at UCSB where she studied, first, philosophy, and then early Christianity and the emerging New Age movement. She served as a head TA for Walter Capps' 800-student course on Vietnam and found flowers in her mailbox from grateful students. She earned an MA in Philosophy and a PhD in Religious Studies, and taught a course on Medical Ethics at UCSB. Following her graduation, she wrote Californian Catholicism, the first book in a series on religion in California, which one of her professors described as "marvelous."

Her door was always open, and many people recalled how she stood in as a "mom" for them.

Kay enjoyed playing bridge at the Little Town Club up until the last few weeks of life. She won the last round of bridge that she played.

Kay Alexander is survived by her children, Clark, Doug, Aileen, and Harold ("Sandy"), grandchildren, Dan, Laura, Ryan, Katie, Tommy, Zoe, Madeline, Ian, Jack, and Jamy, and a great granddaughter, Scarlett.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care, at 509 E. Montecito Street, Suite 200, Santa Barbara, CA, 93103, or by visiting their website at www.vnhcsb.org.