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Kathryn Kaminsky Obituary
1942-2023
Kathryn
Kaminsky died
on August 16,
2023, after
complications from Covid and endometrial
cancer
immunotherapy.
She was born and raised in New York City by first generation immigrants, Saul and Anne Rosenbaum, whose parents migrated from Eastern Europe. Kathryn's education at the Ethical Culture School in NYC, from kindergarten through high school, set her on a lifelong path of trying to understand deeply what it means to be human. After graduating from high school, she attended Skidmore College, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. She went on to complete graduate studies at the University of New Mexico and became an advanced practice psychiatric nurse. Throughout her long nursing career in the public sector, she credited her colleagues, and patients and their families for teaching her about ethics, culture, suffering, and resilience. Later in life, Kathryn applied this knowledge in caring for her beloved husband of forty years, Tom Singleton, who died of dementia in 2020. She continued to pursue her own studies of death, impermanence, and Buddhism, and to care lovingly for her friends and family, to the very end.
Kathryn
transitioned peacefully from this world at home, surrounded by loved ones. Over her bed was a picture of the Buddha Tree at Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center, and on the adjacent wall hung a banner with her favorite quote (Laurie Anderson), "The purpose of death is the release of love." She felt that love from family, friends, her yoga, Buddhist, and music communities, and from her oncology, MICU, and hospice teams.
Kathryn is survived by her beloved ones: her children, Alexis and Pace, and Pace's partner Matthew; her sister and niece, Neshama and Melia Franklin; and her extended family, Milo, Elissa and Christina.
There will be a gathering of Kathryn's friends and family on Sunday, October 1, at 2 pm in the meadow at La Luz.
If you wish, donations can be made to Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center
(https://www.vallecitos.org) and/or Outpost Performance Space, (https://outpostspace.org), both places that enriched her life and the lives of others.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Kathryn Kaminsky
4 Entries
Joseph Malm
May 24, 2025
I had known Katheryn and Tom, though not very well, and had lived next door to them at La Luz back in the early 90's. I have worked for many people at La Luz over the last 30 years and had worked for Katheryn and Tom in refurbishing the residence they recently bought from the Hren estate also in La Luz. This was shortly before Tom's passing. As my time working at La Luz has diminished over the last several years I just now heard of Katheryn's passing. I am sorry to have not gotten to know Alexis very well but extend my deep condolences to her and the rest of her family.
Marjorie Buck
August 21, 2024
I have been remembering Kathryn a lot lately--how she lived her life with intention, openness, intelligence and kindness. She has left an enduring imprint on my being.
Carol Horwitz
August 31, 2023
Kathryn - When I think of you I think of your smile and laugh. Thank you for being a part of my life. Look forward to seeing you on the other side.
David A Bennahum
August 27, 2023
Katherine and I worked together over many years on the UNMH Biomedical Ethics Committee and on numerous teaching events concerning patients at the end of life. She made so many important contributions to improving the lives of so many patients and bringing a nurse's perspective to end of lifer care.
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