Robert A. Lee, M.D.
May 26, 1926 - February 21, 2018
Robert Albert Lee, M.D., a psychiatrist, Lay Buddhist Roshi, and long-time Bay Area resident, passed away peacefully at Zen Hospice Project at 91 from complications associated with Parkinson’s disease.
Bob was born in Windsor, Canada and grew up in Detroit, Michigan. Although he had life-long vision problems that increased with age, he lived a full, active life, including sailing, swimming, skiing, and the 7:15 Yoga Group in the Presidio until well into his eighties.
Bob joined the Army at seventeen, serving as a radio operator in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater, in the 41st Infantry. He visited Hiroshima, Japan, several weeks after the atomic bomb was dropped. He always felt his eye sight was further damaged by the radiation he experienced there.
He graduated from Wayne State with a B.S. degree in 1949 and received a Medical Degree from the University of Michigan in 1954. After practicing as a pediatrician for seven years in Walnut Creek, California, he completed a residency in psychiatry at Herrick Memorial Hospital in Berkeley. He practiced as a family therapist for 28 years at Kaiser Permanente, serving as Chief of Psychiatry for many years at Kaiser Richmond, California.
After retiring from Kaiser in 1995, Bob worked with mentally challenged adults at Strides, in Oakland. In San Francisco, he volunteered at North Beach Citizens, working with people in transition from homelessness and remained a strong supporter of that organization. For many years he played Santa Claus to the children at the Telegraph Hill Neighborhood Center.
A Zen Buddhist since 1968, Bob studied Zen meditation with many great masters: Yasutani Roshi, one of Maezumi Roshi’s teachers, Koryu Osaka Roshi, Soen Nakagawa Roshi, and Maezumi Roshi. He was also a long-time student of Bernie Glassman Roshi and Genpo Merzel Roshi, and served on the Board of Directors for both their organizations. Bob was among a group of religious leaders of all faiths to meditate together in internment camps in Europe.
Bob received the title of Roshi (Dharma Holder) from Genpo Roshi, and Dharma Transmission and Inka (final seal of approval) from Bernie Roshi. He is a founding member of the Bay Area Zen Peacemakers Circle and was named its first Elder. Dharma transmission was given by Bernie Roshi in 2007 and he was made a Roshi (Zen Master) in 2017.
For the past twenty-five years Bob has shared his life with his wife, Jane Winslow. They traveled to many interesting places and loved to share their life together with friends and family in their home on Telegraph Hill.
Bob is survived by his wife, Jane Winslow, son Kevin and his wife Debbie, grandson Rob and wife Christine Genualdi, and great-grandsons Patrick and Elliott, and his brother Thomas and his wife Willie. Bob is predeceased by his brother Phillip, and son, Christopher.
His family and friends will all miss his wry humor and gentle manor.
A special thanks to the caring staff and volunteers at Zen Hospice Project and of Hospice ByThe Bay. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Zen Hospice Project, North Beach Citizens, or NEXT Village SF are suggested.
A memorial for Bob will be held on March 8 at 2 PM at the South Beach Yacht Club, entrance at north side of AT&T Park, Second and King.