Kay Debs Obituary

Dr. Kay Diane Debs



With sadness, love, and admiration, the family of Dr. Kay Diane Debs announces her peaceful passing on August 25, 2021 just shy of her 85th birthday. She died at her home in Berkeley, CA surrounded by family. A staunch supporter of women's and human rights, Kay's death represents a loss to all who knew her and to the many community members and organizations that were positively impacted by her passion and care for the needs of others.



Born in Chicago, Illinois to Jerome H. Debs and Ruth Kay Debs, Kay spent her early years on the South Side of Chicago where she went to the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools and attended occasional Chicago Bears and White Sox games with her father. Her family later moved to Winnetka, Illinois where she developed a love for water sports, spending her summers as a camper and then camp counselor in Wisconsin. Upon graduation from New Trier High School, Kay headed west to attend Stanford University where she majored in Political Science and was a member of the Public Relations Board. This was the start of a lifelong love of the Bay Area, which became her permanent home in 1985. While pursuing a Master's Degree in Political Science at Stanford, she met and married Dr. M. George Zaninovich with whom she had five children. As was typical at the time, Kay abandoned her graduate studies to raise her growing family but still thrived on the life of the mind as the wife of a professor, living in such college communities as University of California, Berkeley, Columbia University, and University of Oregon. She was a participant and organizer in the activism of the 1960's and 1970's, attending the 1960 Democratic Convention, hosting discussions about race in her home, and participating in anti-war marches. She was community-minded, serving as PTA president at her children's schools and as a member of the University of Chicago Women's Board.



Shortly after Kay was divorced in 1974, she returned to school and earned a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Oregon, launching a 40-year career as a clinical psychologist. All of this while continuing to raise her five children as a single mother.



Kay was an avid sports fan, political junky, arts aficionado, and travel enthusiast. She loved her Oakland Athletics, Stanford Cardinal, University of Oregon Ducks, Golden State Warriors, Brahms, Beethoven, Dvorak, The Art Institute of Chicago, London, and Tim Russert in equal measure. However, her greatest source of joy was her family, in whom she instilled these same passions, inspiring them to pursue vocations and avocations, support philanthropically, and enjoy the arts, politics, travel, and sports. Some of her happiest moments were spent travelling with her children and grandchildren to her favorite destinations and attending the San Francisco Symphony's Deck the Hall, the Sing-Along Messiah, the Final Four, college bowl games, the NBA championships, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and Commonwealth Club events with them.

Kay's family wishes to offer a special thanks to Mirna Salazar who became her caretaker and closest friend in her final years. A true angel, Mirna enriched Kay's life during this time and showed all of us what it means to care for and support a loved one.



Kay is survived by her five children Kathy Layendecker, Michael Zaninovich, Tom Zaninovich, Susan Zaninovich, and Jamie Zaninovich; her seven grandchildren, Katie Layendecker, Brooke Layendecker, Yuki Zaninovich, Keenan Zaninovich, Georgia Zaninovich, Maxwell Zaninovich, and Lucas Zaninovich; her son-in-law Glenn Layendecker and daughters-in-law Keda Moore and Karen Chin; her brother and sister-in-law John and Catherine Debs; brother Robert Debs; and her beloved cat Ella.



According to Kay's wishes, a small memorial service was held with her family. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to support "University of Chicago Women's Board" at ucwb.uchicago.edu.

Notes of remembrance may be emailed to [email protected] or sent to Kathy Layendecker 15 Claremont Crescent Berkeley, CA 94705.