Rena Kay, M.D., age 75, passed away December 28, 2018. Married to Dr. Jerald Kay for more than 50 years, she was a devoted mother of Sarah Kay (Joshua Lewis), Rachel Kay (James Brennan) & Jonathan Kay (Mary Spadoni); dear sister of Yona Victor & Phil Victor; loving grandmother of Mira & Talia Lewis, Miles Martin Brennan & Naomi Kayla Brennan.
Dr. Kay was born in Chevy Chase, Maryland, to Selma and Samuel Victor and graduated from Brandeis University and the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She completed her general psychiatry residency and child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at the former Cincinnati General Hospital.
Dr. Kay was a clinical professor of psychiatry at Wright State University and clinical associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Cincinnati. Early in her career, she directed the adolescent psychiatry hospital unit at the General Hospital and was the recipient of a Robert Woods Johnson grant to improve mental health care for adolescents.
As a training and supervising psychoanalyst, she was a beloved teacher and mentor to psychiatric residents and psychoanalytic students. A Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, she coauthored a number of book chapters and received a special commendation from Wright State University for her exceptional contributions to the education of residents.
Dr. Kay was known for her expertise in the in the treatment of those who experienced significant psychological trauma. In addition to her life-long interest in music and theatre, she began to paint during the last months of her life, and her paintings of still life and landscapes were vibrant in their colors and remarkable for their attention to detail.
Services were at Weil Funeral Home in Cincinnati on Dec. 31. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to Doctors without Borders (1-888-392-0392 or www.doctorswithoutborders.org) would be appreciated.
