Leader's Death Called 'Great Loss'

By Peter Sciacca

An organization that has helped those with mental disabilities in San Francisco for about a quarter century was hit with the sudden death of its executive director in late March.

Evelyn Lee, who held her post at Richmond Area Multi Services (RAMS) since 1990, died from a heart attack at her home on March 26. She was 58. Her co-workers and acquaintances say she will be sorely missed.

"Her death is a great loss to the Richmond District and San Francisco," said Pat Kaussen, executive director of the Richmond District Neighborhood Center. Kaussen's group runs senior, child daycare and music instruction programs. It also refers those with mental disabilities to RAMS.

"RAMS has been a great source of help for Richmond residents," Kaussen said.

Kaussen met Lee about 10 years ago while working with the Neighborhoods in Transition program. RAMS is the lead agency for the program which assists communities in various ways. "She was passionate about her work and dedicated to the programs she was involved with," Kaussen said. "She was energetic and articulate."

Phillip Tsui, who has stepped in as interim director of RAMS, said Lee worked tirelessly to help people. "She was a comfortable person to work with and had enough energy to tackle five different projects at the same time," he said. "Many of these projects are ones that other people would only be able to handle one at a time."

Tsui said he admires how Lee guided RAMS over the years.

"She was a vivacious and energetic leader with great vision," he said. "She had strong compassion for those with mental health problems."

Tsui described his 20-year relationship with Lee, who was his immediate supervisor, as cordial. "I knew her through various community groups 12 years before I came to RAMS," he said. "I got a lot of inspiration from her and she was very well-liked by her staff."

Outside of RAMS, Lee served as a psychiatric professor at UCSF for about 20 years. She also wrote several articles and books on cross-cultural psychology. One of her favorite hobbies was landscape and nature photography. RAMS was founded about 25 years ago at 3626 Balboa St. The site remains the organization's headquarters.

There are now three additional RAMS offices operating in San Francisco. RAMS' staff consists of more than 100 paid professionals and interns in the fields of psychology, health care and social service. At least 1,500 San Francisco residents receive help from RAMS each year. The group offers services in nine languages, with an emphasis on the Asian and Russian communities.

The scope of services RAMS offers includes career counseling, job placement and clinical treatment of various mental disabilities and substance abuse problems.

"We help them (our clients) manage their behavior by coordinating with their doctors and therapists so they can be productive workers," Tsui said. "We also have counselors that conduct school-based outreach programs. We help students deal with family or emotional problems."

Tsui, who has been RAMS' clinical and program director for eight years, said there have been no major changes since Lee's death. He said there will be no reduction in services or staff at RAMS.

"We felt the best way to honor her was to run RAMS the same way she did," he said. "Our board of directors is hard at work looking for a permanent executive director."

Tax-deductible donations in Lee's honor can be sent to the Center for Compassionate Living at P.O. Box 330395, San Francisco, CA 94133.