Katrina and Duncan Cameron
Born: April 28, 1938 (Katrina); May 14, 1943 (Duncan)
Died: February 1, 2022 (Katrina); February 5 (Duncan)
Married: 40 years, c. 1982
Children: Katrina's son, Chris Knerr
Katrina Ely Carter Cameron passed away in her son Chris Knerr’s home in Princeton, New Jersey on Feb. 1, 2022 at age 83. Her beloved husband, Duncan Cameron, passed away peacefully in Princeton Hospital a few days later on Feb. 5, at age 79.
Katrina and Duncan were both long-time summer residents of the Upper St. Regis and Spitfire Lake area who loved the Adirondacks, and the Paul Smiths and Saranac Lake communities.
Born in New York City April 28, 1938, Katrina was a prolific composer, musician, artist, and puppeteer. Her original work was performed Off-Broadway, as well as in multiple venues in New York, Palo Alto, California and Princeton. She was a member of BMI Musical Theatre Workshop, which included Broadway luminaries such as Lehman Engel, Maury Yeston and Alan Menken. She is a graduate of Bennington College and did graduate work at both Yale and the University of Indiana.
She was a Master Teacher who taught piano and puppetry to over 1,000 students, both children and adults, starting in her teens and continuing into her 80s. Her acclaimed piano instruction book, “Year Thing,” was published by the C.F. Peters Corporation in 1977.
Duncan was born May 14, 1943 in Pasadena, California. He was an accomplished and avid hiker who also had a wide and varied career. He served in the U.S. Navy, on the USS Ethan Allen, a nuclear submarine; the U.S. Geological survey; Apple; and other technology companies. Like his mother, Judy Cameron, who helped found the Paul Smith’s VIC, Duncan was a keen naturalist, environmentalist and conservationist.
Trina is remembered by her family and many friends and neighbors for her huge spirit, bursting with creativity and love, and for the gifts of joy, beauty, magic, kindness, and fun she brought to so many whom she touched and inspired. Duncan is remembered for his calm and reassuring presence, his quiet strength, his gentle twinkle and his kind heart.
Together, they are remembered for their true and beautiful St. Regis Lake and Mountain romance. They grew up on the lakes and had known each other as children since the 1940s. Both divorced, they met again decades later, fell in love at first sight — second sight, if you will — and had an amazing second marriage together that lasted 40 years.
Katrina is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Chris and Aimee Knerr; grand-children, Spencer and Chloe; and brothers Lew and John Carter. Duncan is survived in addition by his four younger brothers, Sandy, Pete, Bruce and Jim.
Katrina’s memorial service was held at Trinity Church in Princeton on April 2. The family will be holding a joint interment service for both Trina and Duncan on Saturday, July 30 at 5:30 p.m. at St. John’s in the Wilderness, Paul Smiths. All are welcome.