Katherine Lynn DeVinna

Dearest daughter, sister, aunt, godmother, niece and cousin, Katherine Lynn DeVinna quietly slipped away from this earthly realm, in her sleep, June 30, 2025 at her home in San Francisco from natural causes. Her happy, exemplary and adventurous life began in Riverside, California October 24, 1971 at Parkview Community Hospital when she was placed in the arms of her parents, Linda and Gary DeVinna. She was adored by her older brother, Richard as well as her grandparents, great grandmothers and many aunts and uncles. Katherine was the first granddaughter and first great granddaughter born on either side of her parent’s families and was the oldest girl of twenty-five cousins.

Katherine and her brother, Richard lived in Riverside all the years they were growing up. She attended Victoria and Alcott Elementary Schools, Gage Middle School and graduated from Poly High School June 24, 1989. She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where she participated in all the youth programs. During her youth she learned to swim at age three and reading was one of her favorite pastimes. From the first teacher she had till her final school days every teacher reported “Katherine is a joy to have in class.” She always had a happy, playful personality and had excellent grades, often making the honor rolls.

All who knew Katherine knew that soccer was a huge part of her life. Even her license plates from her first car to her last sported vanity plates reading “SOCRGRL.” At age eight she was one of Riverside’s first girls to ever play on the newly formed AYSO team. She took to soccer like a natural. Even practices were fun to her. She was on Riverside’s 1st All Star team as #7. She wore #7 throughout her soccer years as she played on the 1st girl’s club soccer team, the Soccer Devils and the four years she played Varsity Soccer for Poly High School as midfield defense. She earned every award during those years and Most Valuable Player her Sr. year. Katherine went on to play for Brigham Young University’s Varsity Soccer Team her freshman year until she was injured at the end of the season. She transferred after two years to complete her college education graduating June 10, 1994 from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, UT with a BA in History. She completed her teaching credential from Chapman University, CA in 1997 along with her Administrative and master’s level leadership and coaching credentials.

Katherine first taught at Lakewood High School in Lakewood, CA; 10th grade World History and was the Jr. and Sr. Varsity girls’ soccer coach. For those seven years at Lakewood she also took groups of students each summer on European trips. She relocated to San Francisco and from 2006-2017 she worked for the John Muir Charter Schools: from lead teacher to Site Director, Director of Academics, Deputy Director and to Chief Operations Officer. In 2017 Katherine became High School Principle at Oakland Military Institution. In the three years she was there she was also Director of Academics & Middle School Principle. From 2020 to present she was Director of College Track/San Francisco where she & her staff supported students on their path to reach their educational dreams. She endeavored always to help and find assistance to any student or teacher who needed it, letting them know how important each of them were.

Within these years Katherine continued to live a life well traveled, her days and holidays surrounded by loving family, dearest friends and her sweet godson, Gabe and his family; going to Giants ball games, family reunions, playing in the park with her dogs, attending plays and the movies. She had a great sense of humor, an inclusive personality, beautiful smile & contagious laugh and her big hugs will always be remembered. Her motto to all was “Make Good Decisions. Be A Good Person.” Her silence and absence in our lives is heartbreaking.

Katherine leaves behind her loving mother, Linda (Stanworth) and husband, Don Dinkel of Oceanside, CA, brother & sister-in-law, Richard & Ashley DeVinna of St. George, UT, nephew, Jackson DeVinna & Hannah & grandnephew, Abram of Billings, MT, nieces, Olivia, of Cedar City, UT & Killian of St. George, UT, Godson, Gabe Mullany-Moneypenny of Auburn, CA. Father, Gary DeVinna. Also many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Katherine was laid to rest July 18, 2025; her service held at 1:00 PM in the chapel and interment at Eternal Hills Memorial Park Mortuary in Oceanside, CA. A celebration of her life followed at the home of her mother, Linda and Don Dinkel in Oceanside.