Kristin Hauge Holter 1931 - 2006

Our good friend and colleague Kristin Hauge Holter died 29 September 2006 after a long illness. Those of us who knew Kristin before she became ill, will remember her as an enthusiastic and dedicated psychoanalyst, colleague and friend, interested in the psychoanalytic field and in people in general. She carried herself like royalty, but at the same time was always approachable. For her patients she was invaluable. She was interested, patient and amenable to each and every person who sought her help.

Kristin was born 6 May 1931 and grew up on a farm on the outskirts of Oslo. She was the only daughter in a large family with many brothers. At that time, it was not so common for girls to get a higher education. She often had long days of farm-work, but managed to graduate from high-school at age 19 and went on to study medicine in Oslo. She qualified at 25 and, after internship, specialized in psychiatry.

Around this time, Kristin married and had two children. This marriage ended in divorce, but in 1968 she remarried, this time to Peter Andreas Holter, a central figure in the Norwegian Psychoanalytic Society. Kristin and ‘PeA’ were soul-mates until his death in 1998. Together they had a son, born in 1969. PeA was an inspiration for Kristin and contributed to her becoming a psychoanalyst in 1977 and later a training analyst.

Kristin worked as an analyst in private practice for most of her long working-life. She was almost a house-doctor for many and knew some families through several generations.

Kristin held various positions within the Norwegian Psychoanalytic Society. She was a long-standing member of the Training Committee and was a member of the Ethics Committee when illness forced her to retire.

Finally, it must be mentioned how Kristin and PeA contributed to the social life of our society. When we had courses and seminars lead by people from other countries, Kristin and PeA opened their home for the seminar-leader and the entire psychoanalyst group. PeA made the food a