Remembering Mary Helen Fein

Dear Sangha,

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of our dear friend and long-time sangha member, Mary Helen Fein, on November 22, 2025.

Mary Helen had practiced meditation since 1992. Her first studies were with John Fitzgerald Preston in Philadelphia. In 1993, she moved to California and met her primary teacher, John Travis.

Mary Helen was a Community Dharma Leader, who with Maeve Hassett, taught many Introduction to Meditation courses, organized and hosted Mountain Stream daylongs at the Sisters of Mercy in Auburn, CA, and began and fostered the Auburn and Rocklin sanghas.

She was a beloved Dharma teacher at Mountain Stream for many years. She even taught a half-day on a mindfulness art practice. Mary Helen deeply tapped into the joy, value and depth of embracing creativity through making art.

Mary Helen served as Mountain Stream board president for several terms and led with a can-do positivity -- a gentle, dynamic, insightful trailblazer. After retiring, as a published author, she helped John Travis craft his autobiography.

We honor Mary Helen and are deeply grateful for her enduring leadership and support of Mountain Stream through the years.

Our hearts go out to her husband, Stu Clancy, a long-time sangha member, board member, and our previous board treasurer.

"Oh great, compassionate Buddha! With your warm-sun-like wisdom. May the brilliance of Her life continue into the future; May the garden of Her life proliferate endlessly." ~ Prayer for the deceased by Venerable Master Hsing Yun

Deep bow to your light, Mary Helen. Thank you for being Sangha. Much Metta ~