Gary Lynn Shoemaker

1947 - 2016

Gary Lynn Shoemaker
Sept. 7, 1947 - Aug. 4, 2016
Resident of Aptos
Dr. Gary Lynn Shoemaker passed away while surfing at the Pleasure Point, in Capitola, on Thursday, August 4th, 2016. Gary was born on September 7, 1947, in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and grew up in Palo Alto, CA, with his sister, Jeanne. He completed an undergraduate degree at San Francisco State in psychology in 1969 and received his Ph.D. in Psychology from Alliant International University in 1973.
He was Clinical Director/Lecturer at Merrill College at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he worked for 34 years. There, he helped establish the Counseling & Psychological Services Pre-Doctoral Internship Program. He also had a private practice from 1977-2015 at his home in Aptos and was a volunteer for the American Red Cross.
In 1973, Gary first began working as a lecturer and clinical supervisor for an undergraduate peer counseling program at UCSC. Gary contributed much to the development of this innovative program, which at one time had over 100 certified peer counselors. Gary stayed in touch with many of these students, many of whom became social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, and other health professionals.
Later on in his long career with UCSC's Psychological Services, Gary was instrumental in establishing an APA (American Psychological Association)-approved internship and post-doctoral training program. As a clinical supervisor and counseling psychologist, he was also very active in promoting cultural sensitivity and cross-cultural competency and even taught a class on "white identity in a multi-cultural society." The major focus of this class, which he taught at UCSC's Merrill College, was the role that white privilege plays in perpetuating inequality and injustice.
Because of his interest in professional psychology and private practice, Gary was involved with the Monterey Bay Psychological Association for many years serving on the Executive Committee and also as President.
Gary was also an accomplished percussionist, taking many classes on Latin American music in his later years at Cabrillo College. Although a rock and roll drummer in high school, he later on became quite proficient playing Afro-Cuban music on the Timbales. And he loved to go Salsa dancing with his wife, Leticia. He so enjoyed their times together traveling and dancing together in Cuba and Mexico. He was so proud of his daughter, Haley, and would frequently visit her down in Southern California. He died doing what he loved—surfing in Santa Cruz.
He is survived by his wife, Leticia Shoemaker; his daughter, Haley Shoemaker; his step-daughter, Natalie Kristensen; and his sister, Jeanne Shoemaker; and pre-deceased by his loving parents, Dale and Marjorie Shoemaker.
A memorial will be held on Saturday, September 10th, 2016. For more details please email haleyshoemaker@gmail.com.


View the online memorial for Gary Lynn Shoemaker