Robert Harelson

1919 - 2014

Robert Harelson
April 4, 1919-December 17, 2014
La Jolla
Robert Joseph Harelson entered peacefully into rest on December 17, 2014. He was born in San Francisco to Otto and Lucy Harelson. In 1941, he married the love of his life Anna Marie Eck (whom he affectionately called "Tootsie"). Bob was a graduate of University of San Francisco. He served in the US Navy for six years during WW II.
Bob had a series of interesting work experiences all of which influenced him to enter into the field of Human Behavior. He worked as a motorcycle police officer for the City of San Francisco, an agent for the Dept. of Alcohol and Beverage Control for the State of California and as a school administrator and psychologist in the SFUSD.
Together, he and Anne ran a successful psychology practice in the East Bay for many years. In 1969 they both proudly completed their doctorate degrees in Human Behavior in a program headed by Dr. Carl Rogers. Bob and Anne were innovators in the field of Marriage and Family Therapy. They were one of the first couples to develop intensive group therapy programs for individuals and couples whose desire was to actualize their lives and relationships. They began with conducting groups in their home in Pleasant Hill, CA and as the business expanded, they moved into the Harelson Counseling Center in Lafayette, CA.
After years of traveling back and forth to their vacation home in Hawaii, Bob and Anne retired to La Jolla in the 1980's, where Bob designed and built a beautiful home. Bob enjoyed playing tennis, swimming at the "Plunge", and walks on the beach. He had a wonderful sense of humor and a positive attitude which he kept throughout his entire life.
Bob will be dearly missed by his wife and best friend Anne, their sons Robert (June), Douglas (Cynthia), grandchildren Melissa, Joe, Lars (Nichole) Harelson and Michelle Lewis (John), along with step-grandchildren, Colleen Flanagan, Kevin (Mirela), Lara, Rob (Jessie) and Ryan Albertsen and great-grandchildren Liliana, Nate and Luke Harelson, Annika, Kaylee and Owen Albertsen.
A memorial service will be held January 31st at 11am, Holy Angels Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Lafayette
925-932-0900