Gail Oakley

1945 - 2016

Gail M. Oakley

Gail M. Oakley, 70, died peacefully on Tuesday, August 16, 2016 in her home in San Francisco. Born on October 29, 1945 in Long Island, New York, she was the daughter of Rhoda M. and the late Milton V. Oakley of Baltimore, Maryland. In addition to her mother, she is survived by two brothers, Eric Oakley of Charleston, SC and Scott Oakley of Los Angeles, as well as two nephews and several great nephews.

Gail was a 1963 graduate of Central York High School, in York, PA. She attended Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio, where she graduated in 1967. After graduating from college, she worked in a research capacity for three years for CBS in New York City before relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area, which she made her lifelong home. Upon arriving in San Francisco, Gail worked for several years as an educational researcher and writer. She then pursued a Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the Wright Institute, and worked at Mt. Zion Crisis and Outpatient Psychiatry Clinics, Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute, and later in private practice. She was a valued member of the Psychoanalytic Institute of Northern California and the Northern California Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology.

Gail was an avid runner, bicyclist, and hiker. She loved international travel, and participated in numerous walking excursions through Italy, Croatia, Ireland, and elsewhere. A lifelong learner, she enjoyed taking classes in literature and acting. She was also an avid theatre-goer and was on the Board of Directors at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley, CA. She hosted a Shakespeare reading group called "Go Shakespeare," which continues on in her absence.

Gail leaves behind dear friends from every phase of her life. She will always be cherished by them for her beautiful spirit, lively mind, and huge heart. An informal gathering will be held in celebration of Gail's life. A date has not yet been set.