William Cole

1942 - 2017

William Carey Cole, Ph.D.

William Carey Cole, Ph.D., born on January 21, 1942 in Evanston, Illinois, died at home on March 12, 2017 in San Francisco. Dr. Cole was a Clinical Psychologist in Private Practice in San Francisco from 1979 until he retired in 2016. He was devoted to his patients and to understanding them at a depth.

He received his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Pacific Graduate School in Palo Alto in 1990. He had previously completed an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Lone Mountain College in San Francisco, and a B.A. from California State University, San Francisco. From 1988-1991 he was first a Pre-Doctoral and then Post-Doctoral Fellow at Children's Hospital of San Francisco, Department of Psychiatry. There he met his wife Mary Brady, Ph.D. who is a Clinical Psychologist and Psychoanalyst. They shared their love of their work and of each other with a circle of dear friends and colleagues.

Dr. Cole was active as a Clinical Supervisor at California Pacific Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry from 2002 until his retirement. Just as he was devoted to his patients, he was devoted to his supervisees, taking interest in their professional and personal development.

In addition to his practice, Dr. Cole particularly enjoyed working with disadvantaged children in Marin City for the Sausalito School District as a Psychological Consultant. He had many tales to tell of memories of the children He carried granola bars in his pockets in case they were hungry. Dr. Cole did not shy away from the rough and tumble. He worked with youthful offenders, heroin addicts, and troubled families at various agencies. He was involved in civil rights protests in the 1960s with Students for a Democratic Society, including the historic protest at San Francisco State University that resulted in the establishment of the first African American and Ethnic Studies program at SFSU.

Dr. Cole was also interested in dermatological problems, as he had suffered from eczema since childhood. He was on the Clinical Faculty of the Department of Dermatology at UCSF Medical School from 1988-2001. He published articles on group psychotherapy and behavioral treatments as an aid in the medical treatment of eczema.

Prior to becoming a therapist Carey had many adventures. He lived in the Haight Ashbury in the height of the 60s and had many good stories of shows at Winterland, etc. with characters such as Janis Joplin, the Grateful Dead, etc. He lived in Spain for a year and travelled extensively in Europe, Mexico and Central America. When he was young he was in the Merchant Marine on the Great Lakes, worked on a survey crew in Alaska, and worked at the San Francisco Aquarium. He was a great tree trunk of a man and he lived a life.

Carey married Mary in 1990 and their son Danny was born in 1995. Danny was the apple of his father's eye. Carey is also survived by his brother John Cole of Portland, Maine and his sister Susan Franks of Portland, Oregon, and his nieces Jennifer Franks of Portland, Oregon, Melissa Shaw of Sugar Land, Texas and his nephew Benjamin Franks of El Mirage, Arizona and John Franks of Portland, Oregon.

There will be a small, private gathering to remember Carey. Donations may be made in his name to the Equal Justice Initiative, 122 Commerce Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36104. https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/eji