Dale Gilsdorf passes away - was volunteer in Venezuela

Dale Gilsdorf

Thursday, Oct. 29, 1998

Former Hastings resident Dale Gilsdorf, 59, of Olympia, Wash., died Thursday, Oct. 29, 1998, in Olympia.

Memorial services are 1 p.m. Nov. 14 at Priest Point Park in Olympia, near the rose garden. His remains were cremated. Mills and Mills Funeral Home of Olympia is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Gilsdorf was born March 27, 1939, to George H. and Jeanette (L'Heureux) Gilsdorf in Hastings. He graduated from St. Cecilia High School in 1957. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska and a master's degree from Western Illinois University. He received a doctorate in counseling psychology from Texas A&M University where he held an EPDA Bi-Cultural fellowship. He had been a licensed psychologist since 1980. In 1981 he moved to Olympia. He established Washington State's second outpatient multi-disciplinary pain clinic in 1981 along with a satellite clinic. He introduced biofeedback training to the clinic program and a community, along with the modalities of massage therapy, the Alexander Technique, occupational therapy, behavioral programs, relaxation therapy and cognitive psychotherapy. His post doctorate internship was with the Psychophysiological Treatment Center in Oxnard, Calif. He was a university professor at Governors State University teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in counseling psychology. He was a staff training consultant for a group of high school students who successfully replicated LaSalle's eight-month canoe voyage of 1681-82 from Montreal to New Orleans. He was a high school principal of 1,200 inner-city drop-out students, a cross-cultural consultant with the U.S. Navy, a training development officer with the Peace Corps, an industrial administrator with industry and a Peace Corps volunteer in Venezuela. He taught junior high and elementary school and published three professional articles. Most recently he was a medical consultant with the Division of Disability Determination of Social Security.

He was a founding member of the Deschutes Psychological Association and received an award for his efforts. Professionally he was associated with local hospitals and his credentials included Diplomat in Behavioral Medicine and Diplomat in Counseling and Psychotherapy and National Biofeedback Certification. He served on the Olympia Mountaineers Branch as a board member, volunteer instructor and climber. He was a board member of the Thurston County Family Planning.

Survivors are two daughters, Nicolle Gilsdorf and Renee Gilsdorf, both of Olympia; and three brothers, Leroy of Merced, Calif., Gary of Phoenix, Ariz., and Eugene of North Platte.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to Safeplace, P.O. Box 1605, Olympia, WA 98507 or the Emergency Protective Shelter in Hastings.

By Larry Haase (ac5-webproxy46.direcpc.com - 66.82.9.45) on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 10:59 am: Edit Post

We were very sorry to learn of Dales's tragic death within the past few days as a result of a web search. Though our contact with Dale was almost 50 years ago, we both remember him fondly.

My wife and I met Dale in February 1957 in Washington DC, where we all met as winners of our state Voice of Democracy contests. Dale was, of course, from Nebraska; my wife, Judy Buonaccorsi was from California, and I was from Iowa. I took several photos of Dale during the week we spent together, including an excellent one of he and Sen. John F. Kennedy in front of the Washington Monument. We would be happy to provide copies of these to any of Dale's family that might wish to have them.

We can be contacted be email at larryhaase@earthlink.net, or by telephone at 304-496-7639.

Sincerely,
Larry and Judy Haase
Delray, WV / Issaquah, WA