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In memory of
Harold "Doc" Edward Dent
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Harold's obituary
In 1955, Dr. Dent attained his master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of Denver. In 1958, he married Beverly Brown. They later had twin daughters, Lynne and Leslie. Dr. Dent worked as a clinical psychologist in a training program for the mentally retarded.
In 1966, he received his Ph.D in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from the University of Hawaii. Returning to San Francisco, Dr. Dent joined the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare; and thereafter joined the Berkeley Unified School District as Coordinator for Pupil Personnel Services.
Dr. Dent, along with a group of black psychologists from the Bay Area founded the Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi) in 1968. As part of a team of Black psychologists, Dr. Dent assisted counsel for Angela Davis in the jury selection process at her trial in 1972; and led the fight against the use of IQ tests to place minority students in special education classes that ultimately became the landmark case Larry P. v. Riles, 793 F.2d 969 (9th Cir. 1984).
Dr. Dent joined and led the WestSide Community Mental Health Center, advocating and working for the establishment of urban community mental health programs and workshops in San Francisco. Later, he partnered with a team of psychologists to form Psychological and Human Resources Consultants (PHRC), consulting on civil rights and affirmative action matters within the African American community. Dr. Dent accepted a role at Hampton University, in Hampton, VA as Director of Outreach at the Center for Minority Special Education. In 1993, Harold married Joanne Whaley. In 1998, Dr. Dent returned to his tribal home on the Shinnecock Indian Reservation, in Southampton, NY, to become the first Administrator of the Shinnecock Health Services and consultant to the Tribal Trustees.
Dr. Dent was a proud member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation, member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and founding member of ABPsi. He cherished his roles as son, uncle, brother, husband to his wife Joanne, father to his daughters Leslie and Lynne (Christopher) and grandfather to his grandchildren Jillian (Kavon), Hunter (Gracie), Maxwell and Drew.
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Memories & condolences
My father, Robert Cook, now deceased, often spoke fondly of Mr. Dent and of their time in college. My dad also knew h…
My father, Robert Cook, now deceased, often spoke fondly of Mr. Dent and of their time in college.…
My father, Robert Cook, now deceased, often spoke fondly of Mr.…
I recall a time when I was the Office Manager for Dr. Dent in San Franciso, and we were still using the typewriter. The…
I recall a time when I was the Office Manager for Dr. Dent in San Franciso, and we were still using…
I recall a time when I was the Office Manager for Dr. Dent in Sa…
We had the pleasure of meeting you and your husband in the airport a few years back. My husband who is a retired Marin…
We had the pleasure of meeting you and your husband in the airport a few years back. My husband wh…
We had the pleasure of meeting you and your husband in the airpo…
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Created with love by
Joanne Dent (Harold's wife).
