Brainard Willem Hines' Obituary
Brainard Willem Hines, age 80, of Gainesville, Florida, gracefully exited stage left on July 13, 2025—just as he lived: on his own schedule. Born on April 4, 1945, in Maxton, North Carolina, he was the son of Elsa Schultze and Dr. Brainard Evans Hines. He spent his formative years in Charleston, West Virginia, where he cultivated a lifelong love for the great outdoors and planted the intellectual seeds that would grow into a career in psychology.
Brainard was a graduate of West Virginia University, where he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in Psychology. He later received a PhD in Educational Psychology from the University of Florida in 1980.
A licensed mental health counselor, Brainard spent his career helping others navigate life’s messiness with empathy, insight, and just enough gentle sarcasm to keep things interesting. From community mental health clinics to his highly regarded private practices in Miami and Stuart, Florida, Brainard dedicated his career to the important—and often challenging—work of preventing and treating sexual abuse.
Brainard was the proud and often hilariously outnumbered father of three sons—Michael B. Hines, Gabriel A. Hines, and Benjamin P. Hines—whom he shared with his former wife and lifelong friend, Maria M. Llabre. He was also a grandfather to six brilliant grandkids (with three more on the way), all of whom are carrying on his legacy of sharp wit, sharp minds, and a desire to have unusual pets.
When he wasn’t counseling, Brainard was entertaining friends and family as a home chef. His Thanksgiving feasts are the stuff of legend—everything made from scratch. He was also an outdoor enthusiast, planning family vacations, stargazing, or hiking in the woods.
Brainard’s sharp intelligence, generous heart, and dry humor will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Whether you were a client, colleague, friend, or family member, chances are Brainard left you feeling a little more understood—and probably hungry for his dishes.
His family will honor his life with a private celebration full of food and stories—with Brainard offering opinions in spirit, if not in person.
In lieu of flowers, take a walk in nature, cook something ambitious, or tell a child a weird but educational fact. That’s what Brainard would’ve wanted.
What’s your fondest memory of Brainard?
What’s a lesson you learned from Brainard?
Share a story where Brainard's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Brainard you’ll never forget.
How did Brainard make you smile?