Dr. Harry Allen Grater Jr.'s Obituary
Dr. Harry Allen Grater, Jr., noted psychotherapist and teacher of psychotherapists, died just after midnight on October 19, 2014 with family by his side. A 25-year survivor of cancer, Harry finally succumbed to cholangiocarcinoma and related complications. He was 87.
Harry is survived by his wife of 66 years, Mathilde, his son Jeffrey Grater, married to Karen, his daughter Leslie Parker, married to Jim, his grandchildren Nathan and Elizabeth Grater, and Zachary, Joshua, Jacob and Sarah Parker, and his sisters Betty Thompson of Champaign, Illinois and Sammye Seawell of Anchorage, Alaska.
Born in Carbondale Illinois on September 3, 1927 to Harry Allen and Hazel Grater, Harry enlisted in the U.S. Navy towards the end of World War II. After the war, he earned his BS and MS in psychology from Southern Illinois University, and his PhD in clinical psychology from Penn State. In 1966 Harry was awarded a Diplomate in Counseling Psychology.
After serving on the faculty at Michigan State University, Harry joined the University of Florida as full professor and Director of the Counseling Center in 1965. In his years at UF he served as Acting Dean of University College, Chairman of Behavioural Studies, Director of Training in Counseling Psychology, and in various other positions. Harry taught and supervised graduate students in the Counseling Psychology Department until his retirement as Professor Emeritus on August 7, 1997. He continued his work as a psychotherapist in private practice until 2009.
Harry’s greatest passion and joy was his family and his work, in that order. He was a true and loving husband to Mathilde, and a patient and loving father to his children, Jeff and Leslie, and the six grandchildren whom he adored.
An avid athlete and sports enthusiast, Harry played collegiate tennis, basketball and baseball and was a loyal Gator fan for 50 years. He eventually turned his talents to golf, and although not prone to envy, Harry did lament his inability to swing a golf club as well as his wife, who had a natural gift he could never equal.
A celebration of Harry’s life will be held at the Baughman Center at the University of Florida on Sunday, November 2, 2014 at 4:00 PM. A reception will be held following the ceremony at the Advocacy Center Foyer at the Levine College of Law at 309 Village Drive, Gainesville, FL 32607. In lieu of flowers, the family would be grateful for any donation to the American Cancer Society or a charity of your choice.
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