William M. Reynolds
1951 - 2024
William M. Reynolds, Ph.D., known to most people as Bill, was a man of many talents. Born in Berkeley, California, he grew up in Castro Valley, attended Hayward High School and completed his B.A. in Psychology at UC Berkeley. He did his Masters Degree and Ph.D. in Educational Psychology at the University of Oregon and took his first University position at SUNY Albany. He went on to teach and do research at University of Wisconsin Madison, where he developed the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale (RADS) which is used both clinically and in research to help identify young people who are struggling with depression. He worked directly with teachers and children in the area schools and always had a commitment to the well-being of children. Bill moved to a professorship at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver before returning to California as a professor of Psychology at what is now Cal Poly Humboldt. During his time there (2000-2019), he served the department for a time as Chair as well as teaching and guiding students’ masters research and theses. In 2013 he received an American Psychological Association Senior Scientist award. He served on multiple editorial boards and consulted internationally. Bill continued his research and actively supported student research throughout his career, continuing to be professionally engaged even after his retirement. As significant as his professional life was, Bill was also a talented photographer. He was fascinated by the effects of different lighting, capturing particularly birds and flowers in their natural surroundings as well as stunning sunsets. He was interested in art, particularly prints, and fascinated by geology, rocks and landscapes. He loved the ocean and spent many hours along the seashore on beaches near his home and in Oregon. He followed the news and politics avidly and read widely, everything from social commentary to history to science fiction and fantasy. His neighbors knew him best through friendly encounters as he walked his dogs, most recently his friendly companion “Cookie.” Bill was always delighted to hear from or run into former students, and he had a special smile of delight when he talked with them about their work. Bill cared deeply for his family and long-time friends and colleagues. He passed away in February. He will be missed by many.