Debbie Tate, affectionately known as simply ‘Tate’ by many, passed away peacefully on November 7, 2021 after a long and heroic journey with breast cancer. Many will grieve the loss of Debbie, who walked on this earth for far too short a time, but who made an incredibly positive impact while here. She was a healer, a creative force in the art of family psychotherapy, and a staunch advocate for the disenfranchised. She was a friend to many, far and wide, and touched all who met her in beautiful and profound ways.

Debbie was born on March 6, 1957 and raised in Texas City, Texas.  She graduated from Texas City High School in 1975.  While there, she was a cheerleader and enjoyed sewing, playing piano, riding bikes and spending time on the beach in Galveston.  There was a special place in her heart for “The Farm” in Central Texas, where she spent much of her youth with friends, roaming pastures, staring at big skies, and enjoying life.

She taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible School at Grace Methodist Church, where she was a member of the youth group. In addition, Debbie was a volunteer with the Gulf Coast Chapter of Muscular Dystrophy Association.  For five summers, Debbie volunteered as a personal attendant at the Muscular Dystrophy Association summer camps, helping young people with muscular dystrophy enjoy life, while displaying her passion for helping other people. 

After graduation from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1978, Debbie moved to California with $300 in her pocket and dreams as big as Texas. She earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California in 1985.   

She went on to establish her own therapy practice, helping children and their families heal from heartbreaking traumas. In this work, she formed important therapeutic relationships that were life-changing for many and could last decades.  Over the years, she also served as Clinical Supervisor at UCLA, Assistant Professor at UCI Medical Center, and participated in several research projects. This was her life’s work and her true calling.  Debbie touched many lives and helped many, many people.

Debbie was a huge dog lover and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels were constant companions. She usually had more than one and even had four at one point! She trained them as therapy dogs and credited them with being able to help her younger patients to feel comfortable and enable them to share their inner thoughts and feelings.  She leaves behind her last ‘baby’, Shiloh, who entered her life just before her diagnosis and gave her love and joy throughout her final journey. 

Debbie’s spiritual life shaped who she was and how she embraced the world. She described herself as Christian, as well as Buddhist, and she adopted aspects of Hinduism and various shamanic traditions. She truly led a devotional life, connecting on a metaphysical level, while always staying grounded in connection with others and a vision of growth and healing for herself and all with whom she came in contact.

Independent, courageous, intelligent, self-made and a free spirit, Debbie had a sophisticated and dazzling style and a warm and effusive manner.  She enjoyed the California lifestyle, with the ocean, mountains, sky and sun, yet a part of her remained in Texas.   As she always said, “you can take the girl out of Texas, but you can never take Texas out of the girl!”

Her spirit and her light will be missed but will live on in those she touched.

A celebration of Debbie’s life will be held June 4th, 2022 at 3PM. A Happy Hour with refreshments will follow, from 4 to 6 PM. Please join us at Gladstone's 330 S. Pine Ave, Long Beach, California in the Catalina Room. 

Please feel free to share stories, pictures, and videos here if you like.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a charity of your choice in Debbie’s honor.