Dennis Rupel - Stockton Forensic Program

What was not mentioned in the brochure, was that Dr. Rupel, for the last 6 years, was also staff psychiatrist for a forensic program in Stockton. Every Wednesday afternoon, he would come in at 2, after Rotary, and from 2-3 was my time to meet with him and his time to spend with the patients. We also quite frequently used that time to catch up on what was happening in each other's lives. From 3 to 5:30 was the Team meeting. 

To watch him with these clients and his ability to make everyone feel comfortable was incredible. We are talking about difficult people with criminal histories. He had this incredible gentleness in his manner. You could physically see them relax after speaking with him.  They would become able to trust they could open up to him without being violated, and they would share a lot of information with him.

 Then he would go into a little spiel at the end of the session. He would tell them: "Now I want to make this a pleasant experience for you, but you need to do your part, too."

From what I've heard and seen, I think that's how he treated everyone in his life: 
"I want to make this a pleasant experience for you."

Then there were his stories about riding on a Harley Davidson in Africa with his Dad, just little bits and pieces of things he would share with the group.

I can remember about a month before we knew he was ill, that I noticed a change. Actually it was the sunglasses. I asked, "Where's your glasses?.  He said, "I lost them."  I asked a week later, "Haven't you ordered your replacement glasses yet?"  He said, "No, LaVon's getting on me for them, too!"

I sensed that there was a change, and then one day he just didn't show up for work. Now anyone who knows Dennis knows he just doesn't not show up. So we called his house, and found out he wasn't feeling well. And it was just the next week we found out he wasn't coming back -- ever.

So it was very, very quick. And he is very, very missed.

He was a real team leader. He was able to deal with all the different kinds of personalities of the staff, it didn't matter to him. He was not judgmental of you. It didn't matter where you came from, it was where you are now and where you want to go. We appreciated Dennis. And we'll miss him very much. 
Thank you.

--Denise Betting, June 11, 2000