Joanne Wile. Courtesy of her friends

Licensed clinical social worker, program director, and psychiatry professor, environmental, animal welfare and human rights activist, and former Albany City Councilmember and Mayor Joanne Ruth Wile passed away peacefully on June 4, 2025. She was 79 years old.

Born to George and Phyllis (Van Buskirk) Ruth, Joanne grew up in San Diego where she excelled in music, writing, and academics — becoming a church organist and recognized poet. Drawn to the outdoors, she developed a long-standing passion for tennis and hiking. Her career path focused on advocating for the needs of severely mentally ill persons, after earning a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in Social Welfare from UC Berkeley, as well becoming a LCSW in 1976.

In her 27-year career at the UCSF and San Francisco General Hospital’s Department of Psychiatry, she held various leadership positions, including Director of Social Work Training, Director of Psychiatric Social Services, Co-Director of the Cultural Competence and Diversity Committee, and co-founder of the Women’s Consultation Team, with a focus on treating pregnant psychotic women.  

Joanne also worked at the Contra Costa Social Services Department, California Medical Clinic for Psychotherapy, Oakes Children’s Center, Mt. Zion Hospital and Medical Center, Westside Community Services, San Francisco Community Behavioral Health Services, and was affiliated with the Psychotherapy Institute of Berkeley.

An innovator in ethnic and gender mental health equity, she led the creation at SF General of “Community Focus,” a treatment program for Latino, Asian/Pacific Islanders, LGBTQ and HIV-positive clients who were high users of acute services — changing the delivery of San Francisco mental health services. She was lauded for her high energy, curiosity, clear thinking, collaborative leadership style and excellent organizational skills.

After receiving several honors as well as recognition for her publications and speaking engagements, Joanne retired from SF General in 2006 to turn her energies to promoting initiatives in healthcare, education and the environment. She was elected to two terms on the Albany City Council, serving twice as mayor, where she championed protection of the Albany-Berkeley waterfront, policies and actions to fight climate change, and environmental and social justice. 

Wile cared for rescued birds and dogs, helped house a feral cat colony, and volunteered at the Berkeley Humane Society. Courtesy of her friends

As councilmember, she applied her expertise in human services outreach to engage and assist persons without homes, directed her enthusiasm for waste reduction to include a Styrofoam ban, supported efforts to transition the Albany Bulb into the McLaughlin Eastshore State Park, mediated conflicts, and directed her many other skills towards improving the Albany-Berkeley community.

Joanne was instrumental in launching a mental health program for Albany Unified School District elementary children, and a trauma treatment program for Asian, African-American, and Latino teens. Recruiting and coordinating community therapists and graduate interns for 13 years, she was praised for her calm tenacity, dedication, collaboration, and supportive mentoring.

Active in social justice, governance, chalice circles, and volunteerism at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, Joanne was loved and respected for her humility, generosity, compassion and strong work ethic. She lived in Berkeley from 1964 to 1970.

Joanne lovingly cared for rescued birds and dogs, helped house a feral cat colony, and volunteered at the Berkeley Humane Society. Alongside her hound Jake, she encouraged children to learn to read aloud in “Paws for Reading” at the Albany Library. 

She was predeceased by her ex-husband Dan Wile, and is survived by many friends, colleagues, and extended family. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Fundación En Vía – a nonprofit based in Oaxaca, Mexico, that supports women and their creation of income-generating businesses, or to the Milo Foundation.

A memorial service honoring Wile’s life will take place on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 2 p.m., at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Road, Kensington, CA, where she was an active member.

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