Paul Kimberley Ling, 66, died at Norwood Hospital on August 22, 2019. A resident of Sharon, MA since 1985, he and his wife, Dr. Theslee (Joy) DePiero, also owned a home in Edgartown, MA since 1991. Born in Lynbrook, L.I. New York, on July 12, 1953, he was the son of Frank Hayes Ling and Annette Anna Larned.
Dr. Ling received his bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Harvard University and a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Boston University. Upon completing his studies he went into private practice opening offices in Sharon and Quincy, MA. His continuing and advanced training included certification by the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis enabling him to utilize hypnosis as a tool in augmenting standard behavioral and psychotherapeutic techniques. A staunch advocate for mental health care and an activist who sought legislative control over the managed health care industry, he was a skillful, versatile and compassionate therapist who personalized his treatment to the needs of the individual patient integrating best practices in both Western and Eastern Psychology. Because of his encouragement, his daughter, Alexandra was inspired by him to pursue a career as a school psychologist, where she now serves at The North Carolina School for the Deaf.
Paul (known to his family as Kim) was an avid fisherman. He enjoyed many fishing trips off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard and digging for clams with family and friends there each summer. The Vineyard was a place he and his wife loved and from which they drew solace and rejuvenation. Among his varied intellectual interests was a keenness for military history and science fiction.
A serious practitioner of the Mahamudra tradition of Tibetan meditation, Paul was deeply influenced by the teachings of the Venerable Denmo Locho Rinpoche, former Head Abbott of Namgyal Monastery. Paul was a devoted and dedicated student of Rahob Rinpoche Thubten Kalsang, lineage-holder and Abbot for the Rahob Monastery and Dr. Daniel Brown, PhD, founder of the Pointing Out the Great Way and served on the Foundation’s board. As part of Paul’s practice with Rahob Rinpoche and Dr. Dan Brown, he and a group made a special journey to Tibet to visit Rahob Rinpoche’s home monastery in 2013 where he was referred to as “cowboy Paul” because of the hat he wore throughout the trip--a highlight of his life.
Dr. Ling is survived by his wife, Dr. Theslee DePiero of Sharon, MA, his daughter, Alexandra Ling of Morganton, NC, his sister and her husband, Dr. Deirdre Ling and Mr. Edward Russell, of West Tisbury, MA and Bonita Springs, FL, his sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Brent Baxter of St. Louis, MO, and his nephews, Mr. Jared Baxter of Los Angeles, CA and Mr. Grant Baxter of St. Louis, MO.
A memorial service will take place at the Boston Center for Contemplative Practices, 760 Beacon Street, Newton, MA 02459 on October 26 at a date and time to be determined. Donations in Paul’s name may be made to either Rahob Rinpoche, (checks made out to Rahob Dharma Center), 18 Hewitt Rd. Petersburg, NY 12138 or the Pointing Out the Great Way Foundation: PointingOutThe Great Way.org/donations.