David M. Reid, a former member of the College of Education Leadership Council and Public Affairs staff, died Oct. 16, following a brief illness. He was 77. A funeral mass will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 7215 Newlin Ave. in Whittier.
A lifetime member of the CSUF Reading Educators Guild, Reid endowed a CSUF scholarship in memory of reading educator Jean Carolyn Brenneman, his longtime friend, and was a regular presenter at the College of Education’s Autumn Awards Reception. He also contributed to the It’s Our University campaign, supporting the colleges of the Arts and Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
During his nine years of service at CSUF, Reid chaired the University’s 40th-anniversary public relations and marketing subcommittee, arranging for NASA astronaut and Titan Tracy Caldwell Dyson to be the distinguished alumni speaker for the celebration’s launch. Eight years later, he was among invited guests at the Kennedy Space Center to witness the launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour, Caldwell Dyson’s maiden voyage as a mission specialist, and wrote about the experience.
In 1996, Reid conceived and organized an announcement ceremony for what was then the largest grant in CSUF history when mathematics professor David Pagni was awarded $6 million from the National Science Foundation for a partnership with the Santa Ana Unified School District to revitalize math education. Reid also developed and coordinated Project 2000, engaging 30 members of the Class of 2000 from their freshman to senior years to spotlight the excellence of CSUF programs and students.
Decades before he joined CSUF in 1995, Reid forged a Titan connection. As editor of Long Beach State’s student newspaper, he presented a golden shovel at the “First Intercollegiate Elephant Race in Human History” at the 1962 event held on campus.
Reid earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English at CSULB in 1963 and 1971 and spent 32 years in the Los Angeles Times Promotion Department. He is survived by his brother, Patrick; sister-in-law Judy; and two nieces.