Susan Rainey

1946 - 2022

11/25/1946 - 9/25/2022 Susan Jane Rainey, 75, a distinguished leader in California's education community, passed away September 25, 2022. Known as Dr. Rainey to many and as Sue to many more, her achievements in education reached statewide notice. When she retired after 10 outstanding years as superintendent of schools at Riverside Unified School District, she had recorded a remarkable array of accomplishments, accepted numerous awards and touched the lives of many thousands of students, faculty, staff, parents, community leaders and residents. Following her "retirement," Sue began two terms as an elected trustee at the Riverside County Office of Education and served as its chair. She also moved from the board to a not-so-interim presidency at the United Way of the Inland Valleys. Plus, she served as an appointed member of Riverside County's First 5 Commission, including a turn as chair. Born in Denver, Sue grew up in Temple City, California. She graduated twice from the University of Redlands with a bachelor's and then a master's degree in history. She earned a doctorate in educational administration from the University of Southern California. In 2004, California Baptist University also bestowed on Sue an honorary doctorate. After Sue's early teaching assignments in Redlands Unified and Palo Alto Unified, she returned to San Bernardino County to teach at Yucaipa High School. While there, she met and married baseball coach and administrator Jack Rainey. Their marriage was blessed with one son, Jordan. Sue then advanced to assistant principal at Monrovia High School. At age 33, she became principal at Brea Olinda High School, one of only six female high-school principals in California at the time. Next, she ably served as assistant superintendent for human resources and then as deputy superintendent at Hemet Unified. In 1991, Sue earned her first superintendency, seven distinguished years at Charter Oak Unified in Covina. In 1998, Sue landed the top post at Riverside Unified School District, seven and a half times the size of Charter Oak. While at RUSD, Sue implemented many strong management initiatives. She received numerous awards, including the prestigious Robert F. Alioto Instructional Leadership Award by the California School Leadership Academy. This organization honors one outstanding superintendent in the state each year for demonstrating the "commitment and ability to provide the type of courageous leadership needed to ensure instructional excellence." Among her many awards for professional service, Sue was named Superintendent of the Year by Region XII of the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA), covering both San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Seeing the need for a chapter that Riverside County could call its own, Sue and others successfully advocated for the creation of ACSA Region XIX, which promptly named Sue as its inaugural president. In addition, Sue served as a board member and president of the influential California City School Superintendents. Sue's many recognitions for community service included the prestigious YWCA Woman of Achievement Award twice, in 1996 in the San Gabriel Valley and in 2012 in Riverside. Her support of youth athletics gained her an appointment to the executive board of the CIF Southern Section. Sue received the Chuck Kane Leadership Award and thus became a member of the Riverside Sport Hall of Fame for her ongoing support of athletics. Sue became the first person to receive this award. Sue's work for her adopted city included board member and chair of the Riverside Public Library Foundation, board member of the Riverside Philharmonic, and member of the Congregational Council of Trinity Lutheran Church. Sue lost her beloved husband, Jack, in 2006. In 2011, she met her last love, John Collins of Riverside. They married in 2015. Undoubtedly, her favorite getaway remained her sister's family retreat on Lopez Island, Washington. Sue will be laid to rest there, on the island where she spent an idyllic slice of almost every summer for three decades. Surviving family members mourn Sue's loss, including her best friend and sister, Stephene Moseley (Clarke); her son, Jordan Rainey, his daughters Pyper, Allie and Nora, and their mother, Mindy Rainey; and Sue's husband, John, his son, Thatcher Collins (Lauren), and his daughter, Dr Ellen Kaminski (Jim). Also mourning her loss are Sue's step-daughters, Lisa Rainey Hudec (Dan) and Suzanne Rainey Barshop (Mark); their brother, David Rainey, passed in 2021. Niece Katie Moseley and nephew Joe Moseley deeply miss their Aunt Sue. The family has planned a memorial service and celebration for Sunday, November 13 at 1p.m. at Riverside City College's Coil Auditorium, 3890 University Ave, Riverside. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in her honor to: Riverside Educational Enrichment Foundation, Riverside Public Library Foundation, Riverside Philharmonic, or Riverside's Trinity Lutheran Church. Please send remembrances and photos to ssn.rainey@gmail.com. Most will be posted. If your submission is too large, send a message and a Dropbox link will be forwarded. Visit susanrainey.com for updates.