Robin Reid, honorary alumnus

Robert “Robin” Reid, who worked in student affairs from 1965–1974 and maintained a strong connection to Cornell, died May 15, 2023, in San Diego, California. He was 85.

Reid studied American history at Colorado College, graduating in 1959. He then spent two years in the Army, two years teaching high school history, and became a student again, earning a master’s degree in history at the University of Colorado Boulder.

He arrived at Cornell College in 1965 during an era of unrest on U.S. campuses. In addition to serving as assistant, then associate, dean of students, he became director of The Commons after it opened in January of 1966. In 2013 Reid and his former wife, a Cornell sociology associate professor, established the Robin Reid and Sue Titus Reid Experiential Learning Endowment. In 2014 he returned for the dedication of the renovated Thomas Commons. 

Reid left Cornell in 1974 for San Diego, California, where he spent the rest of his life. He initially worked for University Associates Publishers, Inc., then became a management consultant, diving into the emerging discipline of organizational dynamics. He flew around the country consulting with managers of companies including Coors and Genentech. He teamed up with like-minded colleagues in consulting groups, worked in-house for the city of San Diego, then independently. He was well known for his collaborative demeanor, and team building was his favorite work.

He is survived by his brother John, two nephews, and three nieces. Contributions may be made to the Robin Reid and Sue Titus Reid Experiential Learning Endowment at Cornell.