Perrin Blythe Reid-Boelman

Perrin Blythe Reid was the youngest of three children born to Thomas Harris Reid and Yvonne Bridges Reid. Born March 24, 1962, Perrin grew up in Uniondale, Long Island, NY. As a youngster, Perrin enjoyed tennis, the clarinet and guitar. Most recently Perrin took up golf, but her greatest joy was reading.

Perrin earned her Bachelors degree from Tufts University, and after graduation in 1984, moved to Washington DC to work with the non-profit organization TransAfrica, at the height of the anti-apartheid movement. Her family and friends were moved by her passion for social justice. Perrin went on to earn her Master of Arts in English from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1989, became a lecturer in the English Department at Mt. Holyoke College and eventually lectured for the Writing Program at UCLA. She was also a tenure-track English Instructor at Glendale Community College in California.

With a passion for learning, Perrin went on to earn her law degree from Loyola Law School in 1998, and as a member of the Pennsylvania Bar, Perrin drew on her legal expertise to become Director, Employment Equity and Diversity at Gettysburg College, reporting directly to the President of the College. In 2003, Perrin moved back to California and began working at California State University, Monterey Bay as Director, Employment Services and EEO Programs. A year later, Perrin took on a new challenge at Cal State, Long Beach as Director, Office of Equity and Diversity. In 2011, she was hired as the Executive Assistant to the Chancellor – Los Angeles Community College District. Three years later, in 2014, Perrin became the Associate Vice President for Human Resources, Diversity and Inclusion at California State University, Fullerton. At Cal State, Fullerton, Perrin was instrumental in the recruitment of more than 97 tenure-track faculty members and also led the creation of a management training program for administrators throughout the university.

While a grad student in Massachusetts, Perrin met the love of her life, Peter, on the university shuttle. When they got off at the same stop, it was the beginning of their journey together. In 1990, Perrin and Peter married in Washington, DC and eventually settled in Claremont, California. Together they enjoyed travelling and entertaining with their many friends and family. However, their real joy together was watching foreign films and football!

Perrin was a sweet and gentle loving soul, full of grace, humility and wisdom. She touched the lives of so many people in a positive way. She was passionate about education while being an authentic listener, and placed great emphasis on political and social awareness. She was a true example of what it means to be a pure and loving human being.

She is survived by her loving husband of 24 years, Peter H. Boelman; her mother, Yvonne Reid-Cooper; brother, Thomas Reid III; sister, Kendall Reid; niece, Elise Reid as well as her loving in-laws, relatives, and friends who loved Perrin dearly. Her father, Thomas Harris Reid II, preceded Perrin in death.





In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to The American Heart Association, in Memory of Perrin Blythe Reid-Boelman:
http://honor.americanheart.org/site/TR/Events/General?pg=fund&fr_id=1030&pxfid=278583&pxfid=278583