Dr. Reneé Patricia Collins
October 14, 1950 - February 24, 2022
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Dr. Reneé Patricia Collins
October 14, 1950 - February 24, 2022
Obituary
Dr. Reneé Patricia Collins was born on October 14, 1950, in Harlem, New York to Reynold Morgan and Rovena Joe. She passed away peacefully on February 24, 2022, in Bellingham, Washington with her immediate family by her side. Reneé was a dedicated wife, devoted mother, teacher, mentor, friend, and community leader. Reneé leaves behind a beautiful legacy filled with love, laughter, and an infectious sense of joyfulness. She consistently carried herself with an exceptional sense of style, grace, class, and dignity.
She dedicated her life to helping others, building community, and made a positive impact on everyone she encountered along the way. Her passion for education stemmed from her upbringing and she obtained her personal educational goals by earning three degrees, including her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Seattle University. Reneé retired from Western Washington University as Associate Dean of Students after more than 30 years of extraordinary service. Born with a fierce work ethic, she significantly changed the higher educational landscape to be more inclusive and supportive for students of color and other underrepresented groups through her work and community engagement. She founded the NAACP Northern Puget Sound Chapter and received the Community Builders Fellowship appointment by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, training at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government in the process.
She served as a mentor to countless students and young professionals, investing her time in others to help them become their best self while giving back to her community whenever the opportunity presented itself. In her spare time Reneé loved to travel, dance, laugh, cook, read, volunteer, and spend quality time with friends and family. Everyone who interacted with Reneé knew her as an inspirational person with an incredibly beautiful soul. She was truly a beacon of light in the community. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Frederick Collins, her son Frederick Shariff Collins Jr., her daughter LaShawn Reneé Morgan, as well as many extended family members and an abundance of friends.
We were all blessed to have known her and she will be dearly missed, but never forgotten.
21 responses to Dr. Reneé Patricia Collins
Mary Friar says:
March 15, 2022
I will miss Renee’ and her support over the years. She was my first supervisor at WWU and was always an inspiration. My prayers are with you, Fred and all of your family and friends. Her spirit lives on in all of us.
Dr. Vernon Damani Johnson says:
March 16, 2022
Renee was a remarkable woman! I’ll never forget how, upon arrival in Bellingham in the late 1980s, she determined that she would say hello to every Black person she saw on Western’s campus or in the community. She was determined to build community for African Americans who found ourselves in this far-flung outpost of North America, far away from the base of our population in this country. Primarily due to Renee’s efforts, Black was a key color in the Rainbow Coalition we built in Whatcom County alongside our Native, Latino, and Asian comrades. There will never be another person like her here. Rebecca and I extend our sympathies to the family.
Donna Chieppo says:
March 22, 2022
I am so sorry to hear of Renee’s passing. My heartfelt condolences go out to Fred and the rest of the family with love.
Kirsti Charlton says:
March 23, 2022
Dear Fred, Freddie, and LaShawn,
Please accept my condolences at the passing of Renee. What a wonderful person. I am blessed that I knew her, her vivacity, intelligence, good will, respect for all, humor. The earth is a better place because of her; she will be missed by so many whose lives and hearts she touched. I will never forget her lovely comments she made at my WWU retirement. What an awesome lady. Kirsti
Lisa and Peter Rosenberg says:
March 28, 2022
We were so saddened to learn that Renee passed away. We’re grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Renee and be inspired by her deep care for others and generosity of spirit. Sending our heartfelt condolences to the family and all who are mourning Renee’s death and celebrating her life.