Anaheim Union board member dies

Denise Mansfield-Reinking, an active volunteer, created a nonprofit called Clothes Closet to give students free dresses and tuxedos for prom.

By SUSHMA SUBRAMANIAN

The Orange County Register

Denise Mansfield-Reinking, an avid community volunteer who was serving her fifth year on the Anaheim Union High School District board, died of a heart attack Tuesday morning.

Mansfield-Reinking, 52, was involved in an array of community activities including PTA groups, Special Olympics and kids’ sports groups.

She established the district’s Clothes Closet to provide free formal wear for students to attend prom. Last year, Clothes Closet served 100 students.

“Nothing motivated her other than just selflessness. Kids were really important to her,” said her son, Jonathan Mansfield, 22. “Her biggest priority was always doing the right thing.”

Mansfield-Reinking, a Cypress resident, was a registered nurse who had worked at UCLA and Santa Monica Hospital and with various doctors in the region.

She urged the district to increase its focus on career technology education and called for changes to No Child Left Behind to better deal with testing special-education students.

She received Women of the Year distinction in 1995 from the California State Senate, a Distinguished Service Award from the Association of School Administrators and an Honorary Service Award from the Third District PTA.

She also served as flood-relief coordinator in Sacramento in 1995, and was instrumental in getting a $500,000 grant for a children’s health center in Northern California.

She served on the Anaheim Union board when mismanagement of the district’s multi-million-dollar construction projects led to cost overruns, leading her to question district staff about the problems.

“She had a good heart,” said her fellow board member Katherine Smith. “She meant well and she wanted to see good in the community.”

She is survived by her husband, David, and her son, Jonathan.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages community members to make donations to Clothes Closet through the Anaheim Union High School District, 501 Crescent Way. For information on making donations, contact district spokeswoman Pat Karlak at 714-999-5662.