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Murfreesboro lost one of its greatest assets when City School Board member Dennis Rainier died Monday. He was 64.
Friends and colleagues expressed deep sadness and recalled his 39-year public service career as one of tireless dedication and profound humanity.
“His humanity was his best quality – his love of people and his love for the community,” City Schools Director Linda Gilbert said. “He was interested in making this city better for children, and he served all the children regardless of their background.
She called Rainier “a foundation.”
“He was a presence in this community that went too often unnoticed,” Gilbert said.
To experience Rainier’s presence and impact on this community, citizens need only stroll one of Murfreesboro’s thousand acres of parkland throughout the city.
As Murfreesboro’s Parks and Recreation director for more than 27 years, Rainier expanded the department from only a handful of full-time and seasonal employees to more than 70 full-time staff and nearly 250 seasonal workers upon his retirement in 2009.
Rainier started with the Parks and Recreation Department in 1971. During his 10 years as assistant director, Rainier did everything from raking baseball fields to teaching weekly classes covering a variety of subjects.
He replaced Ray Duffy as director in 1980 and led the department in planning, constructing, and implementing countless projects throughout Murfreesboro during a time of unprecedented growth, which ensured citizens a greater quality of life well into the future.
“When I first took over in November of 1980, I didn’t want to be in a static community and little did I know how it would grow,” Rainier said in an interview upon his retirement.
And he didn’t keep the city or his department static.
His first major undertaking, Old Fort Golf Course, was completed in 1985 and was followed by large projects such as Barfield-Crescent Park, Sportscom, StarPlex, Richard Siegel Soccer Complex and Patterson Park Community Center.
For his contributions to the quality of life in Murfreesboro, Rainier was awarded a lifetime membership in the Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association.
“He made such a significant impact on Murfreesboro’s park systems during a challenging time of expansive growth, making sure Murfreesboro was a livable community for all,” said current Parks and Recreation Director Lanny Goodwin. “We worked closely together on the Stones River Greenway, Barfield-Crescent park, SportsCom and many others.”
“We have lost his incite and leadership, and we have lost someone who cared deeply about this community,” he added.
Rainier didn’t end his commitment to the community with his retirement.
Instead, he ran for and won election to Murfreesboro’s City School Board in April 2010.
“As a School Board member, Dennis was prepared for every meeting and every issue,” Gilbert said. “He listened before making any decision and every decision he made was based on whether that decision was best for the children.”
His death follows a four-month-long battle with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, a rare blood disorder usually occurring in children that causes white blood cells to collect and attack vital organs.
Rainier is survived by his wife, Nancy Bassett Rainier; sons, Ryan Bassett, Brad Rainier, all of Murfreesboro; daughter, Heather Bassett of Playa Del Rey, Calif.; and two grandchildren, Madison and Jackson Rainier.
Memorials may be made to the Dennis Rainier Memorial Funds at the Murfreesboro City School System or the Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Department. |
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