All of us at First 5 Contra Costa are deeply saddened by the passing of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner. We honor Rob’s remarkable legacy and visionary leadership in early childhood and mental health.
Rob understood the lasting impact early childhood experiences have on a person’s life—shaped by research and his own experiences. Drawing on neuroscience and global evidence, he championed investments in early childhood, knowing they improve educational outcomes, health, and long-term community well-being.
Rob Reiner’s impact on California
Rob Reiner made a lasting impact on early childhood and mental health in California by helping shift attention toward prevention in the earliest years of life. Through the I Am Your Child campaign, he helped the public understand how early brain development, relationships, and experiences shape lifelong well-being. He later played a key role in passing Proposition 10, which created First 5 California and dedicated tobacco tax funds to early education, parent support, child health, and social-emotional development, serving as its founding chair. Throughout his work, Reiner emphasized that strong early childhood systems lead to better mental health outcomes, greater resilience, and safer communities.
Voices from First 5: Honoring a Legacy of Impact
The outpouring of appreciation and remembrance from community members reflects not only the breadth of his accomplishments, but also the profound and lasting impact he had. These voices serve as a powerful testament to his legacy:
Katie Albright, Chair, First 5 California: “Collaborating with Rob Reiner during the formative stages of the Proposition 10 campaign involved sustained effort toward establishing a comprehensive early childhood system with statewide reach. Rob approached this work with rigor, urgency, and a strong sense of public accountability, consistently centering outcomes for children and families. California’s subsequent achievement of preschool for all reflects the strong leadership and the policy framework he helped advance. We mourn his passing and extend our condolences to the Reiner family and all who are grieving. His legacy will continue through the generations of children and families his work has impacted.”
Jackie Thu-Huong Wong, Executive Director, First 5 California: “Rob Reiner believed deeply that who we become as a society depends on how we care for our youngest children. Through his vision and leadership in founding First 5 California, he changed the trajectory of early childhood policy and made the well-being of babies and families a shared public responsibility. His legacy lives on in the millions of children and parents whose lives are healthier, stronger, and more hopeful because he dared to imagine a better start for every child. Our hearts are with the Reiner family and all who loved him as they grieve this profound loss. We join them in mourning a visionary leader, and we honor his life by continuing the work he so passionately began.”
Kris Perry, Commissioner, First 5 California: “Rob Reiner was a champion for California’s youngest children. More than 25 years ago he led the Proposition 10 campaign, to create the first in the nation dedicated funding stream for children five and under. Those resources led to historic growth in children’s access to early care and education, health care, home visits, early literacy and public education. First 5 California stands out as a singular achievement as a public good that has served millions of children and their families and inspired leaders around the nation to do the same. Rob cared deeply about all children and their right to reach their full potential and leaves behind a legacy that will endure. As we mourn his passing, we extend our sympathies to the Reiner family and all who are grieving. His legacy is embedded in California’s public institutions and in how we continue to serve California children.”
Avo Makdessian, Executive Director, First 5 Association: “Rob Reiner was a visionary and progressive thought leader whose legacy transformed California’s early childhood landscape. He led the groundbreaking Proposition 10 campaign that created California’s First 5 Network, defended it against political opposition, and even advanced our mission by championing universal preschool, a measure that laid the foundation for today’s transitional kindergarten. Thanks to his leadership, more than a million children and families benefit each year from access to early learning, health care, and family supports. Mr. Reiner understood that the first five years are foundational, and that true support for children requires real investment. We honor his legacy by sustaining and strengthening the early childhood system he helped build, and by continuing the work to ensure every child in California has an opportunity to thrive. Mr. Reiner’s vision lives on as First 5s’ shared commitment.”
Read the full statement from First 5 California about Rob and his contributions.
In the Headlines: News Articles Honoring a Lasting Legacy
(AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Read the EdSource article by Sean Casey, former First 5 Contra Costa Executive Director
(Tibrina Hobson / Getty Images)
Read the LA Times article by Mark Friedman, former First 5 Alameda Commissioner