• About Abby Reinke:


    Abby Reinke was born on December 10, 1940, in La Crosse, Wisconsin. She graduated with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She married a Marine Officer, Dan Kent, who was later killed in the Vietnam War.

    Abby moved to Quantico, Virginia to start a pre-school teaching career with her two young daughters. She later married Major Claude Reinke and had 3 more children. Together, they served more than 30 years in the Marine Corps. During that time, Abby moved her household more than 23 times, lived on three different continents, and touched the lives of countless Marine families. Abby was a long-time volunteer with the Navy-Marine Crops Relief Society as well as a volunteer and board member of the Armed Services YMCA. Abby never turned a person away if help was needed.

    On November 17, 1998, Abby was struck and killed by a car on the way to her son’s awards ceremony. Being a mother and a teacher were the highest honors she ever wanted. Helping others, especially children, was the joy of her life.

    Temecula Valley Unified School District honored Abby's commitment to children and education by naming a school after her. Abby Reinke Elementary School opened in 1999.