Bronte Herbert Reynolds
He is survived by his beloved wife of 50 years, Lillemor Reynolds; daughters Stephanie Malik and Annika Unander (Leonard); son Derek Reynolds (Lisa); brother Darnall Reynolds; and seven cherished grandchildren — Caitlyn, Trevor, Gavin, Carson, Kajsa, Owen, and Lila.
A proud graduate of Drake High School in Marin, Bronte earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from San Francisco State University, followed by two Ph.D.s in Education from Cal Western and the University of Southern California.
Before beginning his long and distinguished career in education, Bronte served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Alaska for two years. He carried with him a sense of adventure and service that would characterize much of his life.
In the 1960s, Bronte also pursued his love of music, performing in San Francisco bars alongside his friend and brother-in-law, Jan Farnsworth. He played conga drums, guitar, and sang — bringing joy to all who heard him.
His artistic spirit was influenced by his mother, Floy-Margaret Hughes, who portrayed Little Orphan Annie on the West Coast radio broadcast. Following in her footsteps, Bronte enjoyed acting in community theater, performing in plays at the Black Bart Playhouse in Murphys and later at the Circle Bar B Ranch in Santa Barbara.
Bronte dedicated fifty-three years to education, serving as a teacher, principal, superintendent, professor, and department chair. He was best known for his long tenure as Principal and Superintendent of Montecito Union School, where he led with vision, humor, and compassion after moving his family to Santa Barbara from Calaveras County in 1980.
Following his retirement from Montecito Union in 2002, Bronte continued to shape future educators as a tenured professor at California State University, Northridge, where he chaired the Educational Leadership Department and helped develop the university’s distance learning program in partnership with Shanghai Normal University in China. He later served as adjunct faculty at California Lutheran University.
A devoted community leader, Bronte served on numerous boards, including the Rotary Club, and published his book “Leadership and the School Principal” in 2023 — a reflection of his lifelong commitment to excellence and leadership.
In his personal life, Bronte found joy in running, playing tennis, tending to his yard, and sharing good food, laughter, and wine with family and friends. Many will fondly remember him sitting at a sidewalk café in Solvang with Lillemor and his beloved dog, Rex.
Bronte’s family, friends, colleagues, and countless former students will remember his motto, “Do your best!” His enduring legacy lives on in his work, his family, and his own words:
“Be aware of the impact you have on the lives of so many who depend on you to do your best.”
A memorial service will be held at Montecito Union School on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Montecito Union School Foundation to continue Bronte’s legacy of visionary education and leadership.
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