Regena Cummings Cole in Memoriam
Regena Cummings Cole 1927-2026
Regena Cole joined the California State University, Long Beach community and the College of the Arts family in 2008, when it was announced that she and her late husband, Bob Cole, had decided to bring their dedicated, community-minded philanthropy and enthusiasm for music to our campus in the form of a generous and impactful naming gift that transformed our Department of Music into the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music.
As we remember Regena, who passed away just shy of her 99th birthday, we celebrate her life and her energy and passion for music and education, and we reflect on the remarkable legacy she leaves behind. Regena was her husband’s partner in Bob Cole Realty, an innovative and pioneering business in Long Beach for more than three decades. Bob Cole credited her as invaluable to their business success. Music was a central part of their married and family life together—Bob was an avid amateur pianist—and they were drawn to the CSULB campus because it offered an excellent music program accessible to talented students from all backgrounds. Bob’s piano now stands in the Bob Cole Conservatory Pavilion as a tribute to Bob and Regena.
Before Bob's death in 2004, the couple discussed how best to "give back" to the Long Beach Community. Their answer paved the way for the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music, a place where generations of students will be able to continue to hone their abilities, pursue their dreams, and share their talents with the world—all thanks to the vision and generosity of Bob and Regena Cole. Regena Cole strengthened her commitment to the university in 2012 by funding a capital project that furnished, in part, an outdoor performance area and the BCCM Pavilion that houses Bob’s piano and several pieces of music-focused art pieces Regena selected personally. The Bob Cole Conservatory of Music Pavilion and Plaza serve as vibrant points of connection and inspiration for BCCM students and faculty.
In recognition of her outstanding contributions to the university and the community, the Board of Trustees of the California State University and California State University, Long Beach conferred upon Regena Cole the Honorary degree of Doctor of Fine Arts.
Reflecting on her legacy, Jermie Arnold, Director of the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music, shared, "In recognition of her extraordinary life and enduring impact, the Conservatory will dedicate our entire concert season this year to her memory. Every performance will stand as a tribute to the opportunities she created for our students, and every concert program will bear a dedication to Regena on its front cover so that all who attend may share in honoring her lasting legacy. Regena's name is woven into our identity. More importantly, her generosity lives on through every student whose life is changed by the gift of music."
Royce W. Smith, Dean of the College of the Arts, said, " CSULB's mission has always been focused on providing a quality education to all, ensuring that students from all backgrounds have the ability to pursue their dreams. Regena and Bob's generous gift to the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music ensures that this mission will be fulfilled for years to come through robust support for student scholarships and travel opportunities, instruments, and facilities improvements."
Thanks to the enduring generosity of Bob and Regena Cole, our CSULB students’ studies in music, as well as their participation in events and opportunities around the world, will be supported in perpetuity—ensuring the world will enjoy the fruits of our students’ labors as composers, vocalists, instrumentalists, and educators for years to come.
