Yolanda (Papasergia) Griffiths graduated from Garces in 1951. During her years at Garces, Yolanda was a member of the Sodality, Block G, Latin, and Glee Clubs. During her senior year, she was the class secretary-treasurer and a yearbook photo editor.
It isn't Yolanda's time as a student at Garces that is most memorable or worthy of distinction. It is the educational opportunities she created for her family, and for all students who have attended Garces, that is her legacy as an inductee into the Hall of Honor. The decades of financial support she provided to Garces, as a parent, grandparent, and continuous donor, sets the example for others to follow.
With the support of her husband, Paul Griffiths, all five of their children followed Yolanda's footprints as a graduate of Garces: Brian Griffiths '72, Dianne Riley '73, James Griffiths '78, Nancy O'Dwyer '79, and Liz Petrini '85. She has also very proud that several of her grandchildren attended Garces - Victoria Riley '10, Griffin Riley '12, Sterling Riley '15, Natalie O'Dwyer '12, Emily O'Dwyer, Tim O'Dwyer '18, Marco Petrini '16, Dominic Petrini '19 -- and Gino Petrini will enroll as a freshman this fall.
Yolanda believed in the value of Catholic education, and more specifically, a Garces education. While she donated to many charitable causes and supported many community organizations, Garces benefitted greatly for over five decades from her quiet generosity. She is among the generation of mothers who became cornerstone contributors to Garces. She was a Ram, and children were Rams, and her grandchildren were Rams, because there wasn't a better environment in Bakersfield for her family to learn Christian values and get a great high school education. Garces was her community, her extended family, and she never said no when John Fannuchi asked for her help.
She never missed the Fall BBQ or the Gala. She didn't buy seats, she bought tables. She would donate hand-made scarves for the Gala, and gift card trees, hoping others would do like she did by paying more than the item's actual value. She enjoyed attending her grandchildren's athletic events, even though she would be the first to admit she didn't understand the rules and rarely knew who was winning or losing the game. She was there to support her family, and support the Rams. She even cooked lunch for the Campus Life Committee meetings, where the students knew her as "Grandma YoYo".
She was an unheralded advocate and a life-long champion of Garces Memorial. We know that in her final days she was proud to know that her children would be accepting this honor on her behalf.
