Frances Rae Yariv

YARIV--Frances Rae. Frances Rae Yariv, aged 85, passed away peacefully on March 14, 2025, in Pasadena, CA. Fran was born on August 27, 1939, in Bridgeport, CT to Benjamin and Mildred Baer Pokras. Her two earliest passions were writing and the Brooklyn Dodgers. She precociously combined these two talents at age 12, when she started a Brooklyn Dodgers Fan Club with membership spanning the globe. One of her favorite stories to tell was when Jackie Robinson, during his Saturday morning radio show, read aloud one of her letters to him. Fran graduated from Syracuse University with a BA in English-creative writing ('61), and an MA in education ('64). She made lifelong friends when she joined SDT sorority and was known for her stunning beauty, wit and unpretentiousness. After graduation, Fran moved to California where she worked as a substitute teacher, often in underserved areas. She married an Israeli Caltech physicist, Dr. Amnon Yariv, and settled in San Marino. Fran was able to pursue her dream as a novelist, publishing seven novels. The highlight of her life was giving birth to her daughter, Gabriela, in 1974. She travelled the world meeting heads of state with her husband, but remained rooted in her local community, volunteering as a CASA, a high school mentor and serving as a Board Member of the Caltech Associates. She is survived by her daughter, Gabriela Yariv, husband, Dr. Amnon Yariv, sister, Barbara Pokras, stepdaughters, Dana and Danielle Yariv, caregiver, Tricia Tabar, and her grandoodle, Yalla.