Yolie Diego Obituary

Marina Yolanda "Yolie" Diego died peacefully from complications due to COVID on December 30 at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and mother-in-law, Yolie shared her love of Spanish with thousands of students as a beloved teacher at Santa Cruz High School for 25 years.Born in Washington, DC, on August 7, 1951, to Leonard Westerstrom and Cecilia "Sassy" Garcia Ashbrook, Yolie was raised by Sassy, stepfather Arthur G. Ashbrook, Jr., aunts Lilita and Milo, and grandmother Rosita. Yolie attended Dunblane Elementary School and Immaculata Preparatory School and spent summers visiting her close-knit circle of relatives in Colombia. Perpetually upbeat and kind from an early age, Yolie was a voracious reader, avid chef, loyal friend, and doting older sister to "precious babe" Alexandra. From 1969 to 1973 Yolie attended Tulane University, where she majored in Latin American Studies and met the love of her life, Dennis Diego. They married in Washington on August 28, 1976. After living in New Orleans and Pensacola, Florida, they moved to Santa Cruz in 1984 where their son Alex was born the following year. Yolie relished being a mother as Alex brought her immeasurable joy and pride.In addition to teaching at Santa Cruz High from 1988 to 2013, Yolie served in a variety of peer mentor and supervisor roles with the Stanford Teacher Education Program (STEP), Stanford World Language Project (SWLP), and California Language Teachers' Association (CLTA). Yolie also chaired Santa Cruz High's world languages department and won county educator of the year. Whether acting as a teacher, relative, or friend, she always prioritized the well being of others and brought out the best in all those around her. Despite suffering a brain injury in 2019, Yolie maintained a steadfast resolve to live and love thanks to her courage and through the unwavering support of Dennis, family, friends, and her caregivers Ebony, Lucy, Pamella, and Rosario. In addition to her husband Dennis of Santa Cruz, she is survived by son Alex Diego (Marissa Miller) and grandson Francis Diego of Cold Spring, NY, sister Alexandra Ashbrook (Jim Ehrenhaft) of Washington, DC, and many adoring nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends. A celebration of life will be held the afternoon of Sunday, February 18 in Santa Cruz. To learn more and RSVP, email [email protected]. In lieu of flowers, donations in Yolie's memory can be made to Community Foundation Santa Cruz County at https://www.cfscc.org/.

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Published by Santa Cruz Sentinel from Jan. 16 to Jan. 21, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for Yolie Diego

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7 Entries

Nancy Migdall

February 20, 2024

Fond memories of our many years as colleagues at Santa Cruz High. Yolie was always kind to all, a brilliant Spanish teacher beloved by generations of students, fiercely hardworking, and so much fun.

Keith Sherwood

January 25, 2024

I had Yolie for Spanish at Santa Cruz high for two years in a row. She was a first rate person and exceptional teacher. We grew to be friends and I enjoyed seeing her around town years later and having a quick chat. I´ve used what she´s taught me traveling in Spanish speaking countries. What a great gift she gave all of her students! I am so sad to hear of her passing. Wishing her family peace and condolences.

Bonnie

January 21, 2024

Truly heartbreaking Yolie was taken from all who loved her by this devastating Covid disease. She was a remarkable woman.

Chris Hiromura

January 17, 2024

I graduated SCHS in 1994 and took AP Spanish 4 with her. She was always a very sweet and patient teacher. I wasn´t always the best student but I eventually became fluent in Spanish, spent a year in Costa Rica. I came back to visit her years later and it was great to reconnect and reassure her that all of her efforts didn´t go to waste! She will be missed.

Jeremy Shonick

January 17, 2024

I knew Yolie from my work at SCHS. She was a lovely person and a great teacher. She was kind and caring; a generous and gracious human being. I am saddened to hear of her passing.

Arlene Auerbach and family

January 16, 2024

The Shaw family extends our condolences and heartfelt love to the Diego and Ashbrook families as we reminisce and grieve the loss of our dear Yolie.

Arlene

January 16, 2024

How does one express the devotion and loyalty of a loving friend for over 30 years that was lost? I miss my friend dearly and the delight we shared of raising our sons in Santa Cruz and most recently the joy of our darling grandchildren.

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