In Memoriam

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

William Caton (1945-2020)

It is with a heavy heart that we share news of the passing of former Board of Trustees member Dr. William Caton. While accomplished beyond measure in his professional life, the true joy of his life was his family—his beloved wife, Cathy, and their four children and seven grandchildren. Bill served on the Board from 1987 to 1999 while his daughters, Jennifer ’89 and Amy ’99, were at Mayfield, including two terms as Board Chair from 1991 to 1993 and 1996 to 1999. In recognition of his outstanding service to Mayfield, Bill was named an Honorary Trustee in 2000.

Bill’s service to our school extended far beyond the Board meeting rooms. As Chairman of Neurosurgery at Huntington Memorial Hospital for over 20 years, he interceded on behalf of many members of our Mayfield family in times of medical emergency. Stories of Bill’s “Mayfield miracles” are innumerable and are remembered with deepest gratitude.

Bill also took great interest in mentoring the next generation of scientists and doctors. At Mayfield, we called upon him on more than one occasion to meet with a student or alumna to discuss her career opportunities and pathways. In addition, during his tenure as our Board Chair, Bill launched a groundbreaking neuroscience research collaboration between Huntington Memorial Hospital and Caltech, which eventually earned him an Honorary Doctorate.

Husband, father, grandfather, leader, healer, visionary— Bill truly left this world a better place.

Sr. Helen Schwarz, SHCJ (1927-2020)

We remember Sr. Helen Schwarz, SCHJ with love and gratitude for her devoted service to Mayfield as a teacher, a trustee, and a dear friend. Sr. Helen was an active member of our Mayfield family for almost 30 years before moving to San Diego to join the Casa Cornelia Law Center, a Holy Child immigration law ministry.

Sr. Helen joined the Mayfield community as a teacher in 1974 and called the convent at 500 Bellefontaine home for many years. A champion of Mayfield’s future-focused vision, Sr. Helen served on Mayfield’s Board of Trustees for a total of 23 years—longer than any other Sister of the Holy Child Jesus. Her unparalleled tenure comprised two terms, from 1977 to 1994 and 1996 to 2002, and she was named an Honorary Trustee in 1995.

Sr. Helen entered the Society of the Holy Child Jesus after high school and made her final vows in 1954. She began her teaching ministry in 1957, serving at several Holy Child Schools on both coasts before settling in Pasadena. Beginning in 1977, Sr. Helen also served as the Supervisor of Secondary Schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, a position she held for 18 years.

In 2011, she returned to the East Coast, where she lived in community in Rye, New York, before moving to Holy Child Center in Rosemont, Pennsylvania. We celebrate Sr. Helen’s deep love for her students, her dedication to Mayfield, and her commitment to serving the vulnerable throughout her 72 years of “Actions Not Words” service as a Holy Child Sister.

Sr. Suzanne Snyder ’53, SHCJ (1936-2020)

We celebrate the life of alumna, teacher and social worker Sr. Suzanne Snyder ’53, SHCJ, who was a Sister of the Holy Child Jesus for 64 years. Sr. Sue entered the Society of the Holy Child Jesus after graduating from Mayfield, and returned to 500 Bellefontaine as an American Literature and World Religions teacher from 1969 to 1973. She also served on Mayfield’s Board of Trustees from 1975 to 1976. A true “Actions Not Words” role model, Sr. Sue’s real passion was working with marginalized people. She spent many years doing prison ministry and pastoral work before founding the Social Service Center of Holy Cross Parish in South Central Los Angeles in 1984. Sr. Sue moved to San Diego in 1999 to continue her work with at-risk children as a Court Appointed Special Advocate. She spent the last four years at the Holy Child Center in Rosemont, Pennsylvania, where she was cherished for her fun-loving and generous spirit. Mayfield has dedicated a garden in Sr. Sue’s honor in Cornelia’s Courtyard, behind Strub Hall.

May her memory be a blessing—I learned a lot about how to be an activist, ally and social worker from Sister Sue.

— CAITLIN TURNER ROBINSON ’98

Gina Pizzo (1924-2019)

Here’s an excerpt from a beautiful reflection written by Gina’s son, Robert DeBlasis.

“I started going through my mother’s possessions... when I came across something that really stood out. Among Gina’s personal items were drawers filled with correspondence from many of her ex-students. There were Christmas cards, wedding and birth announcements, letters and many photographs. I was struck by the number of items. There were hundreds. It reminded me once again how fortunate Gina was in having had the privilege and the opportunity of fulfilling one of her most important and enduring passions, the art of teaching. Teaching enriched her life and that of her students far beyond the typical student-teacher relationship... when it came to being a teacher, my mom was a natural.”

Former faculty member Gina Pizzo taught Spanish, philosophy and psychology at Mayfield from 1968 to 1989.

Some of Sra. Pizzo’s former students shared these very fond memories:

Mrs. Pizzo was an icon at Mayfield.

— DAINA PETRONIS KASPUTIS ’80

Señora was an incredible teacher and a fantastic mentor. She will be missed.

— LIZ RUSNAK ARIZMENDI ’81

She was, and continues to be, such an inspiration for a giving life.

— MARILYN OLIVA ’72

Sra. Pizzo was one of my favorite teachers at Mayfield. Not only did she teach us Spanish, but she taught us about life by telling us stories. She was so warm and truly cared about each one of us.

— JOANIE REBERRY THOMAS ’79

Sra. Pizzo was one of the very best teachers (read: caring, approachable, demanding but fair, encouraging) throughout my school years.

— PEGGY SMITH ’72