Yolanda Font
April 30, 1930-Feb. 3, 2024
Menlo Park, California

Yolanda “Lolly” Font, age 93, passed away on the morning of Saturday February 3rd as a result of a stroke and advanced dementia. She died peacefully at her residence at Palo Alto Commons.

Lolly was born Yolanda Theresa DeIorio in Utica, New York on April 30, 1930. She was the oldest of 4 children in a large, Italian family.

Lolly had a passion for learning throughout her life. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from Utica College and a Master’s degree in Education from Syracuse University, and a PhD from the California Institute of Transpersonal Psychology. Lolly married John Francis Font on August 14, 1954, to whom she was married for twenty three years. Lolly and John had five children – John, Lauren, Daryl, Shelly, and Erika. In 1963 when Dr. Font accepted a faculty position at Stanford, Lolly and the family moved to Palo Alto, California.

Lolly embraced the role of busy mother of five children. She volunteered with the PTA at the children’s elementary school, and eventually worked as Preschool Director at Dr. Font’s Beacon School in San Jose, CA. The Font family enjoyed camping in Yosemite, Big Sur, Russian River and Sunset Beach where they would hike, fish and explore. In her early 40s, Lolly was introduced to yoga – which restored her health and set forth a new path in her life. She embraced both yoga and Buddhism, traveling numerous times to India, and co-founded the California Yoga Center in 1980. Lolly was a passionate yoga teacher at the California Yoga Center, through her private practice, and as a visiting instructor on many yoga retreats. Through yoga, Lolly touched and improved the health of thousands of people while influencing generations of other practitioners.

Beyond family and yoga – Lolly had a passion for cooking, gardening, travel, and lifelong, experiential learning. Lolly remained close to her brothers and sister and her children throughout her life. She would travel to visit family in Italy, Florida, New York, and throughout California. Lolly also often hosted seminar groups at her homes in Los Altos Hills and Menlo Park, housed students, and welcomed friends and families to cook together, and enjoy a love of food and community.

Lolly is survived by her children; John Font, Lauren (Mark)Francis, Daryl (Jim)Camarillo, Shelly Blanshei, Erika Maniatis, grandchildren; L’Orelle (Ryan) Font-Flinn, Ceia (Chris) Font-Apra, Caroline (Ryan) Saavedra, Claire Francis, Kyle (Maggie) Camarillo, Colin (Sarah) Camarillo, Shelly Camarillo, Rose Blanshei, Eva Blanshei, Alex Maniatis, Nick Maniatis, great Grandchildren; Cienna Flinn, Averie Flinn, Luca Camarillo, Trevor Camarillo, Griffin Font-Apra; sister Maryetta (John) Bertone, brothers John (Marlene) DeIorio, and Ben(Don) DeIorio.

Tags: teacher/educator