Yvonne De Necochea Higgs

Yvonne de Necochea Higgs passed away peacefully, with her children by her side, on March 3rd, 2017 after a three-month battle with glioblastoma. Born July 28th, 1951 in Calexico, CA, Yvonne was the daughter of Margarita Padilla de Necochea and Fernando de Necochea, who predeceased her, and is survived by her two children Marisa (“Kiska”) and Alexander, as well as her six siblings. Yvonne graduated with honors from Calexico High School in 1969, where she was Head Song Leader and a delegate to California Girls State. She then won a full scholarship to Vassar College, graduating magna cum laude in 1973 with an A.B. in Art History. She declined offers to pursue modeling and instead moved to Manhattan to work at Halston, a leading couturier. Returning home to California, Yvonne worked as a senior academic advisor at UCSD and married Craig Higgs in 1976, raising her children in San Diego where she instilled in them her lifelong appreciation of literature, art, film and music. Although she was known for her thoughtfulness and gentleness, intellect and beauty, she also had a dry sense of humor and as a single mother became an able do-it-yourselfer and active volunteer at her childrens’ schools, as well as serving as President of the Vassar Club of San Diego in the 1980s. She was throughout her life much appreciated for her countless acts of kindness to extended family and friends. Services will be held 11am Friday, April 28th at Mary, Star of the Sea in La Jolla. She was much loved and will be deeply missed, and always in our hearts.