Erin’s Legacy: Endowment for the Arts & More in Honor of Erin

The glorious shades of Santa Barbara’s midsummer madness, the pinnacle being the traditional colors of Fiesta Week, seemed a little less bright this year. Could this have been the grey skies and minimal sunshine that dampened the landscape or … could it possibly have been the deeply felt absence of the person who embodied the Spirit of Santa Barbara, Erin Graffy de Garcia? We are still processing the loss of one of our most cherished historical voices, a renowned author and champion of all artistic endeavors – music, dance, performance and visual arts – or, summarized more succinctly, knowledge of everything Santa Barbara!

As the journalist, author, historian, musician, dancer, performer and patron of the arts – and mentor to many, myself included – Erin has left an indelible mark on all of us in the Santa Barbara community. Her insightful observations, books, articles, videos and other creative pursuits covered the entire spectrum from A to Z and all the stops between. Her passion and preservation of traditions and her support of the arts run deeply throughout Santa Barbara’s collective history, woven as the underpinning of her many pursuits. Erin’s collaborations with Santa Barbra organizations such as Old Spanish Days, Santa Barbara’s Historical and Maritime Museums, and the Yacht Club to name just a few, were also in constant motion. Even Erin had to admit with her usual dry wit, “I kind of have so many different hats that it’s hard for me to keep track of myself!” 

How best to preserve this remarkable legacy, define its various components, and facilitate avenues to pass this on to future generations – that is the mission of the Erin Graffy de Garcia Endowment. Established by the Graffy family and her husband, Dr. James Garcia. The Endowment is facilitated by The Profant Foundation for the Arts – a 501(c)(3) non-profit and also a family foundation – to continue to inspire, educate, and enrich the community in her name. This Endowment is envisioned to grow, with annual dividends supporting specific projects that reflect Erin’s community involvement, historical knowledge, and the artistic sensibilities she brought to the mission of keeping the culture of Santa Barbara alive. “Erin’s living legacy is woven into the very fabric of Santa Barbara, where she touched its cultural soul, history, and traditions,” stated Marie Profant on behalf of the foundation. “She didn’t just honor the past, she made it pulse with life, ensuring that SB’s historical identity is not only remembered but experienced.”

On a warm afternoon last week, I sat with Erin’s sister Colleen Graffy to learn about the family’s vision for the Endowment. “How do we capture all of Erin in one simple endowment?” she mused, almost to herself. “Even now I continue to be awed … she had so many interests – journalism, dance, music, history research. How do we capture the essence of her Spirit…” and with a nostalgic chuckle, “…or her love of chocolates?” This is the task – and the mission – of this newly established endowment. Although future planning is still in progress, the Endowment has already focused on one prominent area of interest: Journalism. “Our inaugural Erin Graffy Journalism Fellowship recipient for student journalism, Sienna Valentine, a student at Dos Pueblos High School, has an internship at Noozhawk and has posted three stories already!” The first of these articles was on Project Fiesta, the 95-year history of Old Spanish Days, finding a new home at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, something that Erin facilitated. The Old Spanish Days archives contain over one million photos and thousands of articles. Other fellowships are in the offing, potentially at her beloved Historical Museum. Another project Erin founded in 2004 – and continued to facilitate – was Flor y Canto, honoring and preserving the history and dances of early California during the celebration of Old Spanish Days. The event was held again this year in her honor at the courthouse with Yvette Keller, a past student, filling Erin’s the role as narrator. Flory y Canto, and the research involved represents only one of her many projects, but exemplifies a living extension of her passion for history and Santa Barbara culture as well as her in depth knowledge of music, dance and the arts. Maintaining and supporting Flo y Canto is one of the next items in development on the Endowment’s potentially long list. 

Sitting with Colleen that afternoon I had the feeling that both Graffy sisters were in the room with me. As we chatted, it occurred to me that despite Erin’s seemingly disparate pursuits, they are actually all connected – as are we in our Santa Barbara community. I remember her warmth, personality, and mentorship, and knew just “How to Santa Barbara” because of her sharp, always insightful wit. Thanks to the Erin Graffy de Garcia Endowment, her spirit and deep historical and cultural knowledge will become a key part of Santa Barbara’s collective memory.

Erin Graffy de Garcia Endowment website: https://eringraffylegacy.org