Mercedes Riofrio, age 90, of San Carlos, passed away Thursday, December 11, 2025.
Born in Baguio, Philippines on August 29, 1935, Mercedes Riofrio-affectionately
known as "Baby"-was a natural leader with a spirited heart. One of 13 children of the
late Mariano and Rosario Gutierrez, she grew up in occupied Manila during WWII, an
experience that forged her resilience. She later met her husband, Louis, during his
Korean War service; they married six years later and moved to Oakland, California,
where Mercedes took immense pride in raising their four children and becoming a U.S.
citizen.

A lifelong educator, Mercedes earned two master's degrees and conducted doctoral
research at NYU. Whether she was cheering at basketball games in her youth or
serving in the Peace Corps in Romania in her late 60s, she lived with purpose. She
spent her later years traveling between New York, California, and Hawaii, always
surrounded by family. She loved a good book, a tennis match, and a trip to Las Vegas.
Predeceased in 2000 by her husband Louis, she leaves behind a loving family of four
children, Louise, Martin, Melissa, and Maria-and her sister, Angelina Frey.