Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy Receives $1.6 Million Legacy Gift

Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy (FSHA) and the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose have received a transformative gift of $1.6 million from the estate of alumna Patricia Jean Traviss, Class of 1949. This significant contribution, announced on January 15, 2026, reflects Traviss’s lifelong commitment to faith and service, ensuring that her values will continue to shape future generations.

For Traviss, FSHA was more than an educational institution; it was a spiritual foundation that influenced her life’s work and dedication to community service. The President of FSHA, Marlena Conroy, expressed profound gratitude, stating, “Her remarkable generosity reflects a lifetime devoted to service and dignity, shaped by her own vocation in healthcare and her deep connection to the Sisters who formed her.”

Legacy of Service and Generosity

Traviss, who served as the Director of Rockhaven Sanitarium in Glendale, California, held a firm belief in the power of compassion. She once remarked, “To truly care for someone is to be there for them when they are in their most vulnerable state. Give them unconditional love so that they may soar with the angels.” This philosophy guided her professional and personal endeavors, fostering a spirit of generosity that was evident throughout her life.

Throughout her years, Traviss contributed significantly to FSHA, helping to advance its mission of nurturing young women of faith, integrity, and truth. Approximately half of the recent gift will directly support Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, while the remaining funds will benefit the ministries of the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose.

Sister Celeste Marie Botello, O.P., congregational prioress for the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose, commented on the impact of Traviss’s donation, stating, “Her generosity reflects a life rooted in prayer, service, and a belief in the dignity of every person. Through her legacy, the mission entrusted to us will continue to flourish.”

A Call to Planned Giving

Traviss’s gift serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of planned giving as a means to extend one’s values beyond their lifetime. It represents a commitment to ensuring that future generations can benefit from an education that emphasizes compassion and love.

Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, located in La Cañada Flintridge, California, is an all-girls, Catholic, Dominican, independent, college-preparatory institution. It is dedicated to preparing young women for lives characterized by faith, integrity, and truth.

The Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose, a community of Catholic women religious, are dedicated to living the Gospel through contemplation, preaching, and service. Their ministries span education, healthcare, spiritual direction, and social justice, primarily in California, with a focus on promoting truth, justice, and compassion.

As both organizations reflect on this generous bequest, they are reminded of the lasting impact that one individual’s commitment to service can have on the lives of many.