A Mother’s Love Creates an Enduring Legacy

Rosario Arias Larrinaga

Rosario Arias Larrinaga would never want the spotlight, according to her daughter, Teri Bailey. Born in 1927 to Spanish immigrants, Larrinaga graduated from Plant High School in Tampa at the age of 16. She went on to Florida State University, earning a bachelor's of science in business administration, and was first in her family to graduate college.

She and her husband, Jose Luis, raised three children while growing successful businesses.

Larrinaga was in her 40s when she became pregnant with baby Dan. Despite a slightly difficult pregnancy, she enjoyed a normal delivery in Tampa on Friday, March 3, 1972. The following day, however, hospital staff noticed something wasn't right. Baby Dan was turning blue.

Doctors couldn't understand the problem, so they recommended baby Dan go to the University of Florida for care on Saturday, March 4. There, doctors learned he was suffering from a congenital heart defect that could not be detected at the time.

"My dad followed the ambulance to Gainesville and remained overnight," said Mike Larrinaga, one of Dan's older brothers. "On Sunday morning, the medical team determined surgery would be needed on Monday, March 6. They told my father to return to Tampa to care for my mother, who was still in the hospital in Tampa."

Tragically, baby Dan passed away the evening of Sunday, March 5.

"While my dad was sleeping, I received the phone call from our pediatrician that my baby brother passed away," Mike recalled.

His mother never saw baby Dan alive. The entire family was devastated.

"I had never seen her like that before," Mike said. "She looked defeated. Until this point, she had never lost anybody. And she blamed herself, which, of course, it wasn't her fault."

But Rosario Larrinaga was determined to endure, despite the tragedy. She and her husband put their children through college and law school. The brothers graduated from Florida State University, like their mom. Bailey (BA '83) studied at the University of Florida, double-majoring in philosophy and English, earning her bachelor of arts at the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Larrinaga began making annual gifts to support pediatric cardiology programs and research as a way to honor her son's legacy. It wasn't until 2013—about 40 years later—that she would visit the hospital where baby Dan took his final breaths.

"My mother and I had been in conversation with the development office for years about my mother making a major gift," Bailey said.

Coincidentally, a colleague of Bailey's happened to be the daughter of the physician who cared for baby Dan: Gerold L. Schiebler, M.D., professor emeritus, distinguished service professor and the former chair of the department of pediatrics.

"I talked to Bettina Brown [Schiebler's daughter] about her dad and my mom meeting and touring. My mom got to meet Dr. Schiebler, his wife and one of their daughters. It was quite emotional for both of them," Bailey said.

It was during this visit that Larrinaga, along with family, met baby Dan's care providers and viewed his medical record. Remarkably, the family learned that because of Larrinaga's generosity, and others like her, doctors now had the technology to detect and treat the same congenital defect Dan was born with. Now, they could save more lives.

"It was a great visit, and we were so surprised," said Bailey. "We met kids who were walking around with artificial hearts, and it's like, oh my. They showed us a video of what they do now for kids who have the same condition as Dan's, and how the survival rate is around 100%."

Long before this tour, Larrinaga knew she would be making a larger gift to benefit this research. "She always had in her mind that she was going to leave them a million dollars," Bailey said.

Instead, Larrinaga decided to leave her condo. She passed away in fall 2020. Her bequest was realized, and the condominium sale resulted in a generous gift to benefit pediatric cardiac research.

"She was very humble," Bailey said. "She didn't want to put her name on this. She wasn't doing this to try and get credit; she was doing this because she wanted to help kids and their parents."

Both siblings credit their mother for being who they are today. She not only taught her kids determination and perseverance through her actions, but she also left an indelible legacy for other families to strive for the same values.

Baby Dan's name and memory will live in perpetuity thanks to his mother's generous gift. Her bequest established the Dan Richard Larrinaga Pediatric Cardiology Research Endowed Fund, ensuring his legacy continues. To learn about ways you, like Rosario Larrinaga and her family, can make a difference through your support of the University of Florida, contact UF's Office of Estate & Gift Planning at 352-392-5512, toll free at 866-317-4143 or giftplanning@uff.ufl.edu today.