SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco State Athletics is saddened to learn the recent passings of a pair of Athletics Hall of Famers, Diana Higgins and Robert Griffin.

Higgins passed away in San Francisco on December 31, 2024 at the age of 82. She was born in Massachusetts and eventually made her way to the West Coast. She found a home at San Francisco State, where she served the Athletics and Kinesiology departments for nearly 40 years. Higgins was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011.

Griffin was born on May 29, 1941 in Escondido. He attended Hartnell College for two years, then came to San Francisco State to play football for the 1962 season. Griffin earned "Little All-American" honors and was a member of the 1962 Far-Western Conference Championship team. He is a member of the SF State Gridiron Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990. Griffin also met his wife, Gail Vannelli, at San Francisco State and they married in 1966. A fulfilling teaching and coaching career followed until his retirement in 2001. He taught at Balboa, Galileo, and McAteer High Schools, and City College of San Francisco. His 1985 McAteer football team won the San Francisco "Turkey Bowl" City Championship, and he was named Prep Coach of the Year. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.