One of my favorite High School teachers, he was a great teacher. I always loved his English class, he knew how to inspire students to do their best. I can remember visiting him when I returned home from bootcamp, he was glad I had joined the Marine Corps. 

God bless Mr. Yanez, you lived a good life and helped many along the way.

Hugs to Mr Yanez’s family! He was always ready with words of wisdom for his “nuggets”.   I share these with my kids, “Do what you need to do first, do what you want to do second.”   Thankful for all his leadership and direction.  SMHS Class of 1998 will forever remember you!

Mr. Yanez was my English teacher and also gave me some basketball coaching wisdom while attended Santa Maria High School from 94-98. He was such a great man full of knowledge. What I remember most from him was the saying, “Don’t only listen with your ears, also listen with your eyes.” Such a true and appropriate wise advice that I use to this day.  Condolences to the entire family. 

Mr. Yanez was my baseball coach back in 1970-1973.  I’ve lived in Washington State since 1980. Anytime I went home to Santa Maria to visit family I always made a point to visit Mr. Yanez. Mr. Yanez was always family.  This is my story about how Mr. Yanez cared about all his former students and athletes . In the summer of 2008 I had applied to become a Washington State Trooper. I received a call from the State Patrol on a Tuesday and was informed that I would need a copy of my high school transcript sent to the State Patrol Human Resource office by that Friday to be able to take the written test that was being given on that Saturday or I would have to start the process over the following year. I was in a dilemma. Here it was the middle of the summer and I needed my high school transcript. I called Santa Maria High School but no one was there to answer.  School was out for summer. My next call was to Mr. Yanez. I explained the situation to him. Mr. Yanez told me that he would take care it. He would get a copy of my transcript to me by Thursday.  My high school transcript was in my mailbox that Thursday.  I was able to fax the transcript to the State Patrol Human Resource office on Friday. I took the written test on Saturday and made it to the Washington State Patrol Academy. I graduated from the Washington State Patrol Academy the following February and became a Washington State Trooper.  I retired in March of 2020. Without the care and assistance of Mr. Yanez I might have never had a career in Law Enforcement. As you can tell in my story I always use Mr. Yanez. I always had and still have great respect for my high school baseball coach and I could never call him Bill or Willie.

It was always Mr. Yanez 

I will miss him but I will always remember our talks throughout the years. But best of all I will always remember his little laugh.  Those of you smiling and moving your head up and down know what I’m talking about. 

I knew him as “Willie”. I never heard him being referred to by any other name, except Dad. Maybe it was is nom de plume? Maybe it was an aka? Maybe it was just his way of reinventing himself? All I know is he was “Willie”.  We met through his daughter, who was dating (ultimately married) my great friend Kenny. When we met I didn’t know that Willie had two other great attributes; Vivian and Tomas.  An more extremely loving family I have never met. Through the years we shared a lot of laughs and great times.. We sang Beatles songs together and he especially liked me playing  American pie by Don McLean (long version). We played golf. On one occasion I was able to  get him on to an extremely private course, San Francisco Golf Club.  He played the round of his life.  Willie was such a wonderfully warm and charismatic person.  He shined like a light in the darkness. It was just impossible not to be attracted like a moth to a light. He was a friend, a father, brother, and buddy to me. All at once. If you knew Willie he  left an indelible mark on your soul. My heart is saddened knowing he has moved on. But he lives on in my soul.  Forever, smiling and making everyone around him feeling great and valued. My deepest condolences to Vivian, Andreanna, Tomas and their wonderful families.  I love you all. 

Mr  Yanez taught me my curve ball one afternoon when we were taking Bp ( which I did whenever I could get someone to go) he said throw it this way.  I took it to heart worked on it hard and it was good for me. I liked hearing his stories and appreciated his help.  I wish he would have stuck to baseball coaching though. May he Rest In Peace.  Thank you Mr Yanez .