'Celebration of life' event planned Sunday for Tempe teacher killed in murder-suicide

A teacher, leader and activist. Eileen Yellin served in these roles for decades until her death earlier this week.

Known as “Doc,” Yellin taught at Tempe High School for 30 years, founding numerous student organizations including the school’s Gay-Straight Alliance and student-activist group Stand and Serve.

A public event celebrating Yellin’s life and accomplishments is planned for 11 a.m. Sunday in the Tempe High School Auditorium, 1730 S. Mill Ave.

Yellin, 60, was found dead July 23 in an apparent murder-suicide involving estranged girlfriend Cathleen Baker, 48, police said. Officers found Yellin's body in her south Phoenix home with signs of trauma. Later they found Baker’s body at her home in Ahwatukee Foothills. Police said they believe Baker killed Yellin and then returned home and committed suicide.

Jennifer Rauhouse, a former teacher and executive director of Peer Solutions, a non-profit that has partnered with Stand and Serve, said she met Yellin in 1996 to plan a group to combat domestic violence.

“It was immediately clear Eileen was a diamond that has been doing this from the day she was born,” Rauhouse wrote in a Friday statement. “She understood anti-oppression work like no other. I was struck by her deep commitment to all students regardless of ability as well as her profound empathy and compassion.”

A legacy of activism

Yellin received multiple awards before retiring from Tempe High School in May.

Known as an advocate for gay students, Yellin was presented the Safe Schools Adviser Award from the Phoenix Gay, Straight and Lesbian Education Network in November.

The Stand & Serve Club also recently received a “12 Who Care Award” from Channel 12, and a mini documentary about the group was filmed at Tempe High School.

Yellin was also given a Guts to Be Good Award in March 2015 from Peer Solutions and a City of Tempe Diversity Award in 2010.

Yellin described Stand and Serve’s accomplishments in a statement from October 2012.

“Over the last 16 years, I have watched STAND & SERVE grow into a veritable force for our youth,” she wrote. “Countless students have found a place to be themselves, while learning to help others, advocate for what they believe, and find their own voices.

“They learn from their peers that they can take a stand for what’s right and then they put it into practice. Students from all walks of life, all socioeconomic levels, from myriad cliques, and without cliques work together for the common good and become better people for their efforts.”

Court battles allege abuse

Yellin's death in a domestic-violence situation was a major shock, Rauhouse said.

“We are all mourning and questioning such a tragic loss, especially because she has spent her entire life working to understand and prevent these harms before they begin,” Rauhouse said. “How can this happen?”

Court records show the couple had a history of conflict and filed for opposing restraining orders against each other in the month before their deaths.