State Bar of Wisconsin

Beatrice Groelle Affatica
1939
(1915-1996)

Beatrice Groelle Affatica of Pewaukee, Wis., seemed an ordinary enough girl. She was born on Jan. 26, 1915 and, given the era, seemed destined to become a secretary or teacher, or some other "acceptable" position for a career woman. But Beatrice had other plans. She did what was then unthinkable - she attended and graduated from Marquette University School of Law in 1939.

Her graduation was a definite accomplishment given the year, but a career in law was not in the cards. Beatrice moved to Hawaii where she become a teacher at St. Anthony's Catholic School. She stayed in Hawaii through her death in Kapolei on Dec. 2, 1996, at the age of 81. Beatrice Groelle Affatica was survived by her three children: Catherine Agor, Janice Sablan, and John Affatica.

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