JDRF mourns the loss of our longtime supporter and friend, Rafael Kastl. She was born in 1926 and was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) when she was six years old by her aunt, who was a doctor. Her aunt put her on a very strict diet, which she adhered to all her life. Rafael lived most of her life in San Francisco until she and her husband Robert moved to Tiburon, CA in 2010. She died at the age of 94.

Rafael is survived by her nephew Frank Kastl and niece Kriss Kastl who were always proud of their aunt living so strongly with T1D. Frank says, “In San Francisco, Rafael either took public transportation or walked. She would do her grocery shopping and carry it back home. Rafael and Robert traveled extensively, but she always stuck to her diet. She was a very independent woman and after her husband died, she lived alone for several years.”

JDRF is grateful to have recently received a generous $170,000 bequest from her estate. The gift will help advance JDRF’s mission to improve lives today and tomorrow by accelerating breakthroughs to cure, treat, and prevent T1D and its complications.

If, like Rafael Kastl, you’re interested in changing lives through a legacy gift to JDRF, please visit jdrf.plannedgiving.org. Many JDRF supporters discover the ultimate way to ensure JDRF-funded research continues by including a planned gift in their will, trust or retirement account. When you make this important commitment to JDRF, you’re invited to become a member of the JDRF BETA Society. Learn more.