The California State University, Dominguez Hills family suffered another tragic loss in June with the untimely deaths of digital media arts major René Romero and alumna Stefanie Ramirez (Class of 2011, B.S. sociology), who died in a car accident on Friday, June 28.
(Earlier in June, Marcela Franco, a senior majoring in psychology, was among four other victims, including her father, who were shot and killed by a lone gunman in Santa Monica.)
To give the campus a chance to grieve but also celebrate the friends they have lost, the Office of Student Life the United Greek Council, and the campus Greek community, of which René and Stefanie were members, have organized a vigil on Tuesday, July 2, from 7 to 10 p.m. in the Sculpture Garden between LaCorte Hall and the University Theatre.
René, 25, came to CSU Dominguez Hills in the fall of 2006 as a transfer student from Compton Community College. He initially majored in computer science but switched to digital media arts. He was in his senior year.
Stefanie, 25, joined the CSUDH family in the spring of 2006, as a first-time freshman. She graduated in 2011 with her bachelor’s in sociology and, according to her Facebook profile, was working as a case manager for a nonprofit housing organization in Los Angeles.
René and Stefanie had been friends for a number of years through their involvement as members of the campus Greek community. René was a member of Sigma Pi and Stefanie was a member of Phi Sigma Sigma and was a Sigma Pi “little sister.”
They also were at various times employed on campus. At one point, René served as a student assistant in Outreach and Information Services, and last summer worked in the Office of Student Life assisting with New Student Orientation. Stefanie also worked in the Office of Student Life and as a student assistant in the Office of the Provost a few years ago.
In a message to campus, CSU Dominguez Hills President Willie J. Hagan said, “This tragic loss of these two vibrant young people taken too suddenly is a painful blow to the campus community.”
He also reminded the campus that Student Health and Psychological Services offers grief counseling and other resources to help those in need to cope with the loss. He encouraged individuals to schedule an appointment by calling (310) 243-3818.
Additionally, CSU Dominguez Hills has established an account to facilitate donations to aid the Romero and Ramirez families.
Online donations can be made on the secure website www.csudh.edu/onlinegiving. Select “René Romero Memorial” or “Stefanie Ramirez Memorial.”
Donations by check also are accepted and should be sent to the CSU Dominguez Hills Office of Development, Welch Hall A-425, 1000 E. Victoria St., Carson CA 90747, payable to either “CSUDH Foundation/René Romero Memorial” or “CSUDH Foundation/Stefanie Ramirez Memorial.”
Donations are not tax deductible. One hundred percent of the amount collected will go to René and Stefanie’s families.
