“The Life of the Party”

More than 100 friends, family members and former students assembled at the intersection of Huntington Drive and Kenilworth Avenue in the evening of Saturday, July 6th for a candlelight vigil to remember Gabriel Crispo, the 49-year-old San Gabriel man who was killed last Thursday morning while jogging on the median of Huntington Drive. Crispo and his dog, Niño, lost their lives when they were struck by a white Mercedes that may have been involved in a street race with another vehicle, according to authorities. Both cars were driven by minors who on Tuesday were charged with vehicular manslaughter, among other offenses. (see related story).

As the investigation continued, the portrait has emerged of a caring, fun-loving educator and his trusty dog, both of whom were much-loved. A native of Argentina, Crispo was a Spanish and ESL teacher previopusly at John Bosco and St. Francis High Schools and later Pasadena City College, where he was employed at the time of his tragic death.

“Everyone was always so happy around Gabriel,” said Kyrsten Johnson, a friend of Crispo, who forwarded to The Tribune a photo of Crispo surrounded by smiling faces at Johnson’s birthday party just just a month ago. “Gabriel looks like the star and that’s the way he always was. Everyone was always happy around him.”

“Gabriel was always the life of the party,” said Vanessa Forrest-Bastian, another friend of the deceased man whose birthday was just a day away from Crispo’s. “He always made me laugh. I will miss him.”

Christy Snyder, another friend who has been helping with memorial arrangements while family and friends arrive from Crispo’s homeland, agreed.

“The guy was happy all the time,” she said. “I made sure to sit by him, wherever we were. He would always make you laugh.”

Martha Franco, Crispo’s longtime companion, has organized a memorial service for 3–5:00 p.m. Monday, July 15 at St. Andrew Catholic Church, 311 N. Raymond Avenue in Pasadena.

A gofundme page to assist with funeral expenses has been established at celebration-of-life-for-gabriel-crispo.

“Gabriel was a really good guy,” said a former colleague at St. Francis High School, his voice thinning with emotion. “A really good guy.”