“Friendly.” “Well-liked.” “Positive.” “Gregarious.” “Passionate.”
     These are but a few words used by friends and family to describe Skyline student Raymond Gardner, 22, whose life was cut short in an apparent act of road rage on Jan. 12.
     Gardner had completed two semesters at Skyline and was going to be attending the spring 2003 semester. He worked also worked at Office Depot concurrently.
     As reported in the San Francisco Chronicle, Gardner was shot in the head while sitting in the passenger seat of his friend’s car. The friend had honked at a white Chevrolet Tahoe that was haphazardly driving down Interstate 380 in San Bruno, then tried to pass the vehicle, at which point someone in the Tahoe shot at their car.
     “I’m so in shock,” said Marcia Treidler, Gardner’s Capoeria teacher. Capoeria, a Brazilian form of martial arts that is accompanied by singing and instrumentation, was one of Gardner’s passions, as well as kajukenbo, another form of martial arts.
     “He loved performing,” Triedler said. “He was an example student. He would always try to jump higher and faster.”
     According to Treidler, Gardner was so good at Capoeria that in less than five year’s time, he was already at the master level, and traveled to Brazil twice in order to learn more about the martial art.
     When he learned something, he would apply himself in a dedicated and patient manner, even going so far as to take gymnastic classes to help him master the “acrobatic” part of Capoeria.
     Carol Dela Cruz, one of Gardner’s Office Depot co-workers, also expounded on his patience and dedication to his job.
     “He was really nice to be around, and you could depend on him–no problems,” Dela Cruz said. “If he had to train someone, he would always be patient with them even if he had to go over things again and again.
     “He was so positive. His smile really captured you. It was contagious. It would make you want to smile, too.””Ray always looked on the positive side of life,” said Ron Longo, Gardner’s Office Depot manager. “He was so well-liked, that when the funeral came up I got so many requests (from the workers) to go, that I had to call in workers from other stores to cover.”
     According to the Pacifica Tribune, about 750 people attended Gardner’s funeral.
     Even Skyline College’s Marijane Datson, who was one of Gardner’s teachers, rememberd him as, “fun, devoted, and lively in discussions.”
     Office Depot was not the only place Gardner frequented, to feel the impact of Gardner’s death. When Treidler and others at the Abodo Capoeria school received the shocking news, the studio was closed for a short period of time.
     “The Capoeria community is such a large, close-knit community. When we found out, we just had to close,” Triedler said. “All the kids started writing in letters, and writing (Capoeria) songs for him. I’m still trying to understand how this happened.”
     Two of the three men who were riding in the Chevrolet Tahoe, Tito Sedeno and John Navarro Jr. are facing two felony counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and other charges.
     According to San Mateo County’s Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe, the two suspects have asked for a three-week continuance, in order to attempt to hire lawyers.
     In the end, perhaps the feelings of those who knew Gardner could be best summed up in what Dela Cruz said: “Overall, none of these words I say can do him justice, you know?”