Fatal crash claims student’s life

Cal State Long Beach civil engineering junior Jose R. Pacheco was known for his bright blue eyes, personality and infectious smile.

“He never had a frown on his face, only smiles. He was up to do anything with his friends,” said his close friend Amy Vo.

Pacheco’s life ended unexpectedly when his car caught fire Nov. 15 after being hit by a suspected drunk driver. He was 20 years old.

Friends were shocked when they heard the news.

“I was with him that night, 20 minutes before it happened,” said Alvin Nguyen, a sophomore biochemistry major and friend of Pacheco. “I found out when I woke up [the next day] from a friend of Jose’s.”

Pacheco was born on Sept. 29, 1988. He grew up in Duarte, Calif., and attended Duarte High School prior to attending CSULB. Even in high school, Pacheco excelled at both sports and academics. He ran cross-country, played soccer and maintained a high grade point average. When he got to CSULB, he joined the Latino Business Club. In his last semester before the accident, Pacheco earned a 4.0 GPA.

“He was the kind of student who would push others to go to class, as he did with me. Jose had a bright future ahead of him,” Nguyen said.

Pacheco also enjoyed playing poker with friends and going to the occasional club. He liked to dance and used his moves to enroll in social dance at CSULB.

All these accomplishments paled in comparison to Pacheco’s personality. Friends of his cannot recall ever seeing him angry. He was friendly and loving to everyone he met. Pacheco could make friends just by hanging out at the University Student Union.

“We both played a certain video game at the Union arcade, ‘Initial D,’ we both were sort of learning how to play from the people there,” said Jocelyn Uy, a hospitality and hotel management major. The friendship grew from there.

His family acknowledged how special Pacheco was. Pacheco’s siblings appreciated and looked up to him. He made it his responsibility to keep them in shape and active just as he always was.

“He was great even though he would pet me on the head sometimes. I knew it was from love,” said his younger sister Vivian. “He was just so nice all the time.”

Those close to him have had a difficult time accepting Pacheco’s death. Friends have continued leaving messages on his Facebook page. Many of the messages refer to him as though he were still alive.

“I would like Jose and his family to know that we all miss him. We still continue to visit him at his candle light vigil,” Nguyen said. “Even though he is gone, his presence and spirit are still with us every day.”

Pacheco is survived by his mother, Genoveva Montes; father, Reynaldo Pacheco, and five brothers and sisters.

On Friday a rosary service from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. at Turner & Stevens Live Oak Memorial Park & Mortuary will be held in remembrance of Pacheco. The address is 200 E. Duarte Rd., Monrovia, CA.

On Saturday the funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at 740 S. Shamrock Ave., Monrovia, CA.