Quake Victim Eulogized as Caring About People

When a line of speakers had finished eulogizing Lupe Elias-Exposito, the 21-year-old student killed by the Oct. 1 earthquake, a classmate stepped to the front of the crowded university auditorium for an impromptu remark.

The student, who was enrolled in a science class at California State University, Los Angeles, recalled having difficulty with his course work--until Elias-Exposito, a stranger, took him aside after class and offered help.

“She showed me a spirit I had never seen,” the student remembered. “She touched me.”

That was the theme Wednesday as nearly 500 students, teachers and friends gathered to honor Elias-Exposito, one of three Los Angeles-area residents who died in the 6.1 quake. On a campus still marked by yellow roadblocks and police tape--evidence of the $22 million in damage on the East Los Angeles campus--students packed the darkened, somber auditorium for a special hourlong tribute.

The memorial service included praise for the dark-haired junior from campus President James M. Rosser and W. Ann Reynolds, chancellor of the California State University system, as well as Elias-Exposito’s teachers and family members. Officials announced that a scholarship fund was established this week to honor Elias-Exposito, who was killed by a slab of concrete that fell off a parking garage.

“The past two weeks have been trying times for all of us,” Rosser said, speaking to Elias-Exposito’s parents, Leonardo and Olymphia, of San Gabriel. “All of us have felt most deeply the pain and suddenness of Lupe’s tragic death. . . . We will always remember your daughter. She will always be with us.”

Elias-Exposito was praised as an outstanding, diligent student who was forever smiling and giving hugs. One unit short of being a senior, she had set her sights on attending medical school.

“She worked hard late into the night, at home and in her studies,” associate microbiology professor Ken Anderson said. “She wanted to work with people because she cared about people.

“Her caring was contagious.”

Her sister, Rosie, 22, was heading to class with her on the morning of the quake. Wednesday, she spoke in a trembling voice as she described Lupe’s devotion to her family, friends and class work. “My sister Lupe possessed many . . . rare and wonderful qualities,” Rosie said. “When there was despair (she brought) hope. Lupe was my best friend.”

Elias-Exposito had attended the San Gabriel Mission since her family immigrated from Cuba in 1984, Minister Maria Jongeling said. Jongeling, who often talked with her, spoke of Elias-Exposito’s “beautiful and inspiring . . . relationship with God.”

“What I was giving to her was very small,” Jongeling said. “I was receiving much more.”

So far this week about $1,500 has been donated to the scholarship fund, university officials said.