Alumni Mourn the Loss of Three Peers

Several hundred mourners attended a series of memorial services Saturday for three San Clemente High School alumni who died recently in two separate automobile collisions.

In a grim reunion for scores of recent San Clemente graduates, former classmates of Dana Ambrose, Jessica Daniel and David Russell recalled their friends’ youthful exuberance and warmth in ceremonies that ranged from open-form testimonials to a spreading of ashes on local waters.

Ambrose, 19, died on Oct. 7 in Hawaii. While driving home from work she was struck by an allegedly drunk off-duty police officer. Daniel, 19, and Russell, 22, died Tuesday as they were driving to meet friends in San Diego County for dirt-bike riding.

“This is a weird and awful way to run into people you went to school with,” said Shannon Quinn, 20, who rode her bicycle to the services. “There are so many people I’ve seen who I haven’t spoken with in years.”

Ambrose, who graduated with honors from San Clemente High School in 1999, was the youngest lifeguard ever to serve at San Clemente State Beach and always dreamed of living in Hawaii. On the day she was killed, Ambrose had learned she was accepted to the University of Hawaii with a scholarship. She planned to study art.

At a solemn “paddle out” service Saturday at San Clemente State Beach, Ambrose’s parents spread some of their daughter’s ashes on the waters and roughly 50 lifeguards and friends paddled out in the water on surfboards and formed a ring.

Steve Long, chief of the state’s South Orange Coast Life Guards, said Ambrose worked her way up from the junior guards and served with distinction for three years as a lifeguard and instructor. Her hallmarks were a warm spirit and a steely resolve in the face of obstacles.

She was particularly beloved by the junior guards she helped train. “When the surf gets large, a lot of kids are scared to go in the water and they cling to their favorite instructor. Dana often had kids hanging onto both her arms,” Long said.

In recognition of these qualities, a special award for the outstanding rookie lifeguard has been established in Dana Ambrose’s name.

Susan Ambrose described her daughter, who would often wear a plumeria flower behind an ear, as a shining star who was always fun to be with. The mother recalled one joke in particular, years ago, in which Dana and her brother Nik coated nuggets of dog food with frosting and told their parents they were fresh-baked cookies. “Don’t be afraid to remember her with a chuckle,” Susan Ambrose said.

Police in Hawaii are still investigating the accident that killed Ambrose. “We are committed to finding out the truth and getting justice,” Susan Ambrose said.

Ceremonies for Daniel and Russell overflowed two local mortuaries as a steady parade of friends and relatives, many bearing flowers, craned their necks to hear testimonials.

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According to the California Highway Patrol, the pair died early Tuesday when their car skidded out of control into oncoming traffic. They had been traveling east on State Route 78 in Borrego Springs. Their car was struck by a Humvee military truck occupied by four Marines, friends and officials said. The Marines survived the crash with injuries.

Police are continuing to investigate the crash, and officials said that neither drugs nor alcohol appeared to be involved.

Sally Daniel said her daughter Jessica was a “happy spirit” who would lighten up the room with her smile. She said she was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and the sight of so many people Saturday.

Jessica Daniel, who graduated from San Clemente High School in 1999, loved to write poetry and loved children, her mother said.

Greg Russell, David’s father, said his son loved to joke around, and earned the nickname “silly” from many of his friends. “He loved boogie-boarding, snowboarding, going fishing and partying,” his father said.

David Russell, who graduated in 1997, developed a taste for action early in life, Greg Russell said. “Up until he was 5 or 6 years old, I was building a boat in our backyard. When I was done, we went on a few months’ cruise to Cabo San Lucas. Later, we moved to Australia for seven years,” he said.

Greg Russell said he was still reeling from his son’s death: “He was just 22 and doing his own thing.”