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| San Bernardino victims include man who followed love to California | San Bernardino victims include man who followed love to California |
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| A father of six, a coffee shop owner, a physical education teacher, a health inspector who followed his love to California, a mother who fled Iran to start a new life, the cousin of a New York Giants player: these were some of the victims of the massacre in San Bernardino. | A father of six, a coffee shop owner, a physical education teacher, a health inspector who followed his love to California, a mother who fled Iran to start a new life, the cousin of a New York Giants player: these were some of the victims of the massacre in San Bernardino. |
| Authorities released the names of the 14 fatalities on Thursday a day after a heavily armed couple opened fire on the San Bernardino county public health department’s Christmas lunch, wounding an additional 21 people before they themselves were cut down in a gun battle with police. | Authorities released the names of the 14 fatalities on Thursday a day after a heavily armed couple opened fire on the San Bernardino county public health department’s Christmas lunch, wounding an additional 21 people before they themselves were cut down in a gun battle with police. |
| Related: San Bernardino shooting: 14 victims named by police – latest updates | Related: San Bernardino shooting: 14 victims named by police – latest updates |
| The number of casualties, the size of the Inland Regional Center and fear of booby-traps slowed down the process of identifying all the dead and notifying next-of-kin. | The number of casualties, the size of the Inland Regional Center and fear of booby-traps slowed down the process of identifying all the dead and notifying next-of-kin. |
| Thirteen of the dead worked for the San Bernardino county health department, said a spokesperson, Felisa Cardona. “It’s an unspeakable tragedy of this magnitude. It’s just devastating to fellow employees and it’s devastating to the community.” | Thirteen of the dead worked for the San Bernardino county health department, said a spokesperson, Felisa Cardona. “It’s an unspeakable tragedy of this magnitude. It’s just devastating to fellow employees and it’s devastating to the community.” |
| She clarified earlier reports that the victims were attending a Christmas party – it was in fact a day-long training with a holiday-themed luncheon. | She clarified earlier reports that the victims were attending a Christmas party – it was in fact a day-long training with a holiday-themed luncheon. |
| All the victims lived in or near San Bernardino. Black and white, Asian and latino, gay and straight, they ranged in age from 60 to 26, a typical sample of California’s human mosaic. | All the victims lived in or near San Bernardino. Black and white, Asian and latino, gay and straight, they ranged in age from 60 to 26, a typical sample of California’s human mosaic. |
| Damian Meins, 58, an environmental health worker, was married to Trenna Meins, the principal of the Sacred Heart parish school in Rancho Cucamonga. | Damian Meins, 58, an environmental health worker, was married to Trenna Meins, the principal of the Sacred Heart parish school in Rancho Cucamonga. |
| A neighbor, Jim Harris, 86, told the Guardian that Meins was “a fantastic man, very personable”. Meins and his wife looked out for Harris and his wife Ruth, he said. “They’re cognisant that we’re older, he always stopped to say hello and smile ... They’ve always been very kind to us and considerate.” | A neighbor, Jim Harris, 86, told the Guardian that Meins was “a fantastic man, very personable”. Meins and his wife looked out for Harris and his wife Ruth, he said. “They’re cognisant that we’re older, he always stopped to say hello and smile ... They’ve always been very kind to us and considerate.” |
| Ruth struggled to contain her shock. “They looked out for us. Oh God.” | Ruth struggled to contain her shock. “They looked out for us. Oh God.” |
| Another neighbor, Rose Evans, remembered Meins as a man who was “always busy”, often working in his yard. “He was friendly with everybody.” She said it was hard to imagine someone who lived in such a peaceful, family-oriented street could become the victim of such a horrific act. | Another neighbor, Rose Evans, remembered Meins as a man who was “always busy”, often working in his yard. “He was friendly with everybody.” She said it was hard to imagine someone who lived in such a peaceful, family-oriented street could become the victim of such a horrific act. |
| He was hosting the Christmas party, according to a friend’s Facebook posting: “Please keep his wife, Trenna, family and friends in your prayers and hearts. God bless us all in these difficult times.” | He was hosting the Christmas party, according to a friend’s Facebook posting: “Please keep his wife, Trenna, family and friends in your prayers and hearts. God bless us all in these difficult times.” |
| icholas Thalasinos, 52, a health inspector, moved to California about a decade ago to be with his wife Jennifer, whom he met online. Friends expressed grief beneath a Facebook picture of the couple smiling: “What a great picture of a great man. You were blessed to have been his loving wife. I know he was blessed to have you.” | icholas Thalasinos, 52, a health inspector, moved to California about a decade ago to be with his wife Jennifer, whom he met online. Friends expressed grief beneath a Facebook picture of the couple smiling: “What a great picture of a great man. You were blessed to have been his loving wife. I know he was blessed to have you.” |
| Jennifer Thalasinos is a teacher, and Nicholas moved out to California to be with her after they met online, according to California media. Thalasinos, who had two adult sons, reportedly worked alongside Syed Farook, an Illinois-born health inspector who perpetrated the massacre with his Pakistani wife, Tashfeen Malik. | Jennifer Thalasinos is a teacher, and Nicholas moved out to California to be with her after they met online, according to California media. Thalasinos, who had two adult sons, reportedly worked alongside Syed Farook, an Illinois-born health inspector who perpetrated the massacre with his Pakistani wife, Tashfeen Malik. |
| Former colleagues and friends in New Jersey expressed shock. “We were talking about it, saying I hope Nick was OK, not knowing,” Ed Beck, a construction official in Linwood, New Jersey, told Philly.com. “It’s always one of those deals, you know how big San Bernardino is, he’s probably OK. He was a wonderful friend ... a really nice guy, good work ethic.” | Former colleagues and friends in New Jersey expressed shock. “We were talking about it, saying I hope Nick was OK, not knowing,” Ed Beck, a construction official in Linwood, New Jersey, told Philly.com. “It’s always one of those deals, you know how big San Bernardino is, he’s probably OK. He was a wonderful friend ... a really nice guy, good work ethic.” |
| Michael Raymond Wetzel, 37, an environmental health supervisor, had three children by his first marriage and three by his second, Renee. On Wednesday, as news of the massacre broke, she posted a plea for his safety on Facebook. “I have not been able to get in touch with him. Please please pray that he is ok.” | Michael Raymond Wetzel, 37, an environmental health supervisor, had three children by his first marriage and three by his second, Renee. On Wednesday, as news of the massacre broke, she posted a plea for his safety on Facebook. “I have not been able to get in touch with him. Please please pray that he is ok.” |
| After his death was confirmed she released a statement calling him her best friend and an incredible father. “Without him, this family will never be the same. We appreciate all the love and support that everyone is showing.” | After his death was confirmed she released a statement calling him her best friend and an incredible father. “Without him, this family will never be the same. We appreciate all the love and support that everyone is showing.” |
| A staff member of the Church of the Woods in Lake Arrowhead said: “Mike is just one of the most genuinely fabulous people I’ve ever met.” | A staff member of the Church of the Woods in Lake Arrowhead said: “Mike is just one of the most genuinely fabulous people I’ve ever met.” |
| Celia Behar, who knows Renee through the thelilmamas.com blog, said Renee was overwhelmed and heartbroken but proving to be strong. “She’s holding up better than I would be under the circumstances,” said Behar. Behar, a co-founder and president of the Lil Mamas helped launch an online fundraiser for the Wetzel family that has garnered more than $100,000 in donations so far. | Celia Behar, who knows Renee through the thelilmamas.com blog, said Renee was overwhelmed and heartbroken but proving to be strong. “She’s holding up better than I would be under the circumstances,” said Behar. Behar, a co-founder and president of the Lil Mamas helped launch an online fundraiser for the Wetzel family that has garnered more than $100,000 in donations so far. |
| Daniel Kaufman, 42, who was also known as Larry, ran the Coffee N More cafe in building 3 of the targeted centre and trained developmentally disabled clients who worked there. Described as a gregarious free spirit who adored horror films, Kaufman had been raised by an aunt and uncle after his parents died. His boyfriend, Ryan Reyes, 32, had an agonised 22-hour wait for news punctuated by false hope: a report that Kaufman had been wounded in the arm and would survive. An LA Times photographer caught the moment on Thursday morning when Reyes, visibly distraught, received confirmation that Kaufman was gone. | |
| Shannon Johnson, 45, worked as an environmental health specialist for the county for 10 years. According to his Linked-In profile he was educated at California State Univesity-San Bernardino and specialised in food safety, recreational health and housing. He described his interests as the environment, music and the arts. | Shannon Johnson, 45, worked as an environmental health specialist for the county for 10 years. According to his Linked-In profile he was educated at California State Univesity-San Bernardino and specialised in food safety, recreational health and housing. He described his interests as the environment, music and the arts. |
| Bennetta Bet-Badal, 46, who inspected restaurants, was married to Arlen Verdehyou, a police officer, and the mother of two boys and a girl, aged 10 to 15. According to a fundraising page set up by her family, she emigrated from Iran aged 18. | Bennetta Bet-Badal, 46, who inspected restaurants, was married to Arlen Verdehyou, a police officer, and the mother of two boys and a girl, aged 10 to 15. According to a fundraising page set up by her family, she emigrated from Iran aged 18. |
| She earned a degree in biotechnology and chemistry from Cal Poly Pomona and spoke Farsi and Assyrian, according to her LinkedIn account. | She earned a degree in biotechnology and chemistry from Cal Poly Pomona and spoke Farsi and Assyrian, according to her LinkedIn account. |
| Before the death was confirmed Verdehyou told the Daily Breeze he was with their children and holding out for good news. “There is no reason for evilness. You just have to be strong for each other.” She decorated a beautiful Christmas tree, he added. | Before the death was confirmed Verdehyou told the Daily Breeze he was with their children and holding out for good news. “There is no reason for evilness. You just have to be strong for each other.” She decorated a beautiful Christmas tree, he added. |
| Verdehyou and the couple’s children were at a vigil at San Manuel stadium in San Bernardino on Thursday night. Speaking to CNN, he said Bennetta was: “A lovely wife, beautiful mother – everything she did bloomed. | Verdehyou and the couple’s children were at a vigil at San Manuel stadium in San Bernardino on Thursday night. Speaking to CNN, he said Bennetta was: “A lovely wife, beautiful mother – everything she did bloomed. |
| Their daughter said she had had lots of messages of support from her friends: “[I tell them] I’m doing good, I’m doing OK, because what else can I do?” | Their daughter said she had had lots of messages of support from her friends: “[I tell them] I’m doing good, I’m doing OK, because what else can I do?” |
| Aurora Godoy, 26, was the youngest victim. Photos on her Facebook profile showed her smiling with an infant boy and a partner, James. “Our little Packer family,” she wrote, in reference to the Green Bay Packers. Godoy had eclectic taste, liking Walt Disney films as well as The Fast and the Furious, and the Nicholas Sparks novel Dear John. | Aurora Godoy, 26, was the youngest victim. Photos on her Facebook profile showed her smiling with an infant boy and a partner, James. “Our little Packer family,” she wrote, in reference to the Green Bay Packers. Godoy had eclectic taste, liking Walt Disney films as well as The Fast and the Furious, and the Nicholas Sparks novel Dear John. |
| Her aunt Rebecca Godoy said her killers did not deserve to be named. “There are other victims that our hearts go out for. We will keep her flame alive so that her young son does not forget his special mother. God bless us all.” | Her aunt Rebecca Godoy said her killers did not deserve to be named. “There are other victims that our hearts go out for. We will keep her flame alive so that her young son does not forget his special mother. God bless us all.” |
| Isaac Amanios, 60, who worked for the county health department, is survived by a wife and three adult children. The New York Giants safety Nat Berhe, a relative, tweeted his sorrow. “Just got word that one of my cousins was among the 14 killed yesterday, I’m so sick right now... speechless.” | Isaac Amanios, 60, who worked for the county health department, is survived by a wife and three adult children. The New York Giants safety Nat Berhe, a relative, tweeted his sorrow. “Just got word that one of my cousins was among the 14 killed yesterday, I’m so sick right now... speechless.” |
| Harry Bowman, 46, was an intelligent man who adored his two daughters aged 11 and 15, a friend, Bill Kraft, told the LA Times. “Death at its best is hard to take. This type of death is extremely hard to take, especially when you have young children. There is no way you are going to make them understand.” | Harry Bowman, 46, was an intelligent man who adored his two daughters aged 11 and 15, a friend, Bill Kraft, told the LA Times. “Death at its best is hard to take. This type of death is extremely hard to take, especially when you have young children. There is no way you are going to make them understand.” |
| The family of Yvette Velasco, 27, who also worked for the county environmental health department, said in a statement it was devastated and appealed for privacy. “Our family appreciates the interest in Yvette. Yvette was an intelligent, motivated, and beautiful young woman, who was full of life and loved by all who knew her.” She is survived by her parents, Robert and Marie, plus three sisters, Adriana, Erica and Genevieve. | The family of Yvette Velasco, 27, who also worked for the county environmental health department, said in a statement it was devastated and appealed for privacy. “Our family appreciates the interest in Yvette. Yvette was an intelligent, motivated, and beautiful young woman, who was full of life and loved by all who knew her.” She is survived by her parents, Robert and Marie, plus three sisters, Adriana, Erica and Genevieve. |
| Sierra Clayborn, 27, worked in retail and at a bank before landing a job inspecting restaurants. | Sierra Clayborn, 27, worked in retail and at a bank before landing a job inspecting restaurants. |
| Matthew Peairs, a manager at Red Baron Pizza in Big Bear Lake, said Clayborn inspected restaurant a day before the shooting. “She was one of the nicest health inspectors that we’ve ever had,” he told AP. “She talked to us like normal people, not just doing her job.” She mentioned she was going to the department’s Christmas luch on Wednesday. “She was stoked about the party.” | Matthew Peairs, a manager at Red Baron Pizza in Big Bear Lake, said Clayborn inspected restaurant a day before the shooting. “She was one of the nicest health inspectors that we’ve ever had,” he told AP. “She talked to us like normal people, not just doing her job.” She mentioned she was going to the department’s Christmas luch on Wednesday. “She was stoked about the party.” |
| Friends praised her as an outgoing, positive person. “She always had something encouraging to say,” said Timothy Lee, who met Clayborn at a hip-hop class at the University of California, Riverside. | Friends praised her as an outgoing, positive person. “She always had something encouraging to say,” said Timothy Lee, who met Clayborn at a hip-hop class at the University of California, Riverside. |
| Robert Adams, 40, who inspected swimming pools and food facilities, left behind a wife and infant daughter, according to a crowdfunding site set up by friends. | Robert Adams, 40, who inspected swimming pools and food facilities, left behind a wife and infant daughter, according to a crowdfunding site set up by friends. |
| “All day we waited for news that he was safely coming home to his beautiful wife Summer and his absolutely precious daughter, Savannah. It is now confirmed this will not be happening. While we mourn the great loss that Robert and at least 13 other families face this morning, we can do our small part to help bring some comfort to his family.” | “All day we waited for news that he was safely coming home to his beautiful wife Summer and his absolutely precious daughter, Savannah. It is now confirmed this will not be happening. While we mourn the great loss that Robert and at least 13 other families face this morning, we can do our small part to help bring some comfort to his family.” |
| By Thursday afternoon it had raised almost $10,000. Megan Neforos, who set up the page, said Summer was Adams’s high school sweetheart. “This is tragic for her,” she said. “He was an incredibly loving father and devoted husband.” | By Thursday afternoon it had raised almost $10,000. Megan Neforos, who set up the page, said Summer was Adams’s high school sweetheart. “This is tragic for her,” she said. “He was an incredibly loving father and devoted husband.” |
| Tin Nguyen, 31, a Vietnamese-born health inspector, was due to marry in 2017, her cousin, Calvin Nguyen, told the Desert Sun. “She was very intelligent, a good girl, takes care of mom and family,” he said as the family emerged from a grief-counselling centre. “We very sad that we lose her. Pray for us.” She was excited about trying on her wedding dress, her uncle, Phu Nguyen, told Newsday. | Tin Nguyen, 31, a Vietnamese-born health inspector, was due to marry in 2017, her cousin, Calvin Nguyen, told the Desert Sun. “She was very intelligent, a good girl, takes care of mom and family,” he said as the family emerged from a grief-counselling centre. “We very sad that we lose her. Pray for us.” She was excited about trying on her wedding dress, her uncle, Phu Nguyen, told Newsday. |
| Juan Espinoza, 50, also a health inspector, was survived by a wife, a daughter and a son. | Juan Espinoza, 50, also a health inspector, was survived by a wife, a daughter and a son. |