The Peace Garden bell at Cal State San Bernardino rang out 14 times on Dec. 2, its steady toll a reminder of the lives lost in the 2015 mass shooting at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino. Hosted by CSUSB’s College of Natural Sciences (CNS), this year’s ceremony marked the 10th anniversary of the tragedy.

Families, friends, former coworkers and members of the campus community gathered for the university’s annual Day of Remembrance that honored the 14 victims, including five CSUSB alumni from the Department of Biology and the Department of Health Science.

Former CNS faculty member Michael Nguyen rang the bell 14 times, once for each of the victims, during the ceremony, held in the Peace Garden on the south side of the Chemical Sciences Building. The garden was created in memory of the college’s fallen alumni:

  • Robert Adams, Yucaipa (public health education, 2011)
  • Juan Espinoza, Highland (biology, 2002)
  • Shannon Johnson, Los Angeles (environmental health science, 2004)
  • Yvette Velasco, Fontana (environmental health science, 2013)
  • Michael Wetzel, Lake Arrowhead (biology, 2001)

Also remembered were Isaac Amanios (Fontana), Bennett Bet-Badal (Rialto), Harry Bowman (Upland), Sierra Clayborn (Moreno Valley), Aurora Godoy (San Jacinto), Larry Daniel Kaufman (Rialto), Damien Meins (Riverside), Tin Nguyen (Santa Ana) and Nicholas Thalasinos (Colton).

Michael Nguyen, former College of Natural Sciences faculty member, rang the bell 14 times during the Day of Remembrance ceremony to honor each of the fallen victims.
Michael Nguyen, former College of Natural Sciences faculty member, rang the bell 14 times during the Day of Remembrance ceremony to honor each of the fallen victims.

Offering words of comfort and reflection, Sastry Pantula, dean of the College of Natural Sciences, spoke about the enduring impact left by those remembered.

“Let’s hold their memories close, remembering the good they brought into the world. Let us honor the love and joy they shared so generously,” said Pantula.

CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales addressed the gathering, sharing that the memories of that tragic day remain vivid even a decade later — as if it had happened only yesterday — and reminding the community of the day’s enduring significance.

Stuart Sumida, professor of biology and paleontologist who taught all five of the honored CSUSB alumni, reflected on the deep personal impact of the tragedy. 

“Every one of the alumni that we lost passed through one of my classes, so it affected me deeply,” he said.

In a poignant moment, Erica Ochoa, sister of victim Yvette Velasco, urged the community to embrace understanding and compassion. “Today, I just implore each and every one of you to utilize this time to seek to understand others and our differences, and to stand in tolerance for one another, and to really see the value in each day that we live together,” said Ochoa.

CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales shared remarks at the ceremony, recalling the events that took place on Dec. 2, 2015 and the enduring significance of that day.
CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales shared remarks at the ceremony, recalling the events that took place on Dec. 2, 2015 and the enduring significance of that day.