Hundreds gathered at Santa Barbara City College on Wednesday for an emotional candlelight vigil in honor of a Goleta couple struck and killed by an allegedly drunk hit-and-run driver.
Mary Jane Becerra Corral and Adolfo Corral, both 44, suffered fatal injuries at about 5:15 p.m. Sunday when they were hit by a car while they walked along a bike path that parallels Cathedral Oaks Road east of Ellwood Ridge Road, near the western edge of Goleta.
The driver fled the scene on foot and was arrested more than three hours later in Carpinteria.
Adolfo died at the scene, and Mary Jane passed away shortly after being taken to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.
Wreaths decorated with white roses, lilies and other flowers graced each side of the podium set up nearby the large fountain on SBCC’s West Campus.
People standing outside hugged each other tightly.
The crowd stood in silence as the oldest of the four Corral siblings recited recollections and warm words that individuals said about her mother and father in the aftermath of the tragic crash.
The couple leave behind four children — 20-year-old Azalea, 17-year-old Dahlia, 14-year-old Dominic and 10-year-old Rose — and a large extended family.
Several relatives were seated at the public event.
Azalea smiled when she read some of the joyful remarks out loud.
“I want to end with one of the comments I saw about my dad, ‘He was a F— legend and deserves to be remembered forever,’” Azalea said.
Laughter rippled through the crowd.
Mary Jane and Adolfo had a great impact on students’ academic success, and they were mentors to several community members. The couple were positive, and students’ treasured and loved their endless support and guidance.
Adolfo helped hundreds of SBCC students achieve their academic goals, Azalea said in her remarks.
“He (Adolfo) was proud to work here (SBCC),” Azalea said. “He was proud of the impact he made, and of the people he could help.
“He was proud of us too,” Azalea continued. “I’m glad they got to see me go to college, and start, but, I’m sad he won’t get to see my siblings get further in their education.”
People told Azalea that her parents were “shining examples of all that is good in our community” and “humble, outgoing and always there to help out.”
Adolfo was a member of the SBCC community for more than 15 years. He worked as a student program advisor for the college’s Extended Opportunity Programs and Services, as well as a science, technology, engineering and math transfer center coordinator, and a professional development studies adjunct professor.
He most recently worked as SBCC’s equity, diversity, and cultural competency coordinator.
Mary Jane worked seven years as a computer specialist at La Patera Elementary and she served as a substitute teacher.
“My mom was always so nice to everybody,” Azalea said.
A handful of Goleta Union School District educators and administrators were also in attendance and huddled around the podium.
“We have known this beautiful family for the past 15 years,” said Teresa Chavez-Madrigal, La Patera’s learning center staff. “On the first day of school, Mary Jane and Adolfo dropped off their daughter, Azalea, and with a smile, they said, ‘Nice to meet you. How can we help?’”
Before the speeches, SBCC students in the Applied Music program performed “Hallelujah.”
Memorial buttons were seen on shirts. Tissues wiped away tears.
The hour-long ceremony featured a moment of silence.
As the sun began to slip in the sky, attendees lit hand-held candles in memory of Mary Jane and Adolfo.
At the end of the ceremony, some people gathered around a table with a white cloth.
Photographs of the Corral family and friends, along with lit candles, carnations and bright yellow sunflowers, adorned the table.
At the event, people used colorful pens to write notes to the Corral family. They dropped cards and notes into a red-and-white colored cardboard box.
Led by the Santa Barbara County’s Department of Behavioral Wellness, members of the blue-vested Community Wellness Team were available to support attendees.
A community vigil was also held for Mary Jane and Adolfo Monday evening near the crash site.
“Many of the speeches today, and the vigil on Monday, highlighted the beautiful qualities of both Mary Jane and Adolfo,” said Michael Medel, a close family friend and SBCC’s director of admissions and records.
The Carpinteria High School alumnus and Adolfo, a Dos Pueblos High School alumnus, had mutual friends during high school. Their strong friendship began in college.
“I got to see and work with my friend for the last 16 years,” Medel said of Adolfo.
He offered condolences to the family members.
“Your parents were the true definition of heroes,” Medel told the Corral children.
— Noozhawk staff writer Brooke Holland can be reached at bholland@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
