Fordham Custodial Employees Remembered in Ceremony

Gerardo Galiano speaks to the crowd.
Photo by Edward Palermo

Fordham custodial services employees Maria Gonzalez and Maria Nunez were honored on Friday afternoon at a ceremony at the Rose Hill campus, where a garden was dedicated in their memory.

The sisters were killed, along with their parents Ana Julia Tejada and Jacobo Nunez; Jaslyn Gonzalez, daughter of Maria Gonzalez; and sisters Marlyn Rosario Nunez and Naily Rosario, both daughters of Maria Nunez, in an automobile accident on the Bronx River Parkway on April 29, 2012.

The garden, which is called El Jardin De Las Maria's Maria's Garden, is on a hill beside O'Hare Hall, in the southeast corner of the campus. 

Gerardo Galiano, who was the women's supervisor in Campus Operations, and Claudio Burgaleta, S.J. associate professor of theology at Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education, spoke at the dedication. 

Claudio Burgaleta, S.J., offers a blessing.
Photo by Edward Palermo

In May 2012, the University created a memorial fund on behalf of the families of the women. Anyone wishing to make a contribution can do so either in person or by mail. 

Checks should be made out to the Fordham University Disaster Relief Fund with the memo section of the check stating “Gonzalez/Nunez Family” and mailed or brought to:

    Fordham University - Office of the President

    Attention: Dorothy Marinucci

    441 East Fordham Road

    Administrative Building, First Floor - Rose Hill Campus

    Bronx, New York 10458

For additional questions related to the fund or on making a donation, please contact the Office of the President at (718) 817-3000.

The garden plaque
Photo by Edward Palermo

—Patrick Verel