Slain Cal Poly Pomona security officer was dedicated, helpful and always made you feel like family
Family members, friends and co-workers gathered Thursday evening in Claremont to remember Mark Manlapaz, a Cal Poly Pomona campus security officer and Claremont park ranger who was killed last week in an attack at the university.
“Our community is completely saddened and shocked by this incident,” said Cal Poly Police Chief Dario Robinson. “And at certain times, we’re completely paralyzed by just the thought of what we’ve had to witness and what we now have to live through.”
Manlapaz, who served for 16 years on the Cal Poly Pomona Campus Security team and worked as a Claremont park ranger for three years, was remembered as a friendly, helpful and dedicated person by Claremont and Cal Poly personnel. He was honored during a vigil held at Lewis Park, 1700 Danbury Road.
“My son, I am very proud of him,” Manlapaz’s mother, Carmelina Curtis, said, after hearing story after story at the vigil of how people were positively impacted by her son.
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An only child, Manlapaz moved with his mother and father from the Philippines to California at age 13, according to a Cal Poly statement. He learned English by reading the dictionary.
“He worked a lot, but in one sense he was always surrounded by family because that’s how he made you feel, like you were family to him,” said Michael Biagi, director of the university’s Parking & Transportation, in the Cal Poly statement. “He drew you in with his spirit.”
Friends and coworkers spoke at the vigil of Manlapaz’s warmth, smile, friendly nature, willingness to help and love for work.
Manlapaz, 37, was attacked around 4:30 p.m. Friday, June 29, as he monitored traffic from his truck at a campus entrance off West Pomona Boulevard, authorities said. He was found by one of his co-workers.
Manlapaz worked at Cal Poly Pomona since 2006 and earned two degrees there: a bachelor’s in psychology in 2006 and a bachelor’s in human resource management in 2012, according to a statement from Cal Poly Pomona.
Claremont City Manager Tara Shultz at vigil for Mark Manlapaz pic.twitter.com/rShzVydmHu
— Mike Cruz (@mikecnews) July 6, 2018
Much of his biological family lives in his native Philippines. Manlapaz passionately encouraged his circle of family and friends to further their endeavors, and he even quietly funded multiple cousins’ opportunities to attend college.
“I’m honored to say he was my best friend for 22 long years,” said Jayson Inong, who chose Manlapaz as his best man at his wedding. Manlapaz would go the extra mile to do anything for anyone, he said.
“He was a man of God, I want you to know that,” said Inong, who was introduced to the High Desert Church in Victorville by Manlapaz.
37 green balloons released in honor of Mark Manlapaz. July 23rd is Mark’s 37th birthday. pic.twitter.com/5Kfj14ygpn
— Mike Cruz (@mikecnews) July 6, 2018
The suspect in the stabbing was later shot and killed by a Pomona police officer and a university police officer.
Funeral services for Manlapaz will be at 10 a.m. July 17 at High Desert Church in Victorville, according to Robinson.