Classmate shares memories of deceased graphic design student

On Feb. 26, first-year MHCC graphic design student Ismael Sanchez, 30, died after leaving the main campus that day.

No further details on his death are available.

Word came as a shock to his fellow Mt. Hood students, and to instructors.

MHCC student Caren Calderón reflected on getting to know Sanchez after they met while in a study group for an Integrated Media test in November.

“After a couple laughs and talks in our mother tongue (we both spoke Spanish) we decided to study together,” Calderón said.

After studying, they went to get lunch and she found the two had many things in common, including their love for Mexican beers and salsa dancing.

They agreed to go dancing one night, but were never able to do so, as their schedules did not line up.

“Oh, well: ‘There are plenty of days in the year!’ Is what I always thought,” Calderón told The Advocate.

She was excited when she received a new text message from Sanchez’s phone number two weeks ago, only to find it was a text from his brother informing her of his passing.

“I wanted to share more time, life and stories with Ismael. I wanted to make him laugh more.

“It is breaking my heart, knowing a person for (such) little (time),  but bonding so much, I cannot imagine how his family is, and will miss such a beautiful person like Ismael,” Calderón said.

A funeral service was held for Sanchez at St. Henry’s Catholic Church in Gresham on March 7.