Staff in Memoriam: Reinaldo Sanchez

Reinaldo Sanchez
Residential Security Officer
UCSD Police
Years of service at UCSD: 5

Reinaldo Sanchez Jr., a residential security officer with UCSD Police, died suddenly in his sleep on May 18, 2007, at the age of 35.

Until his recent change to Muir College, Rey had been assigned to Revelle campus since he joined UCSD in 2002. According to co-workers, he loved his job and was committed to promoting a safe college experience for the students he served. His efforts were rewarded in 2005 when he received the department's Employee of the Year award. Shortly after, he was promoted to the position of team leader.

Rey was born and raised in the Bronx. He loved the Yankees and worked at Yankee Stadium for 6 seasons as a field security officer. New York also provided the backdrop for his second love: acting. Rey received his B.A. in theater arts from Hunter College, and his greatest ambition was to perform for a living. In New York, he appeared in several Shakespearean stage productions, and he performed as an extra in movies and TV shows including "Saturday Night Live."

As a seasoned traveler, one of Rey's favorite places was Las Vegas, where he and wife Vanessa were married in June 2006. He enjoyed coaching his daughter's Little League team, being a Girl Scout dad, celebrating his favorite holiday, Halloween, and attending San Diego's Comic-Con every year.

The 2 biggest highlights of Rey’s life, said Vanessa, were a 3-week road trip in 2000 with a college friend that spanned 22 states and covered 7,650 miles — and directing his first play (by favorite author Clive Barker) at New York's Waterloo Theatre.

In addition to his wife, Rey is survived by daughter Maria, parents Alice Montalvo and Reinaldo Sanchez Sr., and sister Janet Zuch.