Upper School Maintenance Team Member Andres Quintanar died in an early-morning car crash in Porter Ranch on March 5, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Quintanar, 37, was killed in a wrong-way collision at 4:25 a.m. One other passenger died during the crash and the two drivers were taken to a nearby hospital with injuries.

President Rick Commons sent the school an email sharing the news about Quintanar’s passing March 7. In the email, Commons said Quintanar will be remembered for his good-natured personality and work ethic.

“His colleagues describe him as quietly charismatic, a hundred percent dependable and deeply loyal to Harvard-Westlake despite his relatively brief time working at the school,” Commons said in an email. “Among a group of Harvard-Westlake employees who distinguish themselves by their remarkable work ethic, [Quintanar] stood out for his uncomplaining effort. His positive attitude was infectious, and his warm smile uplifted everyone he encountered, whether at dawn setting up for a school assembly or at midnight cleaning up after an alumni event.” 

Since Quintanar’s passing, his family has organized a GoFundMe to cover his funeral and memorial expenses. The GoFundMe has already exceeded its $15,000 goal by several thousand dollars, with donations from teachers, faculty, staff and parents. In the fundraiser’s description, organizer Cassandra Perez-Sanchez shared Quintanar’s importance to his friends and family.

“Andres was an amazing son, brother, cousin, uncle and oh so much more,” Perez-Sanchez wrote. “Most importantly, [he was] a caring and kind person with a heart of gold that always managed to keep a big smile on his face despite any life obstacles. His laugh was unique and contagious, so much so that as I write this out I can’t help but smile remembering his laugh.” 

Plant Manager Ed Wormald said Quintanar was a caring person who loved connecting with other community members. 

“[Quintanar] was raised in Los Angeles and talked a lot about his family and childhood friends,” Wormald said.“He was very fon d of his upbringing and told great stories of his life to anyone who would ask. He would be that ‘sunshine,’ whether it was 6 a.m. or at the end of a long day.”