Palominos are mourning the loss of three Palo Alto family members who passed away this semester.

Anton “Tony” Hajek, a student, and Richard “Rick” Bonnell Sr. and Theodora “Dora” Ruffner, both professors, will be sorely missed.

Hajek, 21, an East Central High School alumni and Palo Alto Liberal Arts major, died on Sunday, March 18, 2007, during Spring Break in Port Aransas.

Hajek was an Eagle Scout who was an adult leader with Troop 315.

Diego Torres, a Palo Alto Kinesiology instructor, said, “Anton was the type of student that loved being involved…School was a social event, because he liked meeting new people. He will be missed.”

Bonnell, 61, was killed in a motorcycle accident on Friday, April 20, 2007. Bonell, a full-time Logistics Management Instructor, was the recipient of the 2004 Starfish Award for teaching excellence. He also taught at the Texas A & M-San Antonio campus. Bonnell is survived by his wife, Carol, and son, Richard Jr.

Amanda Salinas, a Palo Alto Assistant Professor of A.C.T., said, “Rick always thought the best of everyone. He was well liked, and he was always laughing.”

Bonnell was working toward a Ph.D. in Business from Capella University.

Ruffner, 50, was a professor of dance and yoga at Palo Alto. She died on April 25, 2007, just five weeks after she had been diagnosed with colon cancer.

Ruffner is survived by her two daughters, Amy and Brigid.

Ruffner, who was working toward her Ph.D. in Dance from Texas Women’s University, came to Palo Alto in 2003 and built the college’s dance program from the ground up.

Palo Alto Dance Major Xochitl Citlalli Reyes wrote a tribute to Ruffner on the http://www.caringbridge.org website: “I came determined to be a dancer, and you, my dearest, enforced my dream and created of me a true dancer. You taught me to live, to see the beauty of nature...You taught me to believe in myself. You taught me to rejoice when I danced...You loved all your students. We still feel your presence. Even though you are in heaven, you will be always a part of us, because as dancers, we had the honor and the great privilege to have you as a teacher.”

Farewell. We’ll miss you all.