Jennifer Garcia will always be remembered for being a ball of light, joy and creativity. Her love for adventure, rock music, Hello Kitty and truly living life made her a standout in the Communications Department at Texas A&M University – Kingsville.
After a long-standing battle against COVID-19, Garcia passed away on Tuesday, July 7. Garcia’s fiancé, Alistair Andaya, who was also battling COVID-19 in the ICU at the time, passed away due to the virus on Friday, July 10 .
The dynamic duo was scheduled to get married on Oct. 10. Close family members described their relationship like out of a movie. They both enjoyed the same bands, loved the color purple, and shared the same ambitions about their future.
Garcia graduated with a Bachelor’s in Communication from TAMUK A&M in 2010. During her undergrad years she became a familiar face in Manning Hall. Garcia was actively involved on campus, and was a member of The South Texan, KTAI-FM and the Javelina TV Station.
“I remember she was always involved in something just because it might be fun. Jenni [was part] in R/TV, Graphic Design, and The South Texan…she did all three of them at the same time where most of us would only do one or two,” former Operations Manager of KTAI and TV 2 Alfred Tapia said. “She was driven. Yet she had this gift to be so relaxed and disarming. I remember there were times when I was on campus early in the morning and she would visit me in my office and just talk to me about anything and everything. Classes, life, love, the world… I will miss my friend, mostly because her light is gone from the world and we need more people like her.”
While juggling different extracurriculars, she formed a close group of friends. She would take it upon herself to make everyone feel better. Garcia’s father described her as a mother hen because Garcia was always caring for others no matter the circumstance.
Friends credit Garcia with being the one who lifted everyone’s spirits. During these turbulent times, friends recall how Garcia would go out of her way to lighten up the mood.
“I remember a time when we were having lunch together and I was lamenting all of my problems. I was just pouring out my heart about my issues with life, my job, classes and girls. Jenni listened dutifully and carefully like she always did. Then said in an uncharacteristically serious tone as she started digging through her backpack, she said ‘It sounds like you’re going through a really tough time. I remember not long ago, when I was going through a tough time. Then I found the Book of Mormon.’ She proceeded to take out an actual copy of the Book of Mormon from her backpack. Jenni wasn’t a Mormon but she had carried around this book for a few days knowing someone would bare their souls to her, and then she could take it out parodying the old commercials for the LDS. She did all that to make me laugh at a low-point in my life, and I’ll never forget it,” her friend Sonny Garcia said.
In the workroom, Garcia played a pivotal role. She developed graphic designs, wrote articles, and was the Assistant Program Director for KTAI from 2006 to 2008.
“Jenni was always such a bright energy to the workspace. She lit up the room and no matter how stressful it may have gotten, having her there, working with you helped lighten the mood. Jenni was one of my best friends…[ there’s] a lot of wonderful memories of her and my KTAI family at TAMUK,” Jeremy Martinez said.
Garcia will be remembered for her ability to make others smile and bring out the best in people.
“She had the biggest smile that could light up the darkest sorrow. She emitted happiness, compassion, and kindness to everyone she crossed paths within life,” Dominique Damian, Garcia’s sister, said. “Even if she didn’t know she had a mannerism to make anyone feel as if she had known them their whole life. It’s as if it was her mission to befriend all whom she met. While my heart is shattered on her passing. I cherish every moment. I pray everyone reading this article truly takes this COVID-19 pandemic seriously. You never know if it’s going to take someone truly dear to your heart. I would like to ask everyone to take strong precautions to stay safe and healthy from COVID-19, and to call at least one childhood friend or family member they haven’t seen or talked to in a while. You never know if you will have that same chance again.”
Garcia was born on July 10, 1986. She was raised in Kingsville and attended Ricardo Elementary and Junior High. Garcia graduated from Santa Gertrudis Academy High School in 2004 before attending Texas A&M University-Kingsville.