Ontario High remembers Ortiz

Ontario High School students returned to school on Monday and remembered their classmate and the youngest victim in the Christmas Eve massacre in Covina.

Michael Ortiz, 17, resided in Ontario and pitched for the school's baseball team.

The news was on the minds of many students at the school, including his teammates.

At a meeting on Monday afternoon, several of their stoic faces turned into smiles as they remembered Michael.

"He was a leader for us, but he had fun and he was always good at making us all laugh," teammate Justin Randall said.

Bruce Pardo, 45, of Montrose, distraught over his divorce, shot up the home where his ex-wife and her family had gathered. He then sprayed the house with flammable gas, authorities said.

Michael's mother, Alicia Ortiz of Upland, also died.

Pardo later fatally shot himself.

Michael was excited about the upcoming baseball season, his childhood friend and teammate Jonathan Guzman said.

The team said they would dedicate the upcoming season in Michael's memory.

Several teammates at Monday's meeting suggested that they organize a charity baseball game or a car wash to help raise funds.

"We want to help his cousins that are orphans, who lost both their parents," teammate Xavier Rodriguez said.

Xavier and Jonathan - who knew Michael since they were six years old and played Little League together - wore white T-shirts imprinted with  a photo of Michael clad in his baseball uniform.

Jonathan said his mother had the T-shirts made and the team plans on selling them to help raise funds.

Michael's high school counselor, Jean Laub, has been in contact with Michael's father Carlos Ortiz. He is grateful for the students' support, Laub said.

A candlelight vigil was held Dec. 27 in front of Michael's home and two memorial funds have been set up to help the families.

A Michael Ortiz memorial fund has been established through the Chaffey Federal Credit Union.

"Any person who wants to donate to that fund, can go to any of the branches and deposit the money," Ontario High principal Rod Hust said.

The California School Employee Association Chapter 108 has set up fund at the Ontario-Montclair School Credit Union in memory of Alicia Ortiz, Michael's mother.

Alicia was an office manager at Vista Grande Elementary School, said Fred Murrillo, president of Chapter 108.

Services for Michael won't be held for at least two weeks, Laub said.

At the request of Michael's older sister, his teammates said they would like to have a memorial service at the Ontario High baseball field.

Counselors and Hust on Monday went to each of Michael's classes and spent a couple of minutes with students.

"The ones that did know him seemed visibly upset," Hust said.

Two conference rooms were opened up for any student in need of counseling, Hust said.

"As long as they need to, we'll have them here," Hust said. "There is still a lot of emotion and a lot of grief."

Judging by the response from the students, school officials planned to ask the crisis team to return to Ontario High today, Hust said.

He will determine later in the day, if they need to return the remainder of the week.