Southwest alumni perishes in Afghanistan
Anative of El Centro, U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Robert Rodrigo Boniface, 34, died while serving in Afghanistan on Sunday.
Boniface died from a non-combat-related incident that is still under investigation, said Major Kimbia Rey, U.S. Army 7th Special Forces Group public affairs officer.
Boniface was the son of Dr. David and Elia Boniface of Calexico, as well as the brother of Breezy Piini. Robert’s father, who is a wellknown optometrist in Calexico, was a bit at a loss for words and remarked, “God bless him, he’s in a better place now.”
He added, “In my estimation, there is nothing that man could not have done if he put his mind to it. He was extremely kind and one of the most generous men I ever knew.”
A graduate of Southwest High School, Boniface most recently resided in the San Luis Obispo/Santa Maria Central Coast area, according to military officials. He entered the U.S. Army in 2006 and in 2010 he earned the “Green Beret” by passing the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course.
In my estimation, there nothing that man could not have done if he put his mind to it. He was extremely kind and one of the most generous men I ever knew.” Dr. David Boniface, Robert’s father
He was then assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group (airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C., as a Special Forces medical sergeant.
Boniface earned two Bronze Stars, the Army Commendation Boniface
Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, the Special Forces tab, the Combat Infantryman Badge and more, according to military officials.
He is survived by his wife, daughter and parents. Andrea Corella, a health education teacher at Southwest High School, was a friend of Boniface since they were young, when their families lived in the same neighborhood, and worked as lifeguards at the Naval Air Facility in El Centro.
Corella recalled that he was always the comic relief of the group and friends could not be sad around him.
“He was very intelligent, serious and dedicated to the Boy Scouts, he like to do a lot of outdoor stuff,” said Corella. “For his Eagle Scout project, he built benches for Lotus Park and they’re still there.”
When she heard of his death, she was devastated.
“He was such a good guy, it was a shame his life was cut short,” she added.
Another classmate and also teaching at Southwest, varsity baseball coach, Matthew Redden, knew Boniface since elementary school.
“The funniest guy around, super energetic, class clown and life of the party,” he said. “He was always caring, anybody who knew him felt like his best friend. Yet he was very competitive. He was a swimmer (played football) and played saxophone in the band (and viola in orchestra).”
Redden did not hear about his passing until Monday from Catherin Drew, an English teacher at Southwest. “I reached out to other acquaintances of his and they didn’t know of his death,” he said. “It’s been a few years since we hung together but I was just in disbelief.”
Drew who has taught since 1985 and at Southwest since 1995 was Boniface’s English teacher.
She described him as a typical sophomore, rambunctious and good at telling jokes. Yet he had a strong belief system.
When he told her in his senior year he was joining the Army, she urged him to go to college instead.
“Robert was brilliant, but he knew the Army was his path,” said Drew. “He wanted to go to officer training and college. When I heard about him, it just hurt. I love my students, they become like my kids. I’m proud he was part of my classroom and just sad at his passing.”