Students walking into Santa Fe Community College would often see a smiling Derrick Roybal working at the welcoming desk. Or else they knew him as a student ambassador or as a member of student government. He also helped oversee student activities and clubs and was the student representative on the Governance Council, whose members include staff and administrators.

On Wednesday, students and staff were mourning the loss of Roybal, who died in a classroom Tuesday afternoon. The 31-year-old Roybal got around in a wheelchair and had been a student at the college since 1995. He recently earned an associate's degree in paralegal studies and had begun working toward another degree in criminal justice.

"He's a sweetheart, and we're all grieving for him," community college President Sheila Ortego said Wednesday. "He just always was so positive and smiling and sweet, and wanting to talk and be sociable. He was just such an inspiration to us because he had to struggle so hard to get to school, and everything seemed twice as hard because of the challenges he had, but he always had a wonderful attitude."

An autopsy revealed the Santa Fe native "very possibly" died of health-related issues, Undersheriff Robert Garcia said. He said Roybal had been the first to arrive in his classroom and was discovered by another student who at first thought he was napping. Garcia said Roybal became a paraplegic from a childhood accident, and Ortego said she believed the accident was traffic-related and occurred when he was about 13.

Associate professor Robert Denny, who had Roybal in his class not long before Roybal died, said Roybal seemed fine and was his usual self, joking with fellow students and adding comments to the lecture.

"It seemed like he got along with everybody. He liked to joke, and he just enjoyed life," said Denny, who teaches criminal justice.

A San Diego Chargers fan, Roybal wore a Chargers jacket to his last class and took some ribbing from classmates over his favorite football team's loss last weekend. "A lot of people liked to joke with him about that, and he'd throw it right back at them," Denny said.

The school held an open house for students, faculty and staff in a lounge Wednesday morning to remember Roybal. Counselors and police chaplain José Villegas were on hand to help mourning students, Ortego said.

"Oh my gosh, it was crowded," school spokeswoman Janet Wise said. "It was a steady flow throughout the morning."

The school plans to hold a memorial for the student in the next few days.

Contact Doug Mattson at 986-43087 or dmattson@sfnewmexican.com.