And the community has stepped up in a huge way, meeting the initial GoFundMe goal is little more than a day.
Santos fell over 30 feet from an escalator at the World Trade Center Oculus transit hub this past Saturday, as Daily Voice reported. She was pronounced dead at the hospital.
A Kearny resident, Santos was a 2012 graduate of William Paterson University, in Wayne. NorthJersey.com reported that Santos had earned bachelor's degrees in science and physical education, and was a substitute teacher before landing a full-time teaching physical education job this past fall.
She'd been hired as a phys ed teacher at the East Orange Community Charter School and was still teaching at the time of her accident. She was also a coach for the Teaneck-based Bergen County Rowing Academy.
Stephanie Marie set up a GoFundMe campaign on Monday, to help repay Santos' student loans. As of Wednesday afternoon, people had donated over $31,000, exceeding the $30,000 initial goal.
According to the GoFundMy page, If Santos' loans are ultimately forgiven -- as federal student loans are, when the borrower dies -- the the donated money will go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, in Santos' memory.
You can view the GoFundMe campaign -- and potentially donate -- here.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Ridgewood and receive free news updates.