Gina Montalto

A thrill-seeker with a fierce competitive spirit, Gina Montalto, 14, loved dabbling in anything that made her heart race: tennis, soccer, flag football and extreme roller coasters.

When she wasn’t surfing, snowing and skiing, Montalto is best remembered by friends and parents Jennifer and Tony Montalto for being caring and selfless, whipsmart and faithful, and marching in Stoneman Douglas’ Eagle Regiment Marching Band and Color Guard. She also loved selling Girl Scout cookies for her troop, worshiping with her youth group at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church and hanging with her younger brother, Anthony.

Jennifer and Tony Montalto sent the following message to the South Florida Sun Sentinel:

“Gina Rose Montalto, age 14, was a special girl who melted the heart of everyone she met. Her infectious smile was there from the start and brightened any room she entered. This was a quality she retained throughout her amazing life. Gina was instant friends with everyone she met. A caring and loving soul, she was often the first to reach out to the new kids in class and welcome them into the neighborhood. She also had a great sense of humor and a penchant for being silly — even goofy at times.

Always trying to make things better for others, Gina loved to do volunteer work, especially if it involved helping kids. She was a Girl Scout and active in a local church. Gina was known to all as an avid reader and a talented artist who illustrated for a local magazine. Once she told her mother that she loved books so much she wanted to live in a library.

She loved to cook with her Father and her Grandmother, especially during the holiday season. She enjoyed shopping days with her Mom, and NY Jets games with her Dad.

Gina joined the MSD Color Guard. She competed through the spring and was a part of the Eagle Regiment as they won the FL state championship in the fall of 2017. She always earned the highest grades in school and had a bright future ahead of her. Gina will be missed not only by her family, but by everyone whose life she touched.”

Donations in Gina’s memory may be made to the Gina Rose Montalto Memorial Foundation, which helps students with post-secondary education costs.