Lutz News-Lutz/Odessa-June 22, 2016

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JUNE 22, 2016

A vigil to honor a life gone too soon By Kathy Steele

ksteele@lakerlutznews.com

A bouquet of heart-shaped balloons separated and floated skyward into the night air, carrying messages of love for Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz. Below, candles burned brightly, held aloft by more than 400 people who filled the stands at Ron Allen Field at Gaither High. They had gathered for a candlelight vigil to honor the life of the 24-year-old Sanfeliz, one of 49 people killed during a mass shooting on June 12 at Pulse nightclub in Orlando. “Chris was taken way too soon from the world,” Stephanie Woychowski, president of Gaither’s Parent Teacher Student Association said during the June 15 vigil. “Remember Chris. Remember love.” Besides killing 49 people, the lone gunman armed with an assault rifle, injured 50 others before he was killed by law enforcement. The mass shooting, reported as the largest in the nation’s modern history, targeted a club popular among the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community. The Gaither community responded immediately, with former classmates, current students and faculty coming together to organize the vigil for Sanfeliz, a member of the class of 2010. “Once a Cowboy, always a Cowboy,” said Teresa Trumbach, a teacher at Gaither, known as the home of the Cowboys. Trumbach met Sanfeliz when he was a freshman. “He was just one of those great guys,” Trumbach said.“I find it impressive that so many of you came back.” Before filing into the stands, people stopped to pick up candles, drop donations into a box, or leave photographic mementos of Sanfeliz in a memory box. Friends and family clung tightly to each other in long hugs.And, they shed tears. Amid the sorrow, though, they found a way to share the joyous times and recalled Sanfeliz’ love of life. They talked about a young man who was the friend that everyone wanted. He

KATHY STEELE/STAFF PHOTOS

Junior Sanfeliz, the older brother of Christopher Sanfeliz, is consoled by friends at a candlelight vigil at Gaither High School.

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was loyal, funny and compassionate. He was always ready to do whatever it took to make his friends happy. He also had his own way of doing things. “Chris loved cottage cheese. He loved Disney. He would walk around the house and sing Disney songs,” said Ben Mercado. “He loved Selena (the movie).” Mercado said he and Sanfeliz came out See VIGIL, page 15A

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Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, a 2010 Gaither High School graduate, died June 12 when a gunman killed 49 people at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando.

Making life easier for local Marines By B.C. Manion

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Greg Gilbert is a candidate for the annual Lutz Guv’na race. Gilbert is the managing owner of Beef O’ Brady’s, 18421 N U.S. 41 in Lutz.

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Guv’na candidate increasing fundraising efforts By Kevin Weiss

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Greg Gilbert is new to the area — just like his competitor in the Lutz Guv’na race. And just like his rival, Andre Pamplona of Royal Lanes Bowling, Gilbert was urged by by Suzin Carr, the Lutz Guv’na ambassador, to jump into the 2016 race. “She was relentless,” Gilbert said, describing Carr’s encouragement for him to enter the race. “However, it did sound like a lot of fun to do something like this, and to be involved in the community a little bit more,” said Gilbert, who took over as the managing owner of Beef O’ Brady’s in Lutz in December. Before moving to Florida, he spent 20plus years in Michigan working as a general manager for both T.G.I. Fridays and Ruby Tuesday. Due to his wide-ranging obligations to his restaurant, Gilbert admits he has some catching up to do on the Guv’na campaign trail. To try to make up some ground, Gilbert plans to dive headfirst into fundraising efforts between now and July 4, the final day of the annual charity event. He hopes to organize a car wash behind the restaurant, and perhaps hold a See GUV’NA, page 15A

Seventy-seven-year-old L. David Kirk lives by the U.S. Marine Corps’ motto, “Once a Marine, always a Marine.” He served in the Marine Corps from 1956 to 1964, completing two tours of duty in the Mediterranean, two tours of duty in Okinawa, and serving in Southeast Asia and California, as well. “It was the best eight years I ever spent, because it took me from teenager to man,” said the retired Lutz business man. “I can never thank the Marine Corps more, for giving me B.C. MANION/STAFF PHOTO the discipline to make it L. David Kirk, of Lutz, is spearheading an effort to establish a where I am today.” Marine Corps League Detachment in Land O’ Lakes. Even though he completed his service more than half-century ago, Kirk’s fidelity to the Besides being more convenient, it U.S. Marine Corps remains robust. would be less expensive to attend meet“Three years ago, two other Marines and ings in Land O’ Lakes, because it wouldn’t myself, and our wives, we got together and take as much gas to get to meetings, Kirk we thought it would be a good idea if we added. started a Marine group in Land O’ Lakes,” To launch a new charter, the group Kirk said. needs at least 20 members that do not beThat group, named Marine Forever long to an existing detachment, Kirk said. Veterans Group LLC, meets on Monday Once the new detachment is established, evenings at the Beef O’ Brady’s in the existing league members can transfer, he Village Lakes Shopping Center, 21539 added. Village Lakes Shopping Center Drive in A meeting has been scheduled for June Land O’ Lakes. The shopping center is on 25 at 2 p.m., at Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, in the the north side of State Road 54, slightly east Village Lakes Shopping Center, to answer of U.S. 41. questions about the proposed new detachKirk now is accepting applications from ment, the annual dues, uniforms, meeting those wishing to join a new Marine Corps dates, mission of the group and so on. League Detachment that likely would meet Anyone who would qualify to join and at the same Beef O’ Brady’s restaurant. would like more information is encouraged The league is open to active duty, re- to attend, said Kirk, past commandant of serve and honorable discharged veterans of the Angus R. Goss Detachment in Tampa. Marine Corps and Navy FMF Corpsmen The Marine Corps League was founded and Chaplains who live in Land O’ Lakes, in 1923 by World War I hero Major General Lutz, Odessa,Wesley Chapel and surround- Commandant John A. Lejeune, and its coning areas. gressional charter was approved by an act There’s a need for the new detachment of the 75th Congress, which was signed because there isn’t one nearby, Kirk said. and approved by President Franklin D. “We’ve got Marines here that travel 15 Roosevelt on Aug. 4, 1937. and 20 miles to belong to the League.Think The league’s mission calls for its memhow many more that would join, if they bers to “join together in camaraderie and didn’t have to travel that far. And, there’s a See MARINES, page 15A lot of Marines that live in this area.”


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